In an all-American final at the San Diego Open, Brandon Nakashima defeated Marcos Giron 6-4 6-4 to capture the first ATP Tour title of his career.
Nakashima, 21, was playing in the third final since arriving on the ATP Tour, having lost the deciders at both the Atlanta Open and the Los Cabos Open as a teenager back in 2021.
Against Giron, the first set lasted just 35 minutes as San Diego native Nakashima converted the only break point opportunity of the frame, while winning 80 per cent (20-of-25) of his service points.
In a spectacularly efficient display, Nakashima hit 15 winners and only one unforced error, while adding six aces with no double faults.
He cooled off slightly in the second set, but it was still more than good enough, posting another 15 winners with five unforced errors and grabbing a break of serve in the opening game.
Giron would finally nab his first break of the contest in a game where he converted on his fourth opportunity, but Nakashima immediately answered to jump ahead 4-2 and serve it out cleanly.
With the win, Nakashima will rise into the top 50 of the world rankings for the first time when it is next updated.
The New England Patriots are bracing for the possible loss of starting quarterback Mac Jones after he injured his left ankle in the final minutes of Sunday’s 37-26 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Jones was hurt on the Patriots’ final offensive play, an interception with 1:55 remaining. The 2021 first-round pick landed hard on turf from a hit by Baltimore defensive lineman Calais Campbell, then hobbled to the sidelines while grabbing his ankle before being taken straight to the locker room.
NFL.com reports that X-rays on Jones’ ankle were negative, but the team is concerned he may have sustained tendon or ligament damage. A later update indicated the team believes Jones has suffered a high-ankle sprain, which could sidelines him for at least a month.
The 15th overall pick of last year’s draft, Jones started all 17 games for New England as a rookie and helped the Pats to a 10-7 record and a playoff appearance. The 24-year-old completed 67.6 per cent of his passes while totaling 3801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Jones threw for 321 yards in Sunday’s loss, but was intercepted three times, giving him five through the 1-2 Patriots' first three games.
Should Jones not be able to play, veteran Brian Hoyer would start at quarterback for New England’s game at Green Bay next Sunday.
The 36-year-old Hoyer has made 39 career starts, but just two since 2018. His most recent starting appearance came in Week 4 of the 2020 season, when he threw for just 130 yards with no touchdown passes and one interception in New England’s 26-10 loss to Kansas City.
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers emerged 14-12 victors against Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Sunday's battle between the legendary quarterbacks.
Despite the presence of arguably the two greatest quarterbacks of this generation, it was the defenses who reigned supreme as the Bucs were only able to score three points in the first half, before holding the Packers scoreless in the second half.
Both teams were missing a number of receiving weapons, and taking advantage of his expanded role was Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs, catching three passes including a touchdown on Green Bay's very first drive.
The Packers' second drive ended in a touchdown as well, with Rodgers finding Allen Lazard for a 12-yard score with eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, and it would be their last points of the night as their next nine drives resulted in seven punts, one fumble and one interception.
Rodgers finished 27 of 35 for 255 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Brady struggled to find any connection with his makeshift receiving core, except with Russell Gage, who caught 12 of his 13 targets for 87 yards and the Bucs' only touchdown to cut the margin to 14-12 with 14 seconds remaining.
But Brady was not able to complete the two-point conversion, and the Buccaneers could not recover the onside kick, ending the game. Brady finished 31 of 42 for 271 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.
Trevor Lawrence announces his arrival with emphatic blowout
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was called a generational prospect when he was selected first overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, and he began to fulfill that promise as he pounded the Los Angeles Chargers 38-10.
Lawrence completed 28 of 39 passes for 262 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers – completing touchdown passes to Zay Jones, Christian Kirk and Marvin Jones Jr.
As well as getting arguably Lawrence's best showing as a professional, the Jaguars continued to get production from running back James Robinson, posting 100 rushing yards and a touchdown from 17 carries, while also catching three passes for 16 yards.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert came into the game nursing fractured rib cartilage and he struggled throughout, although some late garbage-time action padded his stats to a respectable 25 of 45 for 297 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Jordan Spieth and Max Homa capped off their excellent week's work with singles wins to help the United States secure the Presidents Cup by a final score of 17.5-12.5 at Quail Hollow.
Spieth was the only player to win in all five sessions, banking four victories while paired up with Justin Thomas before defeating Cam Davis 4 and 3 in Sunday's singles matchplay.
