potential concepts to evolve its NASCAR Sprint Cup

LONDON -- England edged Ireland 13-10 in a test of breathless intensity at Twickenham to open up the Six Nations into a four-team race at the halfway point on Saturday. Ireland was the last unbeaten side in the championship after France fell to Wales on Friday, and was favoured to end a three-match losing run to England with a side with more than twice as many caps, rampant momentum, and added incentive to celebrate Brian ODriscolls world record-tying 139th test cap. But England, with unexpected daring, overturned a 10-3 deficit to lead again within eight minutes, and more than a quarter of the match to go. In a match marked by gritty, desperate defence, the young English withstood a firestorm finish from Ireland to register what coach Stuart Lancaster called the best win in his tenure, considering the context. "Given the experience of the Ireland team, the form they were in, the quality of the coaching and the players theyve got and some of the relative inexperience we have, Im just so proud of the boys," Lancaster said. "We showed great maturity in closing out the game. It was character, spirit, playing for the shirt. Ireland, fair play to them, threw everything at us, and once we got that lead we just clung on in there." Four teams were tied at the top, with Ireland ahead only on points difference from England, Wales and France. The next decisive matches appeared to be England hosting two-time defending champion Wales in two weeks, and France closing the tournament at home against Ireland. England and Ireland scored one converted try each, with the difference on the scoreboard provided by Englands Owen Farrell, who knocked over two of his three penalty attempts. Jonathan Sexton hit the only penalty shot he had. Irelands scrum was dominant, taking advantage of England tighthead David Wilson playing with basically only a half of rugby in two months. But for all of the ball Ireland had, it couldnt turn pressure into points as Englands defence and discipline was top shelf. England fired the first shot in the thriller. Left wing Jonny May should have crossed in the right corner early but he was slowed by Ireland flanker Peter OMahony and scrumhalf Conor Murray arrived just as May was diving over the line to knock the ball from his grasp. Then Ireland worked a brilliant move, with Sextons crosskick caught by Andrew Trimble on the right wing, but his offload inside to fullback Rob Kearney was bobbled, and he was swallowed by Englishmen. Farrell was lucky soon after not to be sin-binned. His late shoulder charge on Murray conceded only a penalty. Referee Craig Jouberts decision was critical, because Farrell then kicked the only points of the half, a penalty from 50 metres. Farrells second penalty chance hit the upright, and the teams could both be happy where things stood at the break. Just 90 seconds into the second half, Ireland was even happier. Ireland worked lineout ball to the middle of Englands 22, No. 8 Jamie Heaslip stood wide of a ruck and England believed he was spreading it wide. He was waiting for Kearney to scream up inside him, slice clean through and curve towards the posts untouched. Sexton converted for 10-3, and added a penalty in the 49th for 13-3. Then England turned on the pressure, and Ireland was happy to concede three points rather than five. Farrell obliged and the deficit was four. Englands try came from surprising ambition inside its own half. Farrell, under pressure in space, could have kicked the ball for relief but passed to Jack Nowell, who found Mike Brown inside speeding into a gap on halfway. Brown blew through, and scrumhalf Danny Care came up his inside to finish off between the posts. 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Cheap Arizona Cardinals Jerseys China .9 million deal Thursday. The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins. Kurt Warner Jersey . The Bulls seem to be getting along fine without him. D.J. Augustin scored 27 points in a start for Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson matched a career high with 26 filling in for Carlos Boozer as the Bulls improved to 7-2 since trading the popular Deng with a 98-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A 16-driver championship field that would be whittled down to create a winner-take-all season finale is among radical changes reportedly being considered by NASCAR. NASCAR chairman Brian France has repeatedly said he wants to place a greater emphasis on winning, and hes never ruled out tinkering with the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship format in an effort to create the "Game 7 moments" he covets. The Charlotte Observer first reported Friday night a possible overhaul to the Chase format that France first introduced in 2004 and has made periodic changes to several times since. Citing anonymous sources, The Observer outlined three major changes beginning with expanding the field from 12 drivers to 16 -- meaning a win during the "regular season" would virtually guarantee a driver a spot in the field. Once the field is set, The Observer said NASCAR is considering eliminations during the 10-race Chase. The field would be cut after the third, sixth and ninth races. The proposed eliminations would drop the lowest four drivers from title contention after the third, sixth and ninth races, leaving four drivers eligible for a "winner-take-all" race in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The four remaining drivers would go into Homestead with their points reset and tied in the standings, The Observer said. A statement from NASCAR chief communications officer Brett Jewkes was non-committal on The Observer report. "NASCAR has begun the process of briefing key industry stakeholders on potential concepts to evolve its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship format," Jewkes said. "This dialogue is the final phase of a multi-year process that has included the review of extensive fan research, partner and industry feedback and other data-driven insights. NASCAR has no plans to comment further until the stakeholder discussions are complete. We hope to announce any potential changes for the 2014 season to our media and fans very soon." But driver Denny Hamlin posted a series of Tweets on Saturday afternoon that supported the format if NASCAR ultimately moves forward with the changes. NASCAR is expected to officially outline any changes later this month. "This points system change is going to be a really good thing. Trust in it and watch how exciting each chase race is going to be," Hamlin posted. Hamlin also Tweeted that every Chase race will now be as exciting as the September race at Richmond, which is the final race to set the Chase field. He also responded to two fans who criticized the format. One arggued it was "artificially construed excitement" instead of the traditional consistency that NASCAR used for decades in crowning its champion.dddddddddddd "Consistency will keep you up top," Hamlin replied. Hamlin received support from 2012 Cup champion Brad Keselowski, who replied on Twitter to him that he also liked the reported new format. "Guess we may be in the minority here," Keselowski said. NASCAR has been working feverishly behind the scenes to improve its on-track product, particularly at 1.5-mile tracks, and at least some changes are expected to the points system to meet Frances desire to put a greater emphasis on winning. France was thrilled with the finish of the March race at California, where feuding drivers Hamlin and Joey Logano relentlessly raced for the win. The two ended up wrecking -- Hamlin ended up with a broken bone in his back that sidelined him for more than a month -- and Kyle Busch slid through the carnage for the victory as a furious Tony Stewart nearly came to blows with Logano on pit road. Its that kind of competitiveness, compelling action and drama that France seeks every week. Despite introducing The Chase in 2004, NASCAR has failed to create many of those breathtaking "Game 7" moments in the finale. The debut was successful as Kurt Busch beat Jimmie Johnson for the title by eight points, and five drivers went into the 2005 finale mathematically eligible to win the championship. Then Jimmie Johnson reeled off five consecutive championships, snapped only by Tony Stewarts race-winning, championship-deciding showing in the 2011 finale. Keselowski won easily in 2012 when Johnson was felled by mechanical problems, and it was Johnson, again, in an easy Sunday drive for win No. 6 in November. So a shake up to the system wouldnt be unexpected. But it may not necessarily look like what The Observer reported -- the newspaper was clear the format is only being considered -- because its not unlike NASCAR to float ideas to gauge reaction. For example, NASCAR officials met in October with drivers to discuss an overhaul to qualifying procedures. Among the "potential" changes discussed that day was road course-style qualifying everywhere but Daytona and Talladega. NASCAR said it was considering a 60-minute drafting session for Daytona and Talladega qualifying. In reality, cars will qualify as usual next month at Daytona while NASCAR is now apparently considering three rounds of "knockout style" qualifying -- similar to what Formula One and IndyCar use -- everywhere else but Talladega. 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