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NZ women win Dubai seven’s plate

Perry Baker scored the opening try and missed a second in the second half when he couldn’t hold on to the ball after scooping it up near the tryline.

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“We obviously have a lot of history with them and it’s always nip-and-tuck whenever we play them”, he said.

The Americans finished third in a tournament to remember, beating powerful New Zealand twice including a 31-12 decision in the third-place match. Credit to New Zealand, they’re the top side in the world.

The win over reigning world champions New Zealand gave Australia a ideal boost going into the knockout rounds.

In the second half the South African’s increased their lead to 19-7 as the unstoppable Seanatla scored to the left of the posts for his seventh try of the tournament.

Mike Friday, the United States coach, said his side had ticked the final item off their rugby bucket list by beating New Zealand after the buzzer on Friday night. “The girls were great, we played like a team”.

The extent of Williams’ knee injury will be known after scans this week but with the second World Series round not until February 20-21 of 2016.

The other quarter-finals see Russian Federation face Spain and Australia play New Zealand.

In Dubai they proved that was no fluke with a rollercoaster struggle through Pool C.

The successful conversion by Madison Hughes sent the United States into the semi-finals and the South Africans into the Plate semi-final against Argentina.

The 16th edition of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series begins today in Dubai, and it promises to be the most exciting one yet.

Waisale Serevi, widely considered the best 7s player of all time, is the coach of this year’s Legends side, a team that boasts a collective 159 International Caps.

“But it’s a tough assignment for them because as soon as they take their eye off what they are doing in order to nullify us then we are able to create this aura about us”.

Kenya beat Japan 17-12, France beat Russian Federation 38-5, Wales beat Canada 24-14 and Scotland beat Portugal 21-14.

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Fiji’s Jasa Veremalua scores the try against England during the final match of the Dubai Sevens, … “I’m looking forward to the next round and then onwards towards Rio”.

Henry Speight Francois Hougaard Juan de Jongh and Augustine Pulu are all named in squads for the first round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series