South Africa Sevens coach Paul Treu blooded four new young talents at the weekend as his SA Vipers side claimed its third Singapore Cricket Club Sevens title in a row with a 24-0 victory against Fijian side Davetalevu.
Meanwhile, at the first Hyperion Gold Coast International Sevens in Australia two more Fijian teams were making the headlines by reaching the final.
Treu's side again takes home Singapore's Ablitt Cup but, more importantly, some new-found talent ahead of the opening event on the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series, the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens on 4-5 December.
"We came here to see whether these players would stand their ground when they were tested and they did, and we can take that into our training camp next week," said Treu of the likes of JW Jonker, Chris Dry, Steven Hunt and Bernado Botha.
"We started a bit slowly in our first game but really built momentum as the tournament progressed and reaching the final without conceding any points, I was really happy with," said the World Series-winning coach.
"Attack gets you so far, but defence wins you games and wins you tournaments and we've seen it so many times in the past, and the way the youngsters played really pleased me.
Young Boks stand up to be counted
"That's why we've come to this tournament, to give youngsters an opportunity to play against international teams like Davetalevu and we couldn't have asked for better preparation for Dubai.
"We'll be going into the first two tournaments in Dubai and George as defending champs, and we also came here as defending champions, so it was good to see if we could handle the pressure. I think we've learned a few things and we go home with lots more confidence."
The question now is whether any of those young players will force their way into Treu's full South Africa squad for the opening Dubai and George legs of the World Series.
"I think our guys are looking forward to the challenge of defending the World Series for the first time. It's a good challenge and it's our challenge to enjoy, to embrace and to see how we apply our work ethic and play together and stand as a team. We've just got to enjoy every single moment."
In the lesser competitions the Borneo Eagles beat Oriental Rongotai 31-5 to land the Plate. In the Bowl the Casuarina Cougars eased pase East Arnhem Rugby Club 17-0, while Singapore Barbarians edged Flying Kukris 21-20 to take the Jug.
Fijians dominate first Gold Coast Sevens
At the first Hyperion Gold Coast International Sevens in Australia, the South Sea Drifters from Fiji ran out 17-7 winners over countrymen the Uprising Beach Resort as international talent from Australia, Fiji, Samoa and England fine-tuned ahead of the World Series kick-off in front of a 5,000-strong crowd.
Michael O'Connor's young Australia side, playing under the 'Aussie Spirit' banner, was beaten in the Cup semi finals but Clinton Sills did finish as the tournament's leading try-scorer with seven.
In the lesser trophies, former Australia Union, League and Sevens player Andrew Walker inspired the Aussie Legends to victory in the Plate over Sunnybank, 22-19, Brisbane Nadi powered past Country King Browns to take the Bowl and the Gold Coast Eagles defeated Island Breeze 20-7 to take the Shield.
Griffith defeated arch-rivals Bond University 12-10 to win the Dr Tom Nutley University Challenge.
"Rugby Sevens has arrived on the Gold Coast"
"Rugby Sevens has arrived on the Gold Coast in a big way and to have so many great players and great teams support the event augurs well for a very bright future," said Tournament Director Luca Liussi.
In the women's final the talented Eastsyde outfit run out four tries to one winners over the star-studded Sydney team, 26-7, with Shannon Parry scoring twice for Eastsyde.
The crowd was treated to women's rugby at its best, with Moana Virtue and Catherine Tipene also crossing for Eastsyde and Kristy Giteau putting on a spectacular runaway try for Sydney.
Giteau, sister of Wallaby Matt, finished as the women's tournament's leading try scorer with 10.
