Japan's prospects of topping Pool A at the rugby World Cup have strengthened

They've earned a four-try bonus point in a 38-19 win over Samoa, putting them three points clear of Ireland in the group.

In other results... Australia's beaten Uruguay 45-10 and England's defeated Argentina 39-10.



Italian prop Nicola Quaglio has been cited for his involvement in a tackle on South Africa's Duane Vermeulen during their rugby World Cup loss.

He had no action taken against him during Friday's match.

The disciplinary hearing's today.



Canterbury have tied Auckland's record for the most Ranfurly Shield tenures, securing the Log o' Wood for the 16th time with a 35-25 Mitre 10 Cup victory over Otago in Dunedin.

The win secures Canterbury a spot in the Premiership semi-finals.



Tottenham have plunged to a 3-0 loss at Brighton in football's English Premier League, compounding recent poor results.

Liverpool's maintained their unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory over Leicester, thanks to a stoppage-time penalty.

Aston Villa's beaten Norwich 5-1, Burnley's defeated Everton 1-nil and Watford and Sheffield United have drawn nil-all.



The New Zealand under-23 footballers have won the OFC Olympic-qualifying tournament in Fiji with a 5-nil victory over Solomon Islands to secure a spot at next year's Tokyo Games.



Rohit Sharma has broken the record for most sixes in a cricket test with 13, giving India a chance of victory at stumps on the fourth day against South Africa in Visakhapatnam .

He backed up his 176 with 127 to guide India to 323 for four declared.

The Proteas are 11 for one after getting set 395 to win.



Austria's Dominic Thiem has become the fifth player to qualify for the season-ending ATP tennis finals in London by reaching the final of the China Open.

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Daniil Medvedev had previously qualified.



Australian snooker player Neil Robertson will miss the Yushan World Open in China after travelling to the wrong Barnsley for his qualifier.

Robertson was due to play Ian Burns at the Barnsley Metrodome in Yorkshire, but found himself travelling to Barnsley in Gloucestershire instead.