Can anybody end New Zealand’s reign as the undisputed kings of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series?

It sounds like a simple enough question, but as the countdown continues to the start of the new IRB Sevens World Series in Dubai on Friday and Saturday, it is worth remembering that only one team — other than the Kiwis — have ever won the series outright.

Fiji won the 2005/06 IRB Sevens World Series — the only team other than New Zealand to have won since the inaugural event in 1999/2000.

Yes, there were many times when teams took individual tournaments.

South Africa, who finished second on the standings last year, won in Australia and Samoa won in London.

The previous season Fiji won in the United States and Australia, while Samoa won the famous Hong Kong event and South Africa the opening round in Dubai.

But nobody has been as consistent as the Kiwis, with DJ Forbes having captained New Zealand to their most successful ever campaign between December 2007 and June 2008, during which they won six of the eight events on the World Series circuit.

Under his inspirational guidance, the Kiwis began last season with five consecutive Cup titles — in Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, US and Hong Kong — to add to the last two events of the previous season, a run which extended to 47 matches unbeaten.

They also won the season-ending Edinburgh Sevens to cap their Series defence.

"A lot of credit goes to the boys and to the management, winning 47 in a row was something special," Forbes said.

But he was quick to add that their previous eight titles will mean nothing when the Dubai leg of the 2008/09 season kicks off on Friday.

"I guess we can't rest on that — it's a new year, and it's a World Cup, so we'll be looking to start afresh and start anew."

A Sevens mastermind

Forbes' power and combative style spear-headed New Zealand's rugged approach under Sevens mastermind Gordon Tietjens, whose training and conditioning regime is famous on the Sevens tour.

"It's all true, his training is the hardest I've ever done and I'm sure they're the hardest going round.

"The food we eat is pretty much rabbit food, and no desserts. It's strict, it's all about discipline and I guess it's all part of being professional, and the results speak for themselves."

The New Zealand Sevens captain said they have already turned their attention to a title defence at the first tournament of the season this weekend at Dubai's brand new stadium, 'The Sevens', also knowing that the event acts as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup in March.

"Trying to better what we did last season is not going to be easy, winning all those tournaments, but we're starting from scratch. The World Cup's a big thing this year it's something that all the boys are building towards and we don't want to trip up between now and then.

"We've got to peak at the right time. We're always the favourites but we can't rest on that. We'll be trying our hardest and we've been putting in the hard yards and it all starts this weekend in Dubai, and then in South Africa."

So a Series defence, or the winning back of the World Cup from the holders Fiji? Which is top of Forbes' wish list?

"If you go by Tietj's [Gordon Tietjens] book he'll want everything. I think the World Cup's going to be the key. Last time we lost out to Fiji in Hong Kong. You can win all the World Series you want but the World Cup is key."

Who can challenge the Kiwis?

But where will their toughest challenge come from?

Last season South Africa could justifiably have claimed to have been the second best Sevens team in the world.

Whether or not they can maintain those high standards under coach Paul Treu will be far clearer by the end of the weekend.

Treu's fulltime Sevens set-up was second only to Gordon Tietjens' peerless New Zealanders in 2007/08. They ended the kiwis' 47-match unbeaten run in Adelaide to take the Cup title there, but could not manage another Cup title as Samoa and New Zealand finished the season strongly.

"We've only managed to win one tournament per season for the 10 years, so if we can go out there and be competitive and be consistent throughout the season, that's going to be our goal," said Treu.

The task in Dubai seems to have been made all the more difficult by the unavailability of several key players.

Gio Aplon, Stefan Basson, Fabian Juries, Schalk van der Merwe, Danwel Demas, Kabamba Floors and Neil Powell have all been outstanding in recent times but are all either beyond Treu's reach or injured.

Both Juries and van der Merwe have been taken out of the equation very recently after winning Super 14 contracts with the Cheetahs - a bitter-sweet success story for any Sevens coach.

"We lost Schalk about two weeks before our training camp, and obviously Fabian has been our star player over the past few seasons," said Treu ruefully.

"I've played with Fabian, he's a great player and he was instrumental in our success last season.

"I just wish them all the best in the Super 14 and I just wish that the new players in the squad, and guys like Renfred Deysel can step up to the plate and fulfil the kind of role that Fabian has played for us in the past.

"Despite losing seven of our key players, we've still managed to select only two new caps and I think that there are players in the squad who do have the experience, and who do know what it takes to win tournaments.

"If they stick together as a team, if they commit to our team goals, I think anything is possible this weekend."

A tough test ahead

Treu is, though, ready to admit that the Dubai Sevens promises to be one of the toughest tests in recent years.

The special status of next year's World Cup means extra focus, even among the developing nations, and many of the teams are battle-hardened as a result of coming together earlier than normal.

"It's going to be difficult because if you take the likes of Samoa, Kenya, Zimbabwe and the USA, they've all being playing in Rugby World Cup Sevens qualifiers and, compared to previous tournaments, I think they are going to be much better prepared than they have been in the past," he said.

Samoa are a case in point: they savaged Tonga in their World Cup qualifying final by 50 points and even New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens has admitted that, on paper at least, the islanders are arguably favourites this weekend.

Uale Mai leads a side boasting a whole host of back line talent in flyhalf Lolo Lui plus Mikaele Pesamino and Timoteo Iosua, both of whom have finished as the Series' top try scorer in one of the last three seasons.

In the forwards too they look strong, Ofisa Treviranus returning along with Simaika Mikaele and new 15-a-side sensation Alafoti Fa'oSiliva.

Day One schedule:

(Kick-off is local time – GMT + 4 hours)

Match 1: New Zealand vs Wales 09:30
Match 2: Australia vs Zimbabwe 09:52
Match 3: South Africa vs Scotland 10:14
Match 4: Kenya vs Arabian Gulf 10:36
Match 5: Samoa vs France 10:58
Match 6: Argentina vs Georgia 11:20
Match 7: Fiji vs USA DUB 11:42
Match 8: England vs Portugal 12:04
Match 9: New Zealand vs Zimbabwe 14:26
Match 10: Australia vs Wales 14:48
Match 11: South Africa vs Arabian Gulf 15:10
Match 12: Kenya vs Scotland 15:32
Match 13: Samoa vs Georgia 15:54
Match 14: Argentina vs France 16:16
Match 15: Fiji vs Portugal 16:38
Match 16: England vs USA 17:00
Match 17: Wales vs Zimbabwe 17:22
Match 18: Scotland vs Arabian Gulf 17:44
Match 19: France vs Georgia 18:06
Match 20: USA vs Portugal 18:28
Match 21: New Zealand vs Australia 18:50
Match 22: South Africa vs Kenya 19:12
Match 23: Samoa vs Argentina 19:34
Match 24: Fiji vs England 19:56

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