New Zealand reached the Dubai Sevens quarter-finals without conceding a point on Friday as their national women’s team claimed the title thanks to a last-second try.
The All Blacks saw off Japan 36-0, Scotland 43-0 and Samoa 41-0 to ease through Pool B and a Saturday quarter-final against England.
Fiji, the winners of the opening round of the Sevens World Series at Australia’s Gold Coast in October, also claimed three wins in Pool A and will take on Wales.
Saturday’s other quarter-finals pit Australia against Scotland while South Africa face Argentina.
In the women’s final, New Zealand beat Australia 19-17 thanks to a try on the full-time siren from captain Sarah Goss.
The victory completed a memorable fightback by the Kiwis who had trailed 17-0 at the interval after Emma Tonegato (two) and Amy Turner had scored tries for Australia.
