EMIRATES AIRLINE DUBAI 7s
DAY TWO
ENGLAND came from behind to beat reigning World Series champions Samoa in the final of the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens and take an early lead in the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series.
Ben Ryan's side trailed 14-12 at half time and 21-12 with three minutes remaining, but scored three tries by Simon Hunt, Dan Norton and Mat Turner to seal victory 29-21 in front of an expectant ex-pat crowd.
Earlier, Oliver Lindsay-Hague's brace had kept them in the game in response to Samoan tries from powerhouse forward trio Simaika Mikaele, Ofisa Treviranus and Alafoti Fa'osiliva.
England now lead the early Series standings with 24 points, ahead of Samoa (20) and Cup semi finalists New Zealand and Fiji (16).
South Africa beat Australia 19-12 to claim the Plate, the star of the show Cecil Afrika, who scored all three Springbok tries reversing the 19-14 defeat suffered to Michael O'Connor's side on day one.
Argentina defeated Zimbabwe 21-0 to take home the Bowl after Kenya had beaten France 26-0 to win the Shield.
Earlier, the two Cup semi finals provided some outstanding Sevens in front of a packed stadium at 7he Sevens. Firstly, it was Fautua Otto's remarkable try in the corner that stole the show during Samoa's 24-21 victory over Pacific neighbours Fiji, before Lyndsay-Hague's two tries helped England beat New Zealand 19-14 and reach their first Cup final since the 2009 London Sevens.
Samoa proved too strong for USA in the first of the four quarter finals. USA had not beaten Samoa since the 2007 South Africa Sevens in George, and their fortunes did not change against Stephen Betham's side with Otto's two tries contributing to the 38-5 defeat.
Fiji trailed South Africa 19-7 with less than two minutes remaining in their quarter final, but tries from Nasoni Roko and Seremaia Burotu secured a dramatic last minute victory to set up an all-Pacific semi final. Burotu had earlier run the entire length of the field to score a fine individual try for his first.
Dan Caprice was the recipient of some outstanding work from James Rodwell as once again England came from the brink against Australia to book their place in the next round. Australia captain Bernard Foley had given his side a 21-19 lead with less than a minute remaining but Caprice began and finished a sublime move. They will now play either New Zealand or Wales in the semi finals.
Current Rugby World Cup Sevens champions Wales could not stop New Zealand, as they suffered a 35-7 defeat to Gordon Tietjens' side in the fourth and final quarter final. Frank Halai scored two of their five tries, whilst Ifan Evans crossed for Wales.
Afrika Lights Up Plate Final As South Africa Beat Australia
Cecil Afrika stole the show in the Plate final as his hat-trick helped South Africa beat Australia 19-12 in the penulimate match of day two, with the crowd viewing some pulsating rugby. They had earlier beaten Wales 26-12 and USA 24-10 respectively in the two semi finals.
In the first semi final, Cecil Afrika ran in two first half tries and Kyle Brown immediately crossed in the second to give South Africa a 19-0 lead. Tries from Miles Craigwell and Roland Suniula did give USA a glimmer of hope but Mark Richards cemented South Africa's place in the final in the dying seconds.
John Grant scored his eighth and ninth tries of the tournament as Michael O'Connor's Australia defeated Wales 26-12 to set up a repeat of the Pool C match, despite Evans giving the Welsh the lead.
Argentina Bowl With 100% Record On Day Two
Argentina maintained their 100% record on day two and claimed some silverware in Dubai after beating Zimbabwe 21-0 in the Bowl final. Francisco Merello got the Pumas off to a flying start with two tries in the first half before Walter Weiss ensured the victory.
The South American side earlier recorded a 31-7 victory over Russia thanks to two tries from Diego Palma and Martin Lasalle and Zimbabwe proved too strong for Scotland, winning 28-12 in the semi finals. In the quarter final Argentina convincingly beat Kenya 43-0, Palma again scoring twice.
James Fleming scored his sixth try of tournament in the final seconds to book Scotland's place in the semi finals, beating European opponents France 28-22, and Zimambwe set up their semi final with Graham Shiel's side, beating Arabian Gulf 24-14.