Despite the comfortable final score, it was Spieth who had to respond to early adversity after Davis won the first two holes, but after clawing back to even, the American rattled off four consecutive victorious holes on the back nine to pull away.
Thomas had a chance to equal Spieth with five wins for the week, but he ended up going down to Kim Si-woo as the South Korean won the 18th hole to finish 1up.
After Spieth, the only other American to finish the competition unbeaten was Homa, who played in three of the four pairs sessions before edging out Tom Kim for a 1up win in the singles.
Xander Schauffele finished 1up against Corey Conners to clinch overall victory for the US team at a time when five matches were still on the course.
In other results to tilt America's way, Tony Finau beat Taylor Pendrith 3 and 1, Patrick Cantlay had a 3 and 2 success over Adam Scott, and Collin Morikawa also won 3 and 2 against Mito Pereira.
However, it proved a highly competitive singles section of the event as the United States only narrowly edged it with six wins and a halved contest, as Sam Burns and Hideki Matsuyama fought out a stalemate.
The Internationals took five of the 12 matchups. Lee Kyoung-hoon was the most emphatic winner from his team, defeating Billy Horschel 3 and 1, while Sebastian Munoz upset world number one Scottie Scheffler 2 and 1 and Christiaan Bezuidenhout got the better of Kevin Kisner 2 and 1.
Im Sung-jae landed a 1up win versus Cameron Young after taking the lead on the 17th hole.
The United States have won nine consecutive editions of the Presidents Cup since a tie in 2003, with the International team's only triumph coming in 1998.
Roger Federer said he felt the pain of Team Europe's first Laver Cup defeat as the World team crashed the Swiss great's farewell party in breathtaking style.
The final event of Federer's playing career veered off the script as he and Rafael Nadal lost in doubles on Friday, before the team collectively succumbed to a 13-8 defeat in London.
Stunning singles wins for Felix Auger-Aliassime and Frances Tiafoe on Sunday, against Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas respectively, followed a doubles thriller that saw Auger-Aliassime and Jack Sock topple Andy Murray and Matteo Berrettini.
After Team Europe won the first four editions of the Laver Cup, this time they had to swallow the bitter pill of defeat, with Federer sorry to sign off on a losing note.
"Of course I'm disappointed," he said. "I was on the team. I almost lost my voice. My hands hurt from clapping.
"So, yes, I am disappointed. We wish the result would be different. I told Andy [Murray] in the locker room, I don't like losing. It's not fun. It just leaves not the best taste, you know. I think once you have been there and taste success, it's just not the same."
He said his goodbye tournament had been a mix of highs and lows.
"This weekend has been all over the place for me," said the 41-year-old Swiss. "I enjoyed it, but it's unfortunate that we couldn't get the win tonight."
Federer denied he has his eyes set on becoming the next Team Europe captain. Incumbent skipper Bjorn Borg and Team World counterpart John McEnroe have indicated next year's match could be the last that they helm, which would create an appealing vacancy.
"No plans there. Bjorn's doing a great job," said Federer. "Who knows, maybe one day, but we don't have any plans so far."
Next year's match takes place in Vancouver, and Federer will certainly have a role of some sort to play, given he is a co-founder of the event.
"I went through all different types of Laver Cups so far: the first one, the winning teams, now this time on the losing team," Federer said. "There was also one where I was hurt last year but seeing it more from the stands and from the fans' perspective, and now deep on the inside with retirement.
"I have enjoyed the Laver Cup in many different ways, and next year again will be totally different. I'm looking forward to it, and I'm sure Vancouver is going to be fantastic."
Asked what he would miss about tennis, Federer said: "Not the losing press conferences, I tell you that. They are the worst."
A pair of NFC North running backs were injured in their team’s Week 3 wins, including superstar Minnesota Vikings rusher Dalvin Cook.
Cook injured his shoulder late in the third quarter in the Minnesota Vikings' 28-24 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, while David Montgomery hurt his right knee and ankle in the first quarter of the Chicago Bears' 23-20 last-second win over the Houston Texans.
Neither injury is believed to be particularly serious at this point and both running backs will be considered day-to-day, according to their coaches.
Cook was enjoying his best game of the young season before getting hurt on a play where he fumbled on a first-down run near midfield in the final minute of the third quarter.
