Wales set up a Grand Slam encounter against France in Paris next Saturday by clinically disposing of hapless Italy with a seven-try rout in Rome.

Italy only managed a try through wing Monty Ioane in response.

Wayne Pivac's side can complete the Six Nations clean sweep by winning at the Stade de France next weekend.

France and Scotland will still have a match to play after their third-round game was postponed because of coronavirus cases in the French camp.

But Wales have the chance to create their own 'Super Saturday' with victory at the Stade de France, where they could secure a second Grand Slam in three tournaments.

The omens are good. Wales have already won their fifth Six Nations Triple Crown since 2000 and on each of the previous occasions they have done so, they have gone on to seal the Grand Slam.

It represents a remarkable turnaround from a side that finished fifth in Pivac's first tournament in charge and managed only three wins in 10 games in 2020, although we have grown used to the boom-and-bust nature of Welsh rugby.

It might also be a special day for captain Alun Wyn Jones, who could become the first Welshman to celebrate four Grand Slams.

This was Wales' 16th successive victory over Italy, with the last defeat coming in 2007, and also represents their longest winning run against one opponent, overtaking a run of 15 victories against France from 1908-1927.

Relegation for Italy?

Another heavy defeat will again raise the inevitable questions about Italy's position in the Six Nations and whether there should be relegation, with the likes of Georgia being given the chance to join the tournament.

The facts are damning. It was a 31st successive defeat for the Azzurri in the competition with their last victory coming against Scotland in 2015. They have not managed a home Six Nations win for eight years, with 20 successive losses.

Italy have conceded 187 points and 26 tries in four games this year. Yet events off the field this week have actually strengthened their hand.

The £365m CVC private equity deal secures Italy's status as an equal partner for the next five years, with Six Nations boss Ben Morel saying the championship is "precious" and any changes "would need to be extremely carefully studied".

Dominant start

Before the match Pivac had warned not to expect any "razzle dazzle" from his Wales side, but that is exactly what the visitors provided in the Stadio Olimpico sunshine.

It was one-way traffic after Wales opened the scoring through a Biggar penalty before Italy captain Luca Bigi was yellow carded by referee Wayne Barnes for cynically stopping scrum-half Gareth Davies taking a quick tap-penalty.

Davies had been one of two changes in the Wales side for injured Kieran Hardy, who had scored from a similar move against England.

From the resulting scrum, Wales made their numerical advantage tell, as wing Adams, who claimed a hat-trick against Italy last year, dived over from a long Biggar pass. The fly-half converted.

Wales' dominance continued and searing breaks from Rees-Zammit and Adams allowed the visitors to move the ball in both directions before number eight Faletau crashed over as 12 points were scored with the extra man.

Wales also demonstrated their forward power when hooker Owens was driven over for his fourth international try from an attacking line-out.

Barnes then looked at television replays about a possible illegal tackle by Biggar on Italy flanker Johan Meyer.

The English barrister deemed there was no case to answer, although a later challenge by Biggar at the following ruck was not looked at.

The bonus point came in the 30th minute when Owens stretched over from another line-out for his second score.

Wales appeared to have scored a fifth try through Rees-Zammit but television match official Tom Foley picked up a final forward pass from Biggar as the visitors led 27-0 at half-time.

No mercy

The onslaught continued after the break with Jonathan Davies releasing co-centre North, who sprinted away to equal Shane Williams' Wales record of 22 Six Nations tries.

Italy responded with a fine individual effort from wing Ioane that Paolo Garbisi converted, while Adams was denied a second score after failing to ground the ball in time.

Wales made a raft of replacements, including Scarlets second-row Jake Ball coming on for his 50th cap before Italy replacement prop Marco Riccion was yellow-carded for dangerous use of the elbow.

Wales took advantage with a first international try for Bristol fly-half Sheedy before Rees-Zammit sped away spectacularly following an 80-metre interception to complete the scoring.

Man-of-the-match - Josh Navidi

Line-ups

Italy: Trulla, Bellini, Brex, Canna, Ioane, Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Bigi (capt), Zilocchi, Cannone, Sisi, Negri, Meyer, Lamaro.

Replacements: Fabiani for Ioane (7-18), Lovotti, Riccioni for Zilocchi (33), Lazzaroni for Cannone (52), Mbanda for Meyer (26-36), Violi for Varney (63), Mori, Padovani for Trulla (44).

Wales: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, J Davies, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; W Jones, Owens, Tomas Francis, Hill, AW Jones (capt), Navidi, Tipuric, Faletau.

