SUPERB defence and blistering pace gave Fiji the edge enabling them to win the Gold Coast 7s tournament twice in a row.
It was Fijian razzle dazzle rugby at its best as these group of newcomers to sevens rugby created history.
Modern sevens rugby coaching and physical fitness sees a lot of attacking play and penetration of any defensive system because of the width of the ground and minimum number of players.
So to give away possession and then defend with grit and determination speaks volumes about the players and officials involved.
Fiji gave away a lot of possession because they did not control the kick-offs as previous Fiji teams did but their uncompromising rucking saw them fare well in turnovers.
The defence was the great leveler as it spilled balls in tackles and from the crumbs Fiji were able to get away with tries.
After a long while Fiji has another specialist winger in Alipate Raitini.
Scoring three tries against New Zealand in the final was a dream debut for the Tailevu man.
Over the years opposition teams have caught up with Fijian wingers but Raitini brought back memories of Robert Howard, Senivalati Laulau, Etuate Honda Gusuivalu, Tomasi Cama, Niko Baleiverata and Rupeni Caucau.
Once they got their noses in front of the opposition, it was always sa moce, namaste, see you later.
That was the case for Raitini whose length of the field try in the second-half was a memorable one and will go down among the many Fijian tries as one of the best.
Swerving inside and out to outrun the Kiwi defence untouched, Raitini will immediately be the target of many rugby scouts looking for try-scoring talents and good finishers.
The Wardens combination of Ilai Tinai and Joji Raqamate will be unbeatable and coaches Alifereti Dere and Timoci Wainiqolo will be confident of further victories in the series because of this attacking duo.
They are slim built, long legged and look alike and have been described as Fijian thoroughbreds.
Above that they have footballing skills that they use when the defence is tight.
Dere's decision to base his selection of players from those that have made it to the top provincial competitions has paid dividends.
Top provincial side flankers Nadroga duo Ulaiasi Lawavou and Apisai Domolailai and Tailevu's Manueli Laqai combined well with skipper Lepani Botia to stand their ground in forward battles.
They were vicious in both defence and attacks and did not shy away from the rough stuff.
Despite Warden's victories in sevens competitions, Dere did not immediately recruit the top club's players as most of them were only specialist sevens players.
Warden's coach Timoci Wainiqolo had them playing fifteens rugby and when he was given the coaching job at Namosi, he included all his sevens team members in the provincial side.
They won their way back to the premier division after annihilating Rewa in the promotion/relegation.
The fifteens rugby experience has added a lot of confidence to the play of Tinai and Raqamate and their tackles are fearless.
Now we can put to rest any suggestions earlier made from some quarters that we separate sevens from fifteens rugby players. As again proven last weekend, seven new faces to the code played like they have been there all the time.
Not only is good basics in rugby needed in top sevens rugby but a stint in top rugby competition will be like putting metal through the blast furnace to harden it.
They come out as tough as steel and that is why we are able to send new players to tournaments and with the presence of such trainers as Warden's Hughes, our sevens future are in safe hands.
Meanwhile, Suva has stamped itself as the country's top rugby and soccer side.
While the final decision on the Lloyd Farebrother is still hanging in the balance, the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy is here to spend Christmas and the New Year.
Suva rugby has been boosted and sponsors Fiji Bitter have thoroughly earned good mileage from their sponsorship.
The support was timely and provided the capital city side with the proper preparation required in top provincial competition.
Joe Rodan was a top athlete in his time not only in Fiji but also in the South Pacific and his smart move in getting Fiji Bitter to sponsor the Suva team boosted the confidence of the players.
They lost to Nadroga in the Digicel Cup semi-final but came back to beat them for the Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy.
Nadroga was the number two team and Naitasiri the third ranked while Tailevu was top of the ladder.
Now Suva has leapfrogged Nadroga and Naitasiri and will have to wait till next season to prove themselves against Tailevu.
Even their loss to Lautoka in the Digicel Cup has been redeemed. So with two successful defence they can call themselves the top dog in the pack.
Greater effort will now be needed to see that they remain to be so in coming seasons.