He lost control of the ball when he ran into the back of his left guard Ezra Cleveland and the Lions recovered. It was uncertain if he got hurt when he collided with Cleveland or in the ensuing scrum while trying to recover the fumble.
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said during the postgame press conference that Cook will have some tests done. A shoulder injury last season forced Cook to miss one game.
Prior to the injury, Cook scored his first touchdown of the season and finished the day with a season-high 96 rushing yards.
Montgomery was coming off one of his best games of his career, rushing for 122 yards on just 15 carries in last Sunday’s 27-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers, but he carried the ball just three times for 11 yards against the Texans before exiting.
He was injured when his right leg got rolled up under him when he was blocking on a pass play. He was able to walk off the field under his own power.
After the game, Bears coach Matt Eberflus said it appears Montgomery avoided anything serious.
Second-year backup Khalil Herbert stepped up in Montgomery’s absence, rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries.
The Bears finished with 281 rushing yards – their most in a game since September 30, 1984, when they ran for 283 yards, including 155 from Hall-of-Famer Walter Payton – in a 23-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Pop superstar Rihanna will play the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show, it was revealed on Sunday.
The announcement came from the singer herself, the NFL and Rihanna's management team Roc Nation.
Rihanna, 34, will perform the coveted 15-minute slot at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, in what Rolling Stone magazine said would be her first live performance in over five years.
The coup by the NFL follows the show this year that saw Dr Dre joined on stage by Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige.
It also sees Rihanna play a slot she has previously turned down.
In 2019, she indicated in a Vogue interview she had refused to play the Halftime Show in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. The quarterback found himself without a team in the wake of being criticised for kneeling during the national anthem, as he protested against racial injustice
At that time, she said of the prospect of playing the show: "I couldn't dare do that. For what? Who gains from that? Not my people. I just couldn't be a sellout. I couldn't be an enabler. There's things within that organisation that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way."
Now Rihanna has accepted the opportunity to perform at the sporting spectacle, which has a huge global audience.
NFL head of music Seth Dudowsky said the league was "thrilled" to have the Barbadian performer on board.
He said: "Rihanna is a once-in-a-generation artist who has been a cultural force throughout her career. We look forward to collaborating with Rihanna, Roc Nation and Apple Music to bring fans another historic Halftime Show performance."
The Miami Dolphins moved to 3-0 for the season and handed the Buffalo Bills their first defeat with a narrow 21-19 victory at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
The Bills had lived up to their pre-season Super Bowl favourites tag after outscoring their opponents 72-17 in their first two outings, but they came unstuck in Florida.
Two touchdowns from Chase Edmonds propelled the Dolphins to a first win in eight against the Dolphins and gave them sole possession of top spot in the AFC East.
The Dolphins came out on top despite being outgained 497-212 in total yards, with Buffalo picking up 31 first downs to their opponents' 15.
Josh Allen has often been a menace against the Dolphins and completed a career-high 42 passes from 63 attempts for 400 yards and two touchdowns, but it was not enough for the Bills.
Miami took the lead with 10 minutes remaining through the second of Edmonds' touchdowns, and held on despite punter Thomas Morstead bizarrely kicking one into his own teammates' rear end and out of bounds for a safety.
Allen drove the Bills as far as Miami's 41-yard line on a completion to Isaiah McKenzie, but he was unable to get out of bounds and the clock struck zero before Allen could spike the ball for a potential game-winning field goal.
Jackson's five inspires Ravens
Lamar Jackson's five touchdowns inflicted a 37-26 loss on the New England Patriots and moved the Baltimore Ravens 2-1 in the AFC North.
Jackson became the first player in NFL history to register three-plus pass touchdowns and 100+ rushing yards twice in the same season, doing so in back-to-back games.
Mac Jones matched Jackson with a rushing touchdown and threw for 323 yards, but the Pats' offense ultimately self-destructed in a disappointing defeat at Gillette Stadium, with Jones limping off at the end to add insult to injury.
Mahomes interception proves costly
Rodney McLeod picked off Patrick Mahomes with eight seconds left for the latter's first interception of the season as the Indianapolis Colts beat the Kansas City Chiefs 20-17.
Mahomes finished the game 20 for 35 for 262 yards, one touchdown and that costly interception that saw the Chiefs fall to 2-1 for the year.
The Colts only took the lead with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter as Matt Ryan and Jelani Woods hooked up for the second time with a 12-yard touchdown.
