SCOTLAND will face New Zealand today in the second session of the Glasgow Sevens at Scotstoun after finishing second in their pool behind Fiji to reach a cup quarter-final for the fifth time this season, despite a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the squad's future participation in the World Series.

The sunshine at Scotstoun however acted as an antidote to gloomy rumours of the squad's demise, as did the party atmosphere of the fancy-dress-filled east stand. And perhaps just as well there was this distraction because however enthusiastic a rugby follower you are, a whole day of sevens needs to be broken with a little levity.

The Scotstoun event, however, is not the only sevens tournament to encourage revelling. Those who regularly attend the sevens tournaments in the warmth of Dubai or Hong Kong will have experienced "crowd entertainment" which at times can cap the action.

Yesterday, on the first session of the weekend-long Glasgow Sevens, the partying crowd was less subdued when Scotland took the field for their opener against Portugal. The Iberians may not be familiar to the Scottish rugby public, but their strong track record on the World Series circuit speaks for itself.

And it did against Scotland despite an early score by home skipper Scott Riddell carved out by veteran Colin Gregor, who was equalling the record number of caps in his 57th tournament held by Andrew Turnbull.

But the party stand went eerily quiet as Portugal ran in two tries before scores by James Johnstone and Mark Robertson gave Scotland a 19-14 victory. It was a shaky performance though and not what the Scotland squad, under the threat of the axe, needed to advance their case for preservation in front of the Murrayfield money men.

The axe. Surely not? Scotland legend John Jeffrey, a member of World Rugby, believes that if sevens is no longer serving a useful function then it is difficult to justify its existence. Speaking at Scotstoun the 'White Shark' said: "How many future international players is the sevens developing?"

Perhaps the current sevens squad is not a XVs production line but there is little question that two of Scotland's most recent XV caps, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Adam Ashe, developed hugely after playing on the World Rugby Series Circuit. To that list can be added (from past seasons) Peter Horne, Greig Laidlaw and many more.

Meanwhile, a World Rugby insider admitted the loss of Scotland would be a blow to the game.

"Scotland bring great experience to the circuit," the official stated.

The World Series exit issue is linked to Scotland losing its status as a host country. Although no official announcement has been made, France are expected to host a tournament next season. The French Federation have staged World Series tournaments in the past in Paris and Bordeaux but neither venue proved a success. Strange then there is enthusiasm to go Gallic once again.

So the argument being put forward from Murrayfield appears to be: no tournament in the World Series, no team in the World Series.

If the Scotland case needed endorsement then it came with a win over Wales in their second-round tie. Classic sevens rugby it was not but in a tough and physical tie it was the Scots who prevailed with a first-half touchdown by James Johnstone and then a try at the death by winger James Fleming.

The win gave the Scots a place in today's cup quarter-final, but who they would play depended on the results of the last tranche of matches. New Zealand topped their group but for Scotland a group win depended on a result against Fiji in the final match yesterday.

In the event Fiji showed why they are regarded as the masters of the short game with a display of skilful off-loading that was too much for Scotland defence. In all Fiji won 45-5, the Scots' only points coming from winger James Fleming. It may have been a meaningless final tie for Scotland but the result perhaps will focus minds ahead of the Scots' meeting with New Zealand today.