Portugal, disappointed not to have made the Cup quarter finals having ended the pool stages on the same points as England and Fiji, lost 10-7 to Russia in the other quarter final.
Kenya Take Home The Shield
Kenya put their disappointing campaign behind them to win the Shield final after beating France 26-0. Humphrey Kayange once again lead from the front, spearheading each Kenyan attack, and scoring his fifth try of the tournament.
They had earlier beaten Portugal 19-12 in their semi final. Hugo Valente had given the Europeans a 5-0 lead but Andrew Amonde hit back with two quick tries, before captain Kayange's fourth try of the tournament secured victory for his side.
France had beaten the Arabian Gulf in their semi final, but the hosts' defeat was their last ever match as Arabian Gulf. For a while it looked as though they would reach the final having lead 19-14, but tries from Jean Baptiste Belanger and Renaud Delmas clinched a 26-19 victory for the French.
DAY ONE
England staged a great escape on day one at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, recovering from a loss against Portugal to beat Fiji and join the top seeds in the Cup quarter finals of the first event in this season's HSBC Sevens World Series.
Fiji still top the pool with the English going through in second place, and the United States booked a first ever place in the Dubai quarter finals.
"The amount of people who found it very good news that England were about to go into the Bowl was a real motivation. So out we come in our bright orange shirts and we proved a point that we weren't dead and buried, and that hopefully this side will prove that there is a bit more to them and we have got more in us," said England coach, Ben Ryan.
New Zealand and Australia were the day's only two unbeaten sides to top their respective pools each blooding six new players.
"I played all the young boys in that game [against Argentina] because we had won our pool and I had to see where they were at. I had to try them out and I think Declan O'Donnell is going pretty well, and Bryce Heen. The big boys out there, they will come good I am pretty sure they will," said New Zealand coach, Gordon Tietjens.
Australia head coach Michael O'Connor added: "He [John Grant] is new on the scene and obviously a big boy, he carries the ball well and he has good wheels. He is still learning the game though and I think he is a really good prospect."
Reigning World Series champions Samoa survived an early scare to come from behind and draw with Wales, and then beat Kenya to proceed to the last eight with the impressive Welsh.
Pool A 
Reigning World Series champions Samoa began the defence of their title with a 21-21 draw with Wales and victories over hosts Arabian Gulf and Kenya. The current Rugby World Cup Sevens champions, Wales, followed their impressive performance against Samoa with a 17-12 victory over Kenya thanks to Ifan Evans' second and third tries of the tournament. They secured their place in the Cup quarter final and remained unbeaten after beating Arabian Gulf 47-5.
Samoa's Alafoti Fa'osiliva and Kenya captain Humphrey Kayange earlier scored hat-tricks against the hosts, as the Arabian Gulf also suffered a 31-19 defeat at the hands of Kenya.
Pool B 
The defending Dubai champions New Zealand won all three of their pool matches on day one, with Toby Arnole scoring five tries in their 31-7 and 59-0 victories over USA and Zimbabwe.
Having recently scooped a fourth successive Commonwealth Games gold medal, they started as favourites for this tournament and Gordon Tietjens' new look squad went on to beat Argentina 24-19 with newcomer Bryce Heem scoring twice.
Zimbabwe caused the first major upset of day one, beating Argentina 24-14 with tries from Njabula Ndlovu, Tangai Nemadire and two from Mbanje giving head coach Liam Middleton a perfect start before their match with New Zealand before their 28-12 loss to USA.
Al Caravelli's side booked their first ever Dubai Sevens Cup quarter final with that victory after they had earlier beaten their South American neighbours 24-19 with the impressive Zach Test scoring two.
Pool C 
Australia ended day one with a 100% record, after beating South Africa 19-14 in the final match of day one at the Sevens.
The third-placed team in last year's World Series standings got off to a flying start against Scotland, scoring seven tries in their 41-14 win. Big John Grant scored twice, whilst Andrew Skeen scored both of Scotland's two late tries. Michael O'Connor's side scored a further four tries in their second pool match, a 28-19 victory over Russia, including Grant's third of the tournament and two from Hamish Angus.
