IRB Sevens World Series - Twickenham
The Sevens party arrives at Twickenham
Chris Cracknell
May 10, 2013
England Sevens star Chris Cracknell promotes the safari-themed London 7s, April 18, 2013
Chris Cracknell gets decked out in safari gear © RFU
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You can always rely on Scotland to provide awful Sevens weather!! On the flip side, what a cracking weekend for the penultimate round of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

After a less convincing start against New Zealand, England started to put into practice the training we have done over the last few weeks. The team started to work the ball into space and back our ability as individuals to produce some scintillating tries - be that team or solo efforts.

Despite this we were ransacked with injuries (seems to be the story of our season) and going into the third/fourth play-off against Wales we had just eight-and-a-half players fit. I know what you're thinking, violin et al, but the number of injuries we have had this season and over the weekend makes it very hard to settle as a team, regardless of how well you know each other off the pitch. So this is more of a well done to the lads, as I know first-hand how tough it is going into a game held together by tape knowing you have no one to sub on. It is grin and bear it time and our boys showed some serious mettle to stick at it and produce a win over a very fine Welsh team.

Now on to this weekend and the final round of the season. We all know (as all my Kiwi mates in south west London like to remind me daily) New Zealand have wrapped up an eleventh series win and congratulations to them for that. But more importantly, for us anyway, the Marriott London Sevens is set to break a world record with around 110,000 people expected over the weekend. The weekend is set to be bonkers, especially for those of you making the effort to get dressed up in safari outfits!

England Sevens players players Chris Cracknell, Dan Norton, Tom Mitchell, Alice Richardson and Michaela Staniford go the extra mile to promote the safari-themed London 7s
England Sevens stars as you have never seen them before © RFU
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HSBC are also searching for the ultimate Sevens Fan in London. So far, eight tournament winners have been selected from each leg of the Series but at the London Sevens there's one final chance to be crowned the ultimate #SevensFan (note you'll need this hash tag) before the Series comes to a close.

By submitting your photos from the London Sevens using the hashtag #SevensFan via Instagram and Twitter you can compete to be named fan of the tournament but also have the chance to claim the title of overall fan of the Series and a win a VIP trip for four to a Sevens World Series destination of your choice next season. For more information visit the HSBC #SevensFan tab at www.facebook.com/irbsevens

For the rest of us, well the boys involved anyway, while you are partying and cheering until your voice is hoarse, the guys will provide the entertainment in the middle and do battle like animals in the jungle (see what I've done there). With plenty of exciting rugby, tries, off-loads, the lot, you will not be disappointed. As if that wasn't enough, the West Car Park has more going on than a party that would have been put on if the world was about to end!

Unfortunately for me this season has never really got started and I recently underwent a second operation on my knee, which was gutting to say the least. This means it is back to the grind stone on the rehab front for me. However I have been asked to work for HSBC this coming weekend in their lounge in the village alongside the likes of Lewis Moody and Jamie Roberts so it is not all doom and gloom. I am certainly looking forward to a cracking weekend and I'm off to buy my lemur monkey outfit right now!!

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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