TV commentators Melodie Robinson and Willie Los'e reflect on the opening round of the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in Dubai, which was won by New Zealand after a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the final against Australia.

Melodie Robinson, on the depth of competition

There is no doubt that teams have put a lot more work into their conditioning and their skill-set in the off-season. For instance, the width of passing and accuracy from some of the non-traditional nations was really impressive. One of the great stories of this competition was France who, after concentrating on 15s for a very long time, have been in camp since September focusing on their sevens skills. With their top four finish France showed they have improved beyond all recognition and are right in contention.

USA didn’t play particularly well in this tournament but they have got some great crossover athletes and, with time, they will surely come good. Russia are such an unorthodox team it is ridiculous and then you’ve got Fiji who played some horrible rugby on day one before getting it together, playing a basketball style of rugby that was so unusual and unique that defensive systems find it hard to read, to make the Plate final. The gap between the big nations like New Zealand, Australia and England and the rest has really tightened up. New Zealand only won this by very small margins.

Willie Los'e, on what impressed him

I think the players’ improved skill set is the biggest difference I have noticed in women’s rugby, especially in the last three years, At times in the past we’d see the ball getting dropped and the passes would only be five to eight metres across whereas now they have learnt to pass on both sides, grubber kick, and make good decisions.

MR: Women's rugby has always had good skills but it has been limited to a few nations, now across the board you have got more countries able to do things on the field, like the wide passing game and there is a lot of variation in play, so basically the level of the playing field has really evened out and that is fantastic.

WL: From an individual point of view, with two tries in the final, New Zealand captain Sarah Goss stood up when it really mattered against Australia. To steal it, (after trailing 17-0), was something really special. It sets it up beautifully, because we had two finals that went to extra-time and golden point and that shows the quality of sevens that we are seeing now.

MR:I think New Zealand are vulnerable because they are experimenting with their team a little, but you’d expect them and Australia to be there as well as France – if they continue on the same path – and possibly Canada, although they disappointed me in Dubai and may be under threat.

Who will qualify for the Olympics? 

WL: New Zealand and Australia have been the standouts for the last three years and will be there or thereabouts because they always make the semi-finals. I’m going to throw a dark horse in there too and say USA. I saw enough in this tournament that says to me they will be a real threat if they get some quality time together which I’m sure they will. Then it comes down to Canada or England and I’m going to go with England.