We're almost at the halfway point of the HBSC World Rugby Sevens Series 2016-17 so it's time to take a look back at the first four rounds and assess the action so far.

Tournament: Dubai
Date: 4-5 December
Tournament points: 1,677
Tournament tries: 269
Tournament tackles: 1,364
Tournament winner: South Africa

For the opening round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2016-17 and the first tournament since rugby sevens’ debut at the Olympic Games, there were high expectations in Dubai and the action didn’t disappoint.

With coaching changes aplenty, including Ben Ryan’s departure from Fiji, Damian McGrath’s move to Canada and New Zealand’s interim coaches taking over, the outcome in Dubai was far from a foregone conclusion. The highlights of the Cup quarter-finals were England’s dramatic 24-21 sudden death win over Scotland and Wales’ first Cup quarter-final win since Glasgow in 2013, when they beat Australia 21-12.

Fiji beat England 31-12 in the Cup semi-final, a repeat of the 2015 Dubai final, and South Africa continued their march onwards with a convincing 36-5 victory over Wales in the other side of the draw. With a Fiji-South Africa final set up, it was the Blitzboks who blew away the Pacific islanders with a four-try 26-14 win. South Africa, series runners-up for four years, started their 2016-17 campaign with a bang.

HIGHLIGHTS: South Africa start series with epic win in Dubai
South Africa kicked off their HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series campaign with a win in Dubai.

Tournament: Cape Town
Date: 10-11 December
Tournament points: 1,787
Tournament tries: 276
Tournament tackles: 1,438
Tournament winner: England

Onwards the series rolled to the picturesque scenery of Cape Town. South Africa, on home soil, looked firm favourites after progressing to the Cup final, beating Wales in quarters (33-0) and New Zealand in the semis (14-7), but faced an England side in fine form in the final. Coach Simon Amor’s side had beaten Scotland once more in the business end of the tournament, winning 33-14 in the Cup semi-final, and faced a fierce home crowd.

In the final, despite Werner Kok scoring in the final few seconds with England down to six men, a missed conversion from Justin Geduld ensured Amor’s side won their first Cup since Tokyo 2015, and narrowly trailed the Blitzboks in the series standings going into Wellington.

HIGHLIGHTS: England stun South Africa in Cape Town!
England beat South Africa 19-17 in the final to win the HSBC Cape Town Sevens!

Tournament: Wellington
Date: 28-29 January
Tournament points: 1,597
Tournament tries: 253
Tournament tackles: 1,574
Tournament winner: South Africa

It was the Sonny Bill Williams show back in 2016 at the HSBC Wellington Sevens, and in 2017 it was all about South Africa’s Seabelo Senatla. The Blitzboks flyer was top try-scorer in the tournament with eight, won the DHL Impact Player and was also named the HSBC Player of the Final after his side bagged their second win of the series with a 26-5 victory over Fiji.

Earlier in the tournament, it was Canada who had looked like a surprise package, getting to the Cup semi-finals after beating Argentina 17-12 in the last eight. Scotland had also exacted revenge on England with a 14-12 win in the Cup quarters, but it was Fiji and South Africa who eventually made it to their second head-to-head final meeting of the series.

HIGHLIGHTS: South Africa storm to win in Wellington
South Africa scooped their second tournament win of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tournament: Sydney
Date: 4-5 February
Tournament points: 1,498
Tournament tries: 239
Tournament tackles: 1,446
Tournament winner: South Africa

Momentum was with Neil Powell’s South Africa outfit, going into the fourth tournament of the series with three finals and two tournament wins under their belt. In Sydney, hosts Australia looked dangerous, beating Wales 26-0 in the Cup quarter-finals. New Zealand also found themselves in the semi-finals, after beating Fiji 24-21 in a thrilling quarter-final.

England’s consistency prevailed, beating New Zealand 12-5 in the Cup semi-finals, while South Africa beat the hosts 26-12 to reach their fifth consecutive final on the series. Having lost out to England in Cape Town, Powell’s side produced a clinical masterclass in finishing to win 29-14. Four tournaments, three wins. Could 2016-17 be their time? 

HIGHLIGHTS: South Africa win big in Sydney
South Africa won the HSBC Sydney Sevens, their third tournament win of the series