South Africa, whom Australia beat in the recent Commonwealth Games semi finals in Delhi, needed all their wits about them to grind out a 19-10 win over rugged Russia but could only draw 19-19 with Scotland.
Kyle Brown scored two tries in the first half, but Peter Horne scored at the death to level the scores. Andrew Skeen then missed the opportunity to beat Paul Treu's side as he hit the post with his conversion with the scores locked. Graham Shiel recorded his first Sevens victory as his side went on to beat Russia 26-10.
Pool D 
Simon Hunt came off the bench to score a try after the hooter had gone to send the partisan crowd at 7he Sevens into raptures.
Locked at 21-21, England were heading to the Bowl competition for the first ever time in Dubai having lost to Portugal 14-12 earlier in the day, but Hunt crossed in the corner to spark wild celebrations.
Portugal had shocked the crowd in their second match of day one against England, the first time they have ever beaten their European opponents, thanks to two Frederico Oliveira tries and nerves of steel from Pedro Leal, who stepped up to kick the decisive conversion.
Fiji won their opening two matches of the 2010/11 HSBC Sevens World Series, beating Portugal 31-7 in the opening match of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, and France 35-5. Josefa Bole crossed for the first try of the tournament against Portugal, before Emosi Vucago scored his second of the tournament against France.
Earlier England trailed twice against France in the second match of the day but two tries either side of half-time from Dan Caprice and one each for Isoa Damu and Simon Hunt secured a 24-12 victory.
RESULTS
POOL A
Samoa 21 - 21 Wales
Kenya 31 - 19 Arabian Gulf
Samoa 54 - 12 Arabian Gulf
Kenya 12 - 17 Wales
Wales 47 - 5 Arabian Gulf
Samoa 26 - 7 Kenya
POOL B
New Zealand 31 - 7 United States
Argentina 14 - 24 Zimbabwe
New Zealand 59 - 0 Zimbabwe
Argentina 19 - 24 United States
United States 28 - 12 Zimbabwe
New Zealand 24 - 19 Argentina
POOL C
Australia 41 - 14 Scotland
South Africa 19 - 10 Russia
Australia 28 - 19 Russia
South Africa 19 - 19 Scotland
Scotland 26 - 10 Russia
Australia 19 - 14 South Africa
POOL D
Fiji 31 - 7 Portugal
England 24 - 12 France
Fiji 35 - 5 France
England 12 - 14 Portugal
Portugal 26 - 14 France
Fiji 21 - 26 England
BOWL QUARTER FINAL
Zimbabwe 24 - 14 Arabian Gulf
BOWL QUARTER FINAL
Scotland 28 - 22 France
BOWL QUARTER FINAL
Portugal 7 - 10 Russia
BOWL QUARTER FINAL
Kenya 0 - 43 Argentina
BOWL SEMI FINAL
Scotland 17 - 28 Zimbabwe
BOWL SEMI FINAL
Argentina 31 - 7 Russia
BOWL FINAL
ARGENTINA 21 - 0 Zimbabwe
SHIELD SEMI FINAL
France 26 - 19 Arabian Gulf
SHIELD SEMI FINAL
Kenya 19 - 12 Portugal
SHIELD FINAL
KENYA 26 - 0 France
PLATE SEMI FINAL
Australia 26 - 12 Wales
PLATE SEMI FINAL
United States 10 - 24 South Africa
PLATE FINAL
SOUTH AFRICA 19 - 12 Australia
CUP QUARTER FINAL
New Zealand 35 - 7 Wales
CUP QUARTER FINAL
Australia 21 - 24 England
CUP QUARTER FINAL
Fiji 21 - 19 South Africa
CUP QUARTER FINAL
Samoa 38 - 5 United States
CUP SEMI FINAL
England 19 - 14 New Zealand
CUP SEMI FINAL
Samoa 24 - 21 Fiji
CUP FINAL
Samoa 21 - 29 ENGLAND
FIXTURES & STANDINGS 
