New Zealand's men's 7s team has been dealing with roadblock after roadblock these past few years, but maybe they enter the LA 7s with some much-needed momentum.

After ending the curtailed 2019-2020 season on top of the standings, the All Blacks 7s didn't play at all in 2021 thanks to their country's stringent COVID measures. Those measures kept New Zealand out of the World Series in 2021-22 until leg #5 in Singapore. That meant that the World Rugby best-seven-of-nine plan to help such teams didn't help the All Blacks 7s—they'd missed four tournament.

And yet, of course, they made it to the final in the first tournament in about two years. After taking 6th in Vancouver and stumbling a bit to 9th in Toulouse, the Kiwis took 2nd in London and won it all in Los Angeles to cap off the season.

It was typical New Zealand tenacity. Yes, South Africa, Fiji, and Australia were pushing for the World Series title in Los Angeles, the All Blacks 7s stole a little limelight for themselves but showing they can be the best, too.

However, injuries struck in the fall leading into Hong Kong—veteran and all-time great Tim Mikkelson returned from injury only to be felled once again. Perhaps shaken a bit by that New Zealand didn't make the Cup Quarterfinals in Hong Kong. However, they have rebounded nicely in the following events, taking third in Dubai and 2nd in a rainy Cape Town to sit 3rd in the World Series standings.

They made that Cape Town final despite losing 14-10 to Spain in their opener, a wakeup call if ever they needed one. But it's worth noting they also had to come back to beat Argentina in pool play, where a loss would have seen them miss out on the quarters again. 

As it was Roderick Solo's try with a minute left turned a 15-14 deficit into a 21-15 victory, his team's first lead of the game.

A quarterfinal tilt against upstarts Uruguay game the All Blacks which allowed Moses Leo (three tries) and teenager Caleb Tangitau (two tries) to stretch their legs. And then their semifinal again the USA was perhaps their best performance. Behind Akuila Rokolisoa's two tries they struck quickly and then, when the Eagles put themselves within striking distance at 19-17, struck for two more to put the game away 33-17. 

A series of ups and downs already... and we're just getting started @Capgemini | #HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/CovE8CqBEM

— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) January 5, 2023