South Africa overcame England in a dramatic final to win the Dubai Sevens 19-12 to get their Sevens World Series campaign off to the perfect start on Saturday.

South Africa will now head to home territory at George next week where they will attempt to win their home event for the first time.

They hold an early four-point lead over England in the World Series, with New Zealand and Fiji a further four behind, having lost their respective semi-finals.

Samoa won the plate, Portugal the bowl and the United States the shield.

Australia suffered a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to the Samoans in a plate semi-final.

The new-look Australian side, almost exclusively untried in the sevens arena, took the well-credentialled islanders to the brink before Samoa held their nerve for the three-point triumph.

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