New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens is hoping that he can unearth a new Christian Cullen in time to stop the Fijian juggernaut from speeding to yet another Hong Kong Sevens title.
Tietjens, who wastes no opportunity to point out that Fiji are the team to beat, was yesterday in a reminiscent mood thinking back to the good old days before last year's World Cup Sevens.
From 1994 to 1996, New Zealand reigned supreme here with the Teitjens-coached and Eric Rush-led side conquering all.
'In 1995 we had a guy called Cullen. I played him in the very first game and he scored the very first try for us. He did not play for the rest of the tournament but he came back the following year and made a name for himself,' related Tietjens.
Cullen has gone on to become a star fullback for the All Blacks. Now Tietjens hopes he can find another such player in his current squad - with the talent and individual skills to beat the Fijians.
'Do we have one? . . . well we will have to wait and see,' said Tietjens, soon after New Zealand had thrashed Singapore 59-0 in the opening game of the 1998 tournament.