Andy Murray insists he is not thinking about retirement following Roger Federer's emotional farewell, and declared he would not deserve anything on a similar scale.
The Briton was on hand for the 20-time grand slam champion's final bow at the Laver Cup on Friday, with both men competing as part of Team Europe.
Federer exited with a doubles defeat, partnering old rival Rafael Nadal, while Novak Djokovic also featured, to mark a tournament reunion for the one-time 'Big Four' of men's tennis.
Injuries and slowing form for Murray saw that moniker slip to the 'Big Three' as Murray faded, and the former world number one says he certainly does not feel worthy of the acclaim afforded to the 41-year-old Federer.
"I certainly won't and don't deserve to have a send-off like that," Murray said, after he and Matteo Berrettini lost their doubles clash to Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jack Sock on Sunday.
"Roger did deserve that night. I'm not going to have a farewell match like that. I probably would announce when I'm going to play my last event, but when that is, I don't know."
Murray was adamant he would not be bowing out just yet, however, stating that Federer's retirement had not got him mulling over whether it is time to hang up the racket too.
"I'm really not thinking about that right now," Murray said. "I'm still playing competitive tennis and physically feeling good against top players.
"I just need to start really turning some of these tight losses and close matches into wins. It's as simple as that."
A three-time grand slam winner, Murray is the only men's singles player in history to have two Olympic gold medals, having won titles at London 2012 and Rio 2016 – the latter in the year he also won the ATP Tour Finals as well as Wimbledon for a second time.
Felix Auger-Aliassime and Frances Tiafoe played starring roles as Team World won three matches on the spin on Sunday to claim a first Laver Cup triumph over Team Europe.
Team World went into the final day of action at the O2 Arena in London sitting four points behind their opponents, but they produced a stirring fightback to claim the trophy at the fifth time of asking.
Central to their success was Canadian Auger-Aliassime, who beat Novak Djokovic in singles after successfully teaming up with Jack Sock in the doubles.
Holding an 8-4 lead from Saturday, many expected Team Europe to breeze it from there, but John McEnroe's World team had other ideas and earned a 13-8 victory.
Up first in the doubles were Auger-Aliassime and Sock, who lost the first set to Team Europe's Andy Murray and Matteo Berrettini.
However, the World duo roared back to deliver three points for their team by claiming a 2-6 6-3 10-8 victory.
Djokovic won two matches for Team Europe on Saturday, yet he was powerless to stop Auger-Aliassime in their singles clash. The 22-year-old Canadian landed a 6-3 7-6 (7-3) over the Wimbledon champion.
That moved Team World 10-8 ahead in the overall contest, setting the stage for a decisive clash between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Frances Tiafoe, with a further three points at stake.
Greek Tsitsipas won the first set, but 24-year-old American Tiafoe stormed back to win an epic tie-break in the second on his way to a 1-6 7-6 (13-11) 10-8 success.
A superb 62 for Guido Migliozzi on the final day saw the Italian take victory in the Open de France to land a third DP World Tour title.
Migliozzi, who was 13 strokes off the halfway lead, was bogey free on Sunday, with a nine-under-par round taking him to 16 under for the tournament.
It was enough to topple Rasmus Hojgaard from the top of the leaderboard, after the Dane led overnight despite having a quintuple bogey in his third round.
Hojgaard closed out his week with a 68 to finish at 15 under, making a birdie two at the second hole, where his shocking eight came on Saturday.
Migliozzi put himself on course for victory with five consecutive birdies from the sixth, including one from 35 feet at the seventh, and three more in succession from the 13th, with another gain on the par-four 18th giving him the outright lead.
His score on Sunday matched the course record at Le Golf National, which had also been tied by Hojgaard in the first round.
Hojgaard's failure to produce a chip-in birdie on the last handed victory to Migliozzi, who earns €510,000 for the win.
Thomas Pieters, George Coetzee and Paul Barjon finished five strokes behind the champion in a share of third, ahead of Jamie Donaldson.
Boxing could lose its place at the Olympic Games after the sport's world governing body for amateurs threw its support behind president Umar Kremlev.
The Russian survived a special congress vote of the International Boxing Association (IBA) over whether a fresh leadership challenge should take place, with delegates in the Armenian capital of Yerevan voting 106 votes to 36 against the idea.
