View photosKEY POINTS:
New Zealand's rivals are already unfurling the white flag just three tournaments into the rugby sevens world championship.
Coach Gordon Tietjens refuses to accept his team have an unassailable lead after winning the Wellington tournament on Saturday to maintain a perfect start to the International Rugby Board series.
However, South African counterpart Paul Treu reckoned hauling back a 24-point deficit over the five remaining tournaments would be an enormous challenge, particularly given how well New Zealand are playing.
"I can't see any team stopping New Zealand now this season, it's going to be difficult for any team to catch up unless they do pretty badly for the remaining four or five tournaments," Treu said.
"Their experienced players lead by example, their composure is very impressive and their defence is the best in the world."
Tietjens insisted New Zealand's eighth series crown in nine years was far from assured, pointing out that Fiji shot clear last year, only to be hauled back by his team when the islanders collapsed over the closing rounds.
"Ask Fiji, they were in a similar situation last year," he said.
"There's (points and a half) on offer in Hong Kong and we have to go to San Diego, which will be a tough one as well.
"It's never over until the final celebrations but it's great to get three in row."
Victory in San Diego this weekend will surely force Tietjens to admit the prize is again his once again.
He will take the same 12 players with him and it seems likely the master coach will stick to the same selection routine that worked so well in Wellington, culminating in the 22-17 defeat of Samoa in the final.
Tietjens started his last four games with the same combination - hard-working forwards DJ Forbes, Edwin Cocker and Steven Yates, halfback Nigel Hunt, savvy backs Zar Lawrence and Lote Raikabula inside giant gamebreaker Victor Vito.
In the second half veteran forward Tafai Ioasa and playmaker Tomasi Cama would always be injected.
They cruised through the tournament until the final, when defending champions Samoa corrupted the powerful, possession-based game that has also been so successful for New Zealand at tournaments in Dubai and South Africa in December.
"They upset our scrum. You have to win your own ball and retain it and we didn't do that," Tietjens said.
The answer was to bring 108kg Vito in for the scrums.
That was not the most visible contribution of the Wellington 20-year-old, however, as he scored two tries that will provide the most lasting memories from this tournament.
The first was a storming 60m run that left three defenders in his wake and sparked comparisons with All Blacks great Jonah Lomu.
His second was the matchwinner in the final act of the game, using his pace and size to charge past a tiring defence.
"I got told by Tietj to have a go," the beaming sevens greenhorn said.
"The last couple of tournaments under my belt really helped me.
"I'd be lying if I said we weren't shaken a little bit (when trailing) but we trusted our fitness, that was what got us through in the end."
- NZPA