Dubai: South Africa and England emerged unscathed on a day of shocks as the new IRB Sevens World Series got underway in Dubai today.
England, chasing a third successive victory in the traditional opening leg of the championship, finished top of the group to book a quarterfinal today against Australia, more on them later.
And South Africa also went through in convincing fashion, living up to their billing as event favourites.
But elsewhere there was a series of upsets as the established order took a beating, much to the delight of a capacity crowd which was buffeted by high winds and slight rain late in the day.
The fun started with Australia - who had to select virtually a brand-new squad less than a week ago because of a payment row with players - going down 12-10 to Portugal in only the second game of the day.
But Glen Ella's squad showed real character to dominate Kenya and then stunned world series champions Fiji 19-14 to secure a place in the last eight against England.
Tunisia also upset the odds with a 24-10 defeat of Argentina who surprisingly lost to Canada. And minnows Zimbabwe made light of a difficult preparation period by overwhelming France 19-7.
Wales' young side, too, got in on the act with a hard-earned 17-14 defeat of Samoa who ended the day on a high with the narrowest of wins over New Zealand.
England, though, had no such problems although coach Mike Friday said his side - who debuted new shirts featuring 12 small reflective circles against France - still had plenty to work on.
"Australia are going to be very tough," he said. "They will be very buoyant after beating Fiji and confidence will be high. They will think that we're there for the taking." The form side of the day, though, was South Africa although coach Paul Treu attempted to dilute rising hopes of a first win in Dubai since 2003.
He said: "I've seen so many things happen in the past that you cannot take anything for granted.
"I'm still not happy with certain aspects of our play ... we lost the ball in contact and there were too many turnovers, but I was pleased with our restarts and the way we contested the ball on the ground."
It was an extremely difficult day for the home team, the Arabian Gulf, who put their heart into games against New Zealand, Samoa and Wales but still shipped 155 points without reply.
Quarterfinal line-up:
Fiji v France, New Zealand v Canada, South Africa v Samoa, England v Australia.
Results
IRB World Series
Fiji 45 Kenya 0
Australia 10 Portugal 12
South Africa 47 Canada 5
Argentina 12 Tunisia 24
New Zealand 31 Wales 12
Samoa 54 Arabian Gulf 0
England 38 Scotland 0
France 7 Zimbabwe 19
Fiji 36 Portugal 0
Australia 24 Kenya 7
South Africa 33 Tunisia 12
Argentina 17 Canada 28
New Zealand 54 Arabian Gulf 0
Samoa 14 Wales 17
England 29 Zimbabwe 0
France 21 Scotland 14
Kenya 0 Portugal 29
Canada 19 Tunisia 14
Wales 47 Arabian Gulf 0
Scotland 19 Zimbabwe 17
Fiji 14 Australia 19
South Africa 40 Argentina 7
New Zealand 7 Samoa 10
England 19 France 7
International Invitation
Quarter-finals
VVA Podmoskovje 20 KooGa Wailers 12
St Georges 19 Steelers 17
Kentz Drifters 14 Borneo Eagles 5
Christina Nobel 47 Froggies 7
Plate quarter-finals
QUT 33 DHL Baghdaddis 14
Marauders 28 Dynamo 7
Stefan BHF 12 Holmans 26
Suzie's Badgers 58 Wyvern Harlequin 7
International Overseas
Quarter-finals
