England’s sweet chariot swung low and ploughed into an oncoming red juggernaut as Wales fought back from 10 points behind to stun the World Cup hosts 28-25 in the biggest clash of the Rugby World Cup’s pool stages to date. “This game was about emotion,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland. “I think we wanted it more in the end.” Victory may have come at a cost, as Wales added Scott Williams (knee), Liam Williams (concussion) and Hallam Amos (shoulder) to a bulging injury list. England are not yet out of their own tournament but now face a do-or-die meeting with Australia. Elsewhere, South Africa atoned for their earlier humbling by Japan with a 46-6 win over Samoa, but captain Jean de Villiers was ruled out of the tournament and promptly retired after fracturing his jaw.
Blatter under investigation
Could the game finally be up for Sepp Blatter, for so long the scandal-proof president of football’s world governing body Fifa? Blatter has been put under investigation by the Swiss attorney general over an allegedly undervalued TV contract agreed in 2005 with Jack Warner, a former Fifa vice-president who is fighting extradition to the US over corruption charges. Still, despite mounting pressure to quit, history suggests it would be a mistake to underestimate Blatter, who will doubtless launch a full investigation into himself and subsequently find no evidence of wrongdoing. Meanwhile Uefa chief Michel Platini, long considered Blatter’s likely successor, is also under investigation, by Fifa’s independent ethics committee, over a 2m Swiss franc payment ($2.04m) uncovered by Swiss authorities.
Hamilton levels Senna record
A Japanese Grand Prix overshadowed by poignant memories of French driver Jules Bianchi’s fatal accident last year was won by Lewis Hamilton who, in doing so, equalled the record number of 41 GP victories set by Ayrton Senna. “I used to watch Ayrton race, and to come here and match his wins is fantastic,” Hamilton said of his childhood hero, another driver who died on the track. At Suzuka, the Briton overturned the pole position held by his Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg to win by 18.9 seconds and move 48 points clear in the drivers’ championship standings with five races remaining. “It’s going the wrong way,” bemoaned Rosberg, which by general agreement is never an ideal situation to be in during a motor race.
Armitstead takes world title
Lizzie Armitstead made it a year to remember by winning the world women’s senior road race cycling title in Richmond, Virginia. The 26-year-old became only the fourth British world road champion after a tactically perfect race, adding the title to the season-long World Cup she recently won for the second year running. Slovakia’s Peter Sagan claimed the rainbow jersey in the men’s race.
