England

RNZ reports England will face South Africa in the final after Australia were well beaten by the Blitzboks 26-12 in the second semi-final.

The All Blacks Sevens and England played out a low scoring match marked by ruthless defence, as two teams that rely on power over pace struggled to break a second half deadlock.

Regan Ware scored the opening try and was then denied a second after a lob pass from Tim Mikkelson was ruled forward.

Phil Burgess answered with a try for England giving them parity 5-5 at half-time.

RNZ reports Lampard, who started his career at West Ham United, established himself as one of Europe's finest midfield players during a 13-year spell at Chelsea.

"After 21 incredible years, I have decided that now is the right time to finish my career as a professional footballer," Lampard said in a statement.

"Whilst I have received a number of exciting offers to continue playing at home and abroad, at 38 I feel now is the time to begin the next chapter in my life.

Kruis, who had only been given the all-clear to face France last week after recovering from a fractured cheekbone, was forced to miss training on Tuesday with the knee injury.

The Saracens lock will see a specialist on Thursday to determine further management of the injury and head coach Eddie Jones is not giving up hope he will be available later in the tournament.

"We'll have to wait and see what the specialist's prognosis is, but we're not ruling him out of the Six Nations at this stage," said Jones.

The tournament's organising committee will look at a proposal made by the Aviva Premiership which would remove the two weekends when fixtures are not played.

This year's competition runs from February 4 until March 18 but no games are scheduled for the weekends of February 18-19 and March 3-4.

A potential start time for the new format has yet to be discussed and any change would align with the beginning of the new global season in 2020.

Hartley was sent off for catching Leinster flanker Sean O'Brien with a swinging arm from behind in the Champions Cup and his subsequent six-week ban came to an end on Monday.

The hooker's position as captain had been questioned after his dismissal - he has now accumulated 60 weeks of suspensions during his career - and Hartley admits facing Jones after was far from easy.

Ben Stokes (62) had raced to his team's fastest 50 in India to join Jason Roy (73) and Joe Root (78) as one of three tourists to produce half centuries, England posting an imposing total of 350-7. 

But the tight boundary at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium also worked in the hosts' favour, captain Kohli plundering 122 and Jadhav 120.

England head coach Wayne Bennett was set to take 17 leading Super League players for a fortnight-long training camp in Dubai in early January.

However, former England boss Tony Smith was among a host of Super League club coaches to criticise the move.

He claimed it would disrupt their preparations for the start of the 2017 Betfred Super League season for little reward, and the RFL appears to have backed down.

England and Scotland players wore armbands featuring the symbol when they met at Wembley on 11 November.

Wales and Northern Ireland's respective games featured displays on the pitch or in the stands to mark the event.

England's Football Association will appeal against the fine of 45,000 Swiss francs (£35,311), with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland yet to decide.

Scotland and Wales were both fined 20,000 Sfr (£15,694), and Northern Ireland 15,000 Sfr (£11,770).

The result in Workington, which saw Scotland become the first second-tier nation to gain a point at a Four Nations tournament, means a draw or win against Australia will now guarantee England of a spot in the November 20 final at Anfield, Liverpool.