24 nations, 288 players and millions of fans.
That is the best way to describe the atmosphere and the feeling as we get ready for kick off time for the 5th Rugby World Cup Sevens.
It is now less than 18 hours to go for the Digicel Fiji Sevens team to run into the Sevens Stadium in Dubai, their aim is to defy all odds and create history by being the first team to successfully defend the Melrose Cup and win the World Cup three times.
As expected, the tournament will be tough because many teams have become better tournament after tournament.
Upsets have been a common occurrence now in the IRB 7s series and who knows, it may be the same from tomorrow morning in the deserts of Dubai.
For the big guns, they need to be prepared as this tournament has six pools of four teams which means that they need to score maximum points in each pool match as only two best runner-up teams will join the pool table toppers in the Cup quarter finals.
We now look at Fiji going into this tournament.
Although we are the defending World Cup champions, based on the IRB Sevens series, we are going in as the underdogs as Fiji has not won a single tournament in the past 23 months.
But Fiji is definitely the best team on paper with the experienced players returning to boost our chances.
The most experienced player in the National 7s team, Vilimoni Delasau said the team is focused and they know that some people continue to criticize the team although the boys have been chosen to represent the country.
Some are so disappointed that they do not even want Fiji to win this weekend, based on the selection.
Delasau said the team which in Dubai is seeing these criticisms as a positive and an advantage.
Fiji coach Iliesa Tanivula who last played for the NZ 7s team in Dubai, said rugby is in his blood and they will try their best to do well for the country.
But one of the top favourites for this year's World Cup is South Africa.
They won last year's Dubai and George Sevens and South African Sevens coach, Paul Treu said they have learnt a lot of lessons in New Zealand and USA this year.
Treu who was part of the World Cup team in 1997 which lost to Fiji in the final said the race for this year's World Cup is wide open.
The real question also in the minds of many is whether the England rose will bloom in Dubai this weekend.
English coach Ben Ryan said the team has grown from strength to strength and they just need to remain focused and not lose concentration as they did in the 2005 World Cup when Ben Gollings missed the conversion in the semi-final against Fiji, which led to sudden death and Waisale Serevi scoring that memorable try.
Then there is New Zealand which has the master tactician, Gordon Tietjens as coach.
Tietjens said he is closely monitoring all the teams and hoping that his team which is made up of players like Viliame Waqaseduadua, Tomasi Cama Junior and Lote Raikabula take the Melrose Cup to the Land of the Long White Cloud.
So we are almost there, all the talk, praises, hopes and criticisms done, the World Cup Sevens tournament is set to begin from 1 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Some have said that for the Fiji 7s team in this year's World Cup, the situation is different with people disagreeing with the team selection and even yelling abuse at our players who have donned the National team jersey.
But as our boys prepare to defend our proud rugby reputation in Dubai, we pay respect to the dozens of players who have proudly represented our nation over the years.
Their patriotism and sacrifice have made the White Jersey and its coconut tree emblem something looked upon with respect, admiration and pride.
The tradition continues as Semisi Naevo, Apolosi Satala, Napolioni Nalaga, Pio Tuwai, Jerry Burotu, Jone Daunivucu, Vilimoni Delasau, Neumi Nanuku, Vereniki Goneva, Peni Rokodiva Junior, Waisale Suka and Orisi Sareki don the Fiji jersey to runb into the Dubai stadium tomorrow morning.
5th sevens world cup set to kick off
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