Sebastian Vettel won his third straight Formula One world, fighting back after dropping to the back of the field during the first lap to finish sixth.
Fernando Alonso needed to make up a thirteen-point deficit to win the title and his second-placed finish behind Jenson Button wasn’t enough given Vettel’s sixth-placed finish.
England captain Chris Robshaw’s set-piece decision-making came into question again this weekend after England lost by the narrowest of margins to South Africa at Twickenham.
South Africa were leading 16-12 when England were awarded a penalty from with 90 seconds left to play and Robshaw instructed Owen Farrell to kick for goal rather than go for what would have been a match-winning try.
As it was, Farrell scored the three points but there was no time remaining for England to score again and South Africa won 16-15.
Scotland coach Andy Robinson resigned in the aftermath of his side’s embarrassing 21-15 defeat to Tonga.
Wales put up a fight but were ultimately powerless to resist New Zealand, who won their match 33-10. After a poor set of results this autumn, Wales must now avoid defeat against Australia next weekend to remain one of the top eight seeds in advance of the World Cup draw.
Kevin Pietersen’s reintegration to the England cricket team was no doubt helped with an excellent 186 against India in the second test in Mumbai.
England responded perfectly to last weekend’s disappointing defeat and look likely to level the series, in large part down to the spin bowling of Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann who combined to take all seven of India’s second-innings wickets to have fallen so far as well as nine in their first innings.
India lead by 31 going into the fourth day with three wickets remaining before England bat again.
In the Premier League, the weekend’s most hotly-anticipated match failed to live up to its billing as Chelsea and Manchester City both drew a blank at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s fans showed their displeasure at the appointment of Rafael Benitez before the match and his side did little to silence the critics.
The result played into the hands of Manchester United who regained top spot in the Premier League with a 3-1 win against QPR.
Arsenal and Liverpool both also failed to find the back of the net and had to settle for a disappointing 0-0 draws with Aston Villa and Swansea respectively.
Rory McIlroy brought the curtain down on a superb season, winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The world number one finished 23-under, two strokes ahead of Justin Rose and a further three in front of Luke Donald.
He carded a mammoth total of eight birdies and an eagle in an excellent final round of 62 on his way to the title.
