The evolving game of Sevens
Te Nana, who is now a World Rugby ambassador and Sevens commentator, scored 113 tries in 42 tournaments for New Zealand during his career.
He was also part of the New Zealand Sevens team that won gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.
The 40-year-old was part of the early years of the Sevens World Series and admitted the fast-paced nature of the game has evolved over the years.
However, he dispelled the notion that the free-flowing game of Sevens has become more structured.
"I wouldn't say it is more structured," said Te Nana. "I would say there is more contact and there is a lot more physicality involved.
"I think the breakdown has become really important and the kick offs is probably another area that the game has taken to another level."
Te Nana also believes the modern-day Sevens player is a different beast to the ones that played the game at the turn of the century 15 years ago.
"It is hard to compare at times, but I just think the guys are a lot fitter, a lot faster, a lot stronger and with that comes the physicality of the game.
"I think that is probably the major difference, but also I think there is an area and a time in the game where you can use the space and your skills.
"You can't just be one dimensional, you got to be multidimensional," Te Nana added.
The 2015/16 Sevens World Series might be in full swing, but the Olympic Games in Rio next year is in the back of many team's mind.
Te Nana says the impact of this is evident on the field of play.
"At the moment I think the Series is probably in the forefront of their minds and at the back is definitely the Olympics.
"A lot of teams know that they are going to Rio and I think they are just building towards that.
"It is a great situation because in all these tournaments you get such high quality games every time these teams step out onto the park.
"It's only going to make these teams get closer and closer to each other and from what I have seen up to now there is no easy games anymore," said Te Nana.
While it may be still be early in this current Sevens season, there are a couple of teams that have caught Te Nana's attention with their performances in Dubai and Cape Town.
"I am impressed by Fiji. The way they finished last year to become champions and they did not skip a beat in Dubai as well.
"They were great Dubai. We have seen here in Cape Town that they were able to pile on a lot of points, but they are not invincible either.
"I think the BlitzBoks will be thereabouts at the end, although they are missing Werner Kok, who is a huge link man for them.
"The likes of USA are also playing with a lot of confidence," he added.
By Warren Fortune
@FortuneWarren
@rugby365com
