New Zealand see off rivals Australia

 If Fiji provided champions New Zealand with the sternest test in the maiden season of IRB Sevens, in the 2000/01 season it was Australia who kept the kiwis honest until the final throw of the dice.

Australia, under Glen Ella, made every semi final of the series - the only side to achieve that feat - en route to a creditable second place.

Initially it was New Zealand and Fiji who renewed their rivalry of the previous season, the kiwis beating Serevi and the islanders in the first two finals of the season in Dubai and Durban.

Australia stormed back into contention, though, by winning the Wellington event before New Zealand pulled 12 points clear again by claiming the title in Hong Kong and the 30 series points that went with it.

The next two titles were both taken by Ella's men - in Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur - meaning that with three events to play the great trans-Tasman rivals were locked on 102 points apiece ahead of the Fijians on 92.

Cometh the hour, cometh the coach and the final three events in Tokyo, London and Cardiff were all taken by New Zealand and Gordon Tietjens, as they beat Ella's men in each of the remaining Cup finals.

New Zealand finished on 162 points, 12 clear of Australia in second place.