Starmers: In search of a new hero

In his second column of 2010, TV commentator Nigel Starmer-Smith balances the role and importance of the 'Sevens star' against the value of 'team' throughout the years, and looks ahead to this weekend's NZI Sevens, the third event in the 2009/10 World Series.It's all happened in the space of one generation. From obscurity to the spotlight of the Olympic Games; from a time when the only focal point of Rugby Sevens was confined principally to the annual amateur showpieces of Hong Kong, Dubai and Middlesex. Few people beyond those taking part, and even fewer amongst the game's administrators and national rugby unions, really took much notice.

Not even the advent of the first official Rugby World Cup Sevens at a wet and windy Murrayfield in 1993 did much to rouse a wider audience from their slumbers when it came to Sevens.

But a few of the leading exponents gradually emerged to be recognised by a wider audience. There was a magician from Fiji, Waisale Serevi; a quicksilver Wallaby, David Campese; a masterful All Black in Eric Rush and even in that shock World Cup win of 1993 England's Prince of Sevens, Andy Harriman.But it took almost another decade, with the visionary arrival of the IRB Sevens in 1999, for Sevens to register on the wider rugby radar. Names became more familiar, public recognition more apparent.

There's no i in team..

But behind the new 'star' personalities, the reality soon dawned that success was dependent on each and every member of a squad, not just on any single outstanding player. Just one weak link and the ship would founder. So, when one highlights the brilliant individual in a team's success, there's always the danger of ignoring those who created the platform for him, and for the triumph.Thus alongside Eric Rush or Jonah Lomu of New Zealand's great days, remember the likes of Dallas Seymour and Karl Te Nana, or with Serevi and his feats of more than a decade, recall the exploits of Rabaka, Rauluni, Vunibaka and Bobo.

Brent Russell of South Africa, David Lemi of Samoa, even Koiatu Koiatu of Cook Islands or Oscar Osir Osula of Kenya - these are all players that would rank amongst the world's best but who seldom, if ever, enjoyed the support of an all-round top-flight squad, and so their deeds may unfairly be forgotten.

Wellington's heroes: Damu, Lolo and Victor..

Now the excitement builds as we approach the 11th NZI Sevens in Wellington, what are the memories and who are the stars that spring to mind over the last 10 years in the 'Cake Tin'?

Few tournaments can have exceeded the thrills of the most recent years. Freshest in mind come the exploits of England's newest world-class star forward Isoa Damu and the winning try last year that capped a famous 19-17 victory over New Zealand. But look who helped it happen - including three players now missing who have understandably been tempted to take their full-time rugby commitment to fifteens where the money is: Ollie Phillips, Rob Vickerman and Chris Cracknell.Nor could one ever forget 2007 and Lol Lui with an amazing drop goal - and a broken jaw - in Samoa's triumph to cling on by a whisker having led 17-0 to finally beat Fiji 17-14 with Mikaele Pesamino, Jerry Meafou and Ofisa Treviranus at their height.But most of all for me it has to be the memory of Victor Vito of New Zealand, the young number 8-turned-winger - more great vision by Gordon Tietjens by the way - sealing that famous win in the final of 2008 against Samoa with two rampaging tries. Vito undoubtedly the star of that weekend but don't forget those who also made it happen - DJ Forbes, Tafai Ioasa, Tomasi Cama, Edwin Cocker and co. in a world class squad.

So now we look to hail a new Wellington hero, whose name will be up in lights, dominate the TV screens and newspaper headlines.

Ryder, Sills, Wade...

I wonder if it will be Fiji's William Ryder, back in the fold, but not yet recapturing his mesmerising form of five years ago that helped to bring his nation back to the forefront of the Sevens game?Will the sheer pace of Australia's Clinton Sills allow the Wallaby underdogs to upset the form guide, or is New Zealand's newly unveiled talent of Sherwin Stowers set to carve a niche in Sevens history?Maybe it will be Springbok Ryno Benjamin and his elusive, silky skills, or the sprinting speed of England new boy Christian Wade that will be unleashed on an unsuspecting public and opponent?Whoever it is that hits the highlines, remember it's the other six, or in truth the remaining 11 alongside him, who will have made his triumph come to pass.

Success in Sevens is never about one man. Not even Jonah Lomu in the World Cup Sevens final of 2001, although that was probably about the closest that it got!