Navy Sharks 14 Pyrenees 22
PricewaterhouseCoopers 22 Racing Club 7
CGS OB 38 Pie and Pint 7
Redingensations 52 Alec 0
Plate quarter-finals
Varsity Blues 31 Tehran 0
Barrelhouse 14 Reuters 19
Blackpool Exiles 19 HMS Sutherland 17
DHL Bagmummies 21 Clyde & Co 14
Gulf tournament
League A: Dubai Exiles 38 Abu Dhabi 0
Saudi Scorpions 41 Saudi Select 0
Dubai Exiles 63 Saudi Select 0
Saudi Scorpions 26 Abu Dhabi 21
Abu Dhabi 25 Saudi Select 0
Dubai Exiles 41 Saudi Scorpions 0
League B: Dubai Exiles II 41 Lanka Lions 0
Al Ain 36 Riyadh 5
Dubai Exiles II 51 Riyadh 0
Al Ain 36 Lanka Lions 0
Lanka Lions 29 Riyadh 5
Dubai Exiles II 33 Al Ain 0
League C: Dubai Dragons 21 Kuwait Nomads 0
Cairo w/o Alexandria
Dubai Dragons w/o Alexandria
Cairo 12 Kuwait Nomads 35
Kuwait Nomads 40 Alexandria 0
Dubai Dragons 45 Cairo 0
League D: Dubai Hurricanes 52 PDO Pirates 5
Damascus Zenobians 21 Kuwait Nomads II 12
Dubai Hurricanes 45 Kuwait Nomads II 5
Damascus Zenobians 22 PDO Pirates 10
PDO Pirates 10 Kuwait Nomads II 19
Dubai Hurricanes 25 Damascus Zenobians 14
League E: Dubai Frogs 19 Barrelhouse 0
Beirut Phoenicians 21 Muscat II 12
Dubai Frogs 28 Muscat II 12
Beirut Phoenicians 21 Barrelhouse 14
Barrelhouse 24 Muscat II 10
Dubai Frogs 12 Beirut Phoenicians 19
League F: Dubai Dragons II 7 Jeddah 14
Abu Dhabi II 14 Bahrain Firbolgs 0
Dubai Dragons II 0 Bahrain Firbolgs 31
Abu Dhabi II 7 Jeddah 33
Jeddah 7 Bahrain Firbolgs 15
Dubai Dragons II 21 Abu Dhabi II 12
League G: Jordan 12 Sharjah Wanderers 12
Bahrain 36 Dhofar Nomads 0
Jordan 52 Dhofar Nomads 0
Bahrain 27 Sharjah Wanderers 5
Sharjah Wanderers 49 Dhofar Nomads 0
Jordan 5 Bahrain 21
League H: Doha 48 Muscat 0
Dubai Hurricanes II 19 Falcons 17
Doha 29 Falcons 24
Dubai Hurricanes II Muscat
Muscat 0 Falcons 28
Doha 31 Dubai Hurricanes II 0
Local Social Quarter-finals
V Blacks 41 Dubai Celts 0
Nasa Multiplex 14 Christina Noble 24
Beavers 10 KooGa Kestrels 24
Flying Muppets 24 Oki Warriors 0
Plate quarter-finals
Dubai Lankans 20 Dubai Frogs 10
KLM Jinns 31 Islamabad Exiles 0
Dubai Seafarers 5 Wild Wadi 25
Barasti 34 RAK Goats 0
International Vets Quarter-finals
Christina Nobel Luxemburg OB
Warblers 14 British Army 0
Spoon AAs 40 Moscow Lads0
Swansea Uni OB 10 Marauders 31
Plate quarter-finals
Buccaneers 21 Barrelhouse 5
Old Wrecks 34 Kowloon Bedouins 5
Total Lions 17 Racing Club 15
London Welsh 19 Arabian Pot Bellied Pigs 5
International Ladies Quarter-finals
Rugby Ecosse 24 MGUS 0
Irish Babas 31 Khimki 0
Saracens 25 Wooden Spoons 5
Greater Little Rock 28 Pink Babas 0
Gulf Ladies League A: Dubai Exiles 29 Sharjah 0
Kuwait 10 Sharjah 0
Dubai Exiles 24 Kuwait 6
League B: Doha 30 Abu Dhabi 0
Hurricanes 30 Abu Dhabi 0
Doha 30 Hurricanes 0
Gulf Vets League A: Hurricanes 43 Al Ain 0
Bahrain 22 Iran Selection 0
Hurricanes 10 Iran Selection 0
Bahrain 22 Al Ain 7
Al Ain 5 Iran Selection 7
League B: Abu Dhabi 20 Hurricanes II 5
Kuwait 19 Cairo 0
Abu Dhabi 17 Cairo 0
Kuwait 7 Hurricanes II 12
Hurricanes II 0 Cairo 5
Abu Dhabi 14 Kuwait 0
League C:
Dubai Exiles 19 Das Island 7
Doha Dogs 31 Bahrain GO 5
Dubai Exiles 43 Bahrain GO 5
Doha Dogs 31 Das Island 0
Das Island 19 Bahrain GO 14
Dubai Exiles 5 Doha Dogs 5
League D:
Riyadh Scorpions 19 Sharjah 0
Dragons 38 Dubai Exiles II 0
Riyadh Scorpions 47 Dubai Exiles II 0
Dragons 15 Sharjah 0
Sharjah 31 Dubai Exiles II 0