Australia suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of England in the last of its group matches but still did enough to advance through to the quarter-finals of the Dubai leg of the IRB World Series Rugby Sevens.

The Aussies were hammered 33-5 by the old enemy in the final match of the day, with winger Tom Varndell producing two stunning pieces of finishing for the English side.

Earlier wins over Uganda (33-0) and Kenya (21-7) meant the Australians still progressed to the quarters, where they will face South Africa, who easily accounted for Argentina, Portugal and Scotland.

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