It meant Dutchman Boris van der Vorst was prevented from challenging Kremlev, as he was in May when he was ruled ineligible after being found to have broken campaign rules, in a decision that was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
With boxing having been dropped from the initial list of sports for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, the latest development appears to signal its likely post-Paris 2024 departure from the Olympic programme.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) originally suspended its recognition for IBA, under its previous guise of AIBA, in 2019 over a series of varying concerns.
Reacting to Sunday's news, the IOC pointed to "disturbing developments" that would be examined at its next meeting.
Kremlev said after the vote that guarantees him a four-year term: "I thank national federations for their trust. This is the full stop in all governance issues within IBA, congress showed its will clearly in a transparent manner.
"I respect the decision of our national federations and will do everything possible to support them, as well as our athletes and coaches. I want to send a clear message today. IBA is an independent and strong organisation. Our congress has proved today that we are on a right track."
The Kremlev-led IBA said on Friday it had suspended the Ukrainian Boxing Federation, citing "interference of the government in the work of the national federation".
Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz suffered a broken left big toe during a preseason workout and the team is uncertain when he'll be able to return.
The Magic revealed the injury on Sunday and said he has been placed in a walking boot and surgery will not be required.
A timeline for a return will be determined with "how he responds to rehabilitation and treatment," the team announced.
The Magic open training camp on Tuesday and play their first regular-season game October 19 against the Detroit Pistons.
The first overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, Fultz's career has been marred by a series of injuries.
In his five professional seasons, Fultz has appeared in more than 20 games only once, playing in a total of 26 games the past two seasons due to a torn ACL.
In 18 games for Orlando in 2021-22, Fultz averaged 10.8 points on 47.4% shooting and 5.5 assists.
The oft-injured 24-year-old is entering the second season of a three-year, $50million contract extension that he signed in December 2020.
Lorenzo Sonego fended off the challenge of Alexander Bublik to win Sunday's Moselle Open final and earn a return to the top 50 in the world rankings.
In Metz, France, unseeded Italian Sonego swept to a 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 victory in the trophy match, collecting the third ATP title of his career.
He enjoyed a stellar week at the ATP 250 event, following up wins over Gilles Simon and Sebastian Korda with a semi-final victory against second seed Hubert Hurkacz, not dropping a set across his four matches.
Sonego, who reached a career-high ranking of 21st in February, had drifted to 65th in the months since, but the ATP said he would climb back into the top 50 as a result of his title run. The ATP's live rankings on Sunday showed him making a leap of 20 places to number 45.
Bublik, the seventh seed, had reached the final after Stan Wawrinka withdrew from their semi-final due to injury. He kept pace with Sonego on Sunday in a tight first set where serves dominated and neither man could force a break, with success for the Italian in the tie-break breaking the resistance of his Kazakh opponent.
The second set proved to be one-sided as Sonego added the title to his previous triumphs on tour, also extending his winning head-to-head record against Bublik to 4-0.
This indoor hardcourt success followed previous wins on grass in Antalya in 2019 and on clay in Cagliari last year.
Sonego said in an on-court interview: "This is a really emotional moment for me. I'm really happy because I played my best tennis this week. It's been a tough year and I want to enjoy this moment."
Liudmila Samsonova continued her recent run of excellent form by claiming the Toray Pan Pacific Open title with victory over teenager Zheng Qinwen.
Zheng beat top seed Paula Badosa and fourth seed Veronika Kudermetova en route to her first WTA final.
However, the 19-year-old was undone by Samsonova, who has now won 18 of her last 19 matches, claiming three titles in that run.
Her 7-5 7-5 success in Tokyo made it two successive titles won without dropping a set and will move her up to a career-high ranking of 23.
Zheng, meanwhile, will become the first Chinese teenager to be ranked in the top 30. She is set to move up to 28th in the world.
"It was a really tough match because huge congrats to Qinwen and her team because she's playing amazing," Samsonova said afterwards.
"Seriously, congrats guys. It was a nervous match today. We were fighting every point. It was tough."
Ekaterina Alexandrova is aiming high after overcoming some early nerves to beat top seed Jelena Ostapenko in the Korea Open final for her third WTA Tour title.
The 27-year-old prevailed 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 in Seoul to add to previous titles won in Shenzhen and 's-Hertogenbosch, the latter coming just three months ago.
Alexandrova is at a career-high 24th in the WTA rankings and is hoping to climb further before the year is out.
