Dubai Day 2: Plus ça change…

Day two also amptly demonstrated that performances on the first day are often no guide to how teams will perform on the second.

United States had had a superbDay oneand were expected to push their Canadia all the way in their quarter-final, but it was the team in red who swept to a comprehensive 36-0 win. Australia were also too strong for Fiji, winning 48-0.

Then came game three. France had had a relatively good opening day, but England had had an even better one and started as comfortable favourites. However, France had other ideas. In the closest of contests a converted third minute try by Fanny Horta was the difference. England were unable to reply until the final play of the game - but Alice Richardson could not convert Jo Watmore's try, and France were into the last four.

The final quarter final also came close to a surprise as Russia raced into a 12-0 lead against New Zealand, before three Ferns tries gave them a 19-12 lead. Russia were not finished, however, and a last minute try gave them a chance to tie the game but, as with England, the kick was missed.

The resulting Plate competition featured three terrific games. First Fiji beat USA 24-21, despite a great fightback by the Americans who were 19-0 down at one stage. England then held out to beat Russia 21-19 as again the Russians were unable to convert a final kick that would have tied the game. And in the Plate Final England had to come from behind to tie with Fiji before winning in extra time.

The Cup semi-finals were not nearly as dramatic, but the third place game between France and Canada was a superb appetizer for the final, a long, long final play seeing both teams almost dead on their feet before Canada could snatch the game in extra time.

And so to the final, which despite all of the ups and downs of the previous two days, was again Australia vs New Zealand - as it was so often last season. However in a complete role reversal of this time last year in Dubai, it was New Zealand's women who came from behind.

Twelve months ago, Australia had come storming back from 27-7 down early in the second half, scoring four converted tries to complete a remarkable 35-27 win and claim their first title on the World Series.

This time it was New Zealand who overturned a 17-0 deficit to win 19-17, and it was inspirational captain Goss, who played on day two with a broken finger, who dotted down in the corner with time up on the clock to steal victory from Australian hands and leave Sharni Williams and her teammates devastated.

Speaking after lifting the trophy Goss said: “It's unbelievable really. We pride ourselves on finishing at the end so we're really happy. They came out firing as we knew they would, but fortunately we finished the job off. It's brilliant."

New Zealand coach Sean Horan was delighted with resilience of his troops and reflected on how the quality of rugby has improved on the women's series.

"It's all about Olympic qualification and I've been blown away with the standards of all the teams. The programmes are progressing and the excitement of the game is growing hugely," said Horan

Elsewhere, the International Invitational tournament was a triumph for Ireland, who beat Australian invitational team Tribe 19-0 in the final, having seen off most of the Kazakhstani national team (playing as Almaty) 24-19 in the semi-final. Wales won the plate, beating Kenya 29-0.

Group A

Group B

Plate Semi Finals (5th-8th)

7th/8th Match

Plate final: 5th/6th Match

Group C

Bowl Semi Finals (9th-12th)

11th/12th Match

Bowl final:9th/10th Match

Quarter-finals (1st-8th)

Cup Semi Finals (1st-4th)

3rd/4th place

Cup Final: 1st/2nd place