Inter Milan got back to winning ways in Serie A on Saturday with a convincing 3-1 win over Bologna at the Dall'Ara stadium extending their lead at the top to eight points ahead of Sunday's games.

Chelsea strengthened their position at the top of the Premier League by cruising to a 4-0 win over struggling Wolves on Saturday.

Jonathan Sexton announced his arrival in international rugby with a flawless performance in Ireland's comprehensive victory over Fiji here Saturday.

Scotland claimed their first win over Australia in nearly three decades after a defence-inspired 9-8 victory in their one-off Test match at Murrayfield here on Saturday.

France warmed up for their year-ending clash with New Zealand by cantering to a comfortable 43-5 win over Samoa in their second autumn Test match at the Stade de France here on Saturday.

Racing Metro put the absence of the influential Sebastien Chabal to the back of their minds as they dominated the 'battle of Paris' with a 20-18 victory over Stade Francais on Saturday.

The New Jersey Nets continued to slide toward the NBA record of 17 straight defeats to start a season on Saturday, dropping their 13th straight to the New York Knicks.

Scotland hooker Ross Ford fears Australia flanker Rocky Elsom will inflict yet another dose of misery at Murrayfield when the Wallaby captain takes the field here on Saturday.

France wing Vincent Clerc has warned his team-mates that they cannot afford to under-estimate Samoa prior to the clash between the sides at the Stade de France here on Saturday.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney decided Saturday's Test against Fiji was an opportunity to give his second-string a chance to shine.

Loosehead prop Wian du Preez will make his South Africa debut against Italy here on Saturday with Leicester Tiger Martin Castrogiovanni's snarling teeth ready to welcome him.

Wales replacement lock Bradley Davies has withdrawn from the squad to face Argentina here on Saturday with an ankle injury, the Welsh Rugby Union announced Thursday.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry said he was glad to have "some reality" at the scrum after the world referees' chief slammed Australian referee Stuart Dickinson's display in their match against Italy.

All Black playmaker Dan Carter was included in a near full-strength New Zealand side unveiled by coach Graham Henry here on Wednesday for this weekend's Twickenham encounter against England.

A replay of the controversial World Cup play-off between France and the Republic of Ireland is out of the question, the French Football Federation (FFF) said Friday, even as skipper Thierry Henry said he would back the idea following his handball gaffe.

Irish football chiefs renewed Friday an appeal for FIFA to order a handball-marred World Cup playoff with France to be replayed, after Thierry Henry said a re-match would be the "fairest solution."

World Cup qualifiers Ghana and Ivory Coast will clash in the first round of the African Nations Cup after the draw here Friday placed them in Group B with Burkina Faso and Togo.

Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic brimmed with confidence here Friday despite having to face fellow World Cup qualifiers Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso in the African Nations Cup 'Group of Death'.

Football's world ruling body FIFA on Friday officially turned down a request from the Irish football authorities to stage a replay of their controversial World Cup playoff defeat to France.

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Egypt following the violence before their World Cup qualifier with Algeria in Cairo last week, world football's governing body said.

Angry Ireland called on FIFA to allow its World Cup playoff with France to be replayed, as a dispute over Thierry Henry's blatant handball threatened to become a diplomatic row.