"You always want to achieve more. I want to go higher and maybe end the year in the top 20 in the best-case scenario," she said in her on-court interview.
Ostapenko advanced to Sunday's final after Emma Raducanu retired injured in the previous round and was aiming to become the first two-time champion in the event.
Second seed Alexandrova dug deep in the first set by recovering from a break down three times against the 2017 winner before saving a set point at 6-5 down.
The Russian looked far stronger in the second set as she posted her sixth bagel of 2022 to seal victory in a time of 85 minutes.
"I think it was tough for me to start because I was really nervous and I couldn't find my rhythm in the first couple of games," Alexandrova said.
"But the longer we played, the better I felt on the court. I think maybe somewhere in the end of the first set I finally found the rhythm and I just continued to keep it that way."
Anthony Joshua has made it clear he will sign the contract for a bout against Tyson Fury on December 3.
The 'Battle of Britain' clash seemed to be at risk of a collapse after Fury issued a Monday deadline for an agreement to be signed but AJ's promoter Eddie Hearn ruled out such swift action.
That raised concerns that the fiercely anticipated bout could fall through, with Fury threatening to walk away and fight someone else.
Joshua has now moved to calm such fears in a video posted on social media, expressing his intent to sign the agreement.
"I've been signing contracts for years. It ain't in my hands, it is with the legal team, that's why you hire lawyers. You know the history of boxing, make sure you get your legal terms right," he said.
"That's why you have good management and good lawyers. Of course I'm going to sign the contract, it's just with some lawyers at the minute."
A fight between Fury and Joshua would likely set the heavyweight scene for 2023, with the winner then poised to face off against Oleksandr Usyk in a unification bout.
Joe Joyce's victory against Joseph Parker in Manchester on Sunday has set the Brit as the mandatory challenger for Usyk's WBO title, though he may have to wait for his shot.
Ian Foster warned New Zealand have "quite a bit left in this tank" after they retained their Rugby Championship title on Saturday.
The All Blacks thrashed Australia 40-14 at Eden Park on Saturday to put one hand on the trophy and South Africa were unable to dethrone them, beating Argentina 38-21 later in the day when they needed a bonus-point win by a margin of at least 39 points.
Defeats to the Springboks and the Pumas following a home series loss to Ireland had seen Foster come under huge pressure, but the head coach was backed to stay in the role.
The All Blacks boss says there is plenty more to come from his side less than a year before the Rugby World Cup starts in France.
He said on Sunday: "There is still quite a bit left in this tank. We saw that even last night. The building blocks are nice, but there are still a lot of finishing touches we're not quite getting right. But what a great spot to be in.
"It's up to us to make sure they're areas we can now tidy up. Some of the conversion rates in our line-breaks, for example, and I was disappointed we let them back on the scorecard in that last 10 minutes … they're small things but could be important things in 12 months' time."
Foster expressed his pride over the way his players have overcome adversity to win the title.
He said: "It's very special. It's been a different journey to other Rugby Championships we've won. To do it from behind the eight-ball at the start … it's not the way we wanted, but it's very satisfying. I'm really proud of the effort the boys have put in."
Foster added: "In life you don't know what it's going to chuck at you. You can only deal with the situation you're in and no one can walk in those shoes but yourself.
"What have we learnt? That under pressure we stay tight, under pressure we've sought solutions that have made us uncomfortable at times, but the goal is to get the performance right."
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper will be patient with head coach Matt Rhule amid their losing streak, sources say.
Back-to-back defeats to start the season against the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, both of which were by a single score, have extended the Panthers winless streak to nine games – the longest such run in the NFL.
Despite that run, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport states that sources have informed him a change would only be made in the event of an 'epic collapse or a horribly embarrassing outcome'.
Improvements must be shown, however, and the situation could change later in the season, though for now the hierarchy will be patient amid the push for a turnaround.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield is still settling into the offense following his blockbuster trade from the Browns in July, while Christian McCaffrey is starting to build-up steam and the defense is in the top 10 overall in the NFL.
The Panthers have a tough schedule in the coming weeks, tackling the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the end of October.
That may see the losing streak extended as a result, with Rhule holding a 10-25 record as an NFL head coach and the Panthers are 1-25 in games where they have allowed 17 or more points.
Rhule signed a seven-year contract with the Panthers upon his arrival in 2020, which shows sights have clearly been set on the long-term picture.
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