Who says that England cannot play creative rugby? After two competent but slightly workmanlike performances against weaker opposition in their opening matches at the Emirates Dubai Sevens yesterday, England came alive in their final pool match to dispatch Fiji, one of the perennial favourites, 28-5.

It earns them a quarter-final match today against Argentina, but if there is a booby prize, it is that England will probably have to play New Zealand in the semi-finals, ten minutes before their 15-a-side compatriots kick off at Twickenham. The All Blacks began their defence of the IRB Sevens World Series title in style with three comprehensive victories, including a 33-7 thrashing of Australia.

England’s performance stood out on what was otherwise another grim day for northern-hemisphere rugby. Wales, beaten heavily by New Zealand, had their chances against Australia but went down 22-17; France lost to Samoa and Argentina; while Scotland were embarrassed 38-0 by Kenya, outclassed by South Africa and had to score in the last minute to beat the lowly Arabian Gulf.

The loss of Ben Gollings, the long-serving England fly half, before play started with a suspected tear to his left calf, did not distract his team against Fiji. Two minutes into the game a brawl broke out after a Fiji tackle on Ollie Phillips that was almost high enough to scalp him and from that point England were in no mind to be bullied. They scored two tries before half-time and it could have been four. Isoa Damu, who had scored in England’s wins over Portugal and the United States, powered through the Fiji defence for the first try, then Uche Oduoza chased his own curling kick down the right touchline to score.

A minute later the rampaging Oduoza was pushed into touch near the Fiji line and then had what appeared — and was signalled — a try on the stroke of half-time cancelled out by a touch judge spotting a forward pass. Mickey Young scored from a lineout at the start of the second half and Damu chipped over the Fiji defence and gathered the ball as he dived across the line.

Damu was England’s most potent attack all day. He scored England’s second try against Portugal and created their third with a deft inside pass for Chris Cracknell to score. Later, Damu was sin-binned against the United States for an enthusiastic but nonetheless try-saving tackle, but returned to score a splendid length-of-the-field try, easing up in the final 20 metres almost to taunt those mere mortals flailing in his wake.

Wales lost the day’s opening game to New Zealand 28-7 but were perhaps unlucky not to beat Australia. Two good try-scoring chances in the second half were spurned when a final touch or burst of speed was needed. A late consolation try that made the scoreline respectable.

There would have been no shame in Scotland being beaten by Kenya, who beat England three times in last year’s World Series, but to lose 38-0 was soul-destroying for this young team. Perhaps they were overawed by the 50,000 noisy spectators at Dubai’s new stadium. In their first match, against South Africa, they didn’t cross the halfway line until the turn-around and lost 31-10.

Poor tackling cost Scotland against Kenya, with Collins Injera taking the ball in his own 22, breaking down the right wing and then, with two Scotland defenders to beat, selling them a dummy for Kenya’s first try after 37 seconds. He completed his hat-trick in the second half. In the light of that, a 19-14 win over the Arabian Gulf almost looked an achievement but Scotland needed Roddy Grant to score in the last minute to get the win.