Replacements: Dee for Owens (54), Carre for W Jones (57), Brown for Francis (45), Ball for AW Jones (54), Wainwright for Faletau (54), L Williams for G Davies (52), Sheedy for Biggar (52), Halaholo for North (46)

Match officials

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Touch judges: Pascal Gauzere (France) & Christophe Ridley (England)

TMO: Tom Foley (England)

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Holding off veteran Davey Ray, Ryan Timmons earned his first career AMSOIL USAC/CRA Sprint Car victory at The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park Friday night.

Piloting the family-owned No. 29 Timmons Auto & Truck Repair / Evergood Fine Foods CS9 with 360 power, the 2016 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rookie of the Year banked $3,000 for the victory.

Hard-charging Ray finished second, ahead of Austin Williams and Charles Davis Jr. Ray earned the night’s In Memory of Jim & Chet Gardner Hard Charger Award with a 15th to second place run.

Damion Gardner scored his 92nd career Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award by posting a track record with a time of 14.104 over the 30-car roster. The eight-time champion scored twentieth in the main event after an early flip ended his night.

The finish:

Feature (30 laps): 1. Ryan Timmons (7), 2. Davey Ray (15), 3. Chris Gansen (11), 4. Austin Williams (5), 5. Charles Davis Jr. (12), 6. Verne Sweeney (13), 7. Brody Roa (4), 8. Rick Hendrix (16), 9. Austin Grabowski (21), 10. Nathan Schank (20), 11. Jake Hodges (18), 12. Matt McCarthy (10), 13. Danny Faria Jr. (14), 14. Jeff Dyer (22), 15. Steve Hix (8), 16. Tyler Hatzikian (19), 17. Matt Mitchell (2), 18. Troy Rutherford (9), 19. Tommy Malcolm (1), 20. Damion Gardner (6), 21. Max Adams (3), 22. Austin Liggett (17). 

COCHRAN, Ga. – Brandon Overton cashed a $20,000 check after a dominant performance in the rescheduled Gobbler 100 for super late models on Friday evening at Cochran Motor Speedway.

Overton took the lead from Kyle Bronson on the sixth lap of the 100-lap feature and proceeded to lead the remainder of the race. He beat Michael Page to the checkered flag by more than four seconds.

Page was a distant second, followed by Ross Bailes, Bronson and Parker Martin.

The race was originally scheduled for Nov. 28, but rain forced track officials to postpone until Friday.

The finish:

Brandon Overton, Michael Page, Ross Bailes, Kyle Bronson, Parker Martin, Wil Herrington, Scott Bloomquist, Austin Kirkpatrick, Dalton Cook, Kenny Collins, Trent Ivey, Jim Rogers, Jeff Matthews, Pearson Lee Williams, Ahnna Parkhurst, Jimmy Sharpe Jr., Mark Whitener, Dillon Tidmore, Cla Knight, Steven Roberts, Marty Lunsford, Dean Bowen.

COLUMBUS, Miss. — Sheldon Haudenschild became the fifth World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series winner in as many races this season as the series made its long-awaited return to Mississippi Friday night at Magnolia Motor Speedway.

Uncharacteristically, patience made the difference for Haudenschild on this night as he waited out lapped traffic and track conditions before stealing the point from Logan Schuchart en route to his 15th career victory.

“I’m just so happy to win a race here this early in the season, you know I don’t think we won until like July last year,” Haudenschild noted. “That’s a big goal of mine, winning early and building some momentum. It’s always cool to get a win at a track that the Outlaws haven’t been to before too. Ripper, Nikolas, Drew, they’ve got this NOS Energy Drink No. 17 dialed in right now. I’m glad the fans made it out. This is a beautiful race track and I think it put on a really great show.”

Rolling from the outside pole of the 30-lapper, Haudenschild’s biggest challenge was alongside him in the form of Schuchart, who was the fast qualifier, won his heat and the dash.

Schuchart was as dominant as anyone in clean air, but traffic proved to be his Achilles heel on this night. He caught fortunate breaks with three stoppages. However, the final restart, and more importantly, final run through traffic played the most pivotal role.

Restarting with 16 to go, Schuchart drove away to a near two-second advantage over Haudenschild before traffic slowed him with 10 laps remaining. That’s when the fun began.

At one point, a heart-stopping four-car battle for the lead ensued with Schuchart and Haudenschild along with Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet.

One failed slide job attempt on a lapper set Haudenschild up for a successful run on lap 25 to clear for the lead. Schuchart came swinging back with his own slider, but Haudenschild pinned the throttle and threaded the needle around the outside to make it stick.

The duo continued to wage war in the waning laps with Haudenschild only covering Schuchart by 0.054 seconds with three to go. It was still anyone’s race until the checkered flag waved with a mere 0.286-second victory.

“We got to the lappers like twice and the caution would come out every time,” Haudenschild said. “I was just chilling, keeping calm in second, trying not to get passed and see where my car was at. He was really good in open track, I didn’t have much for him. We hit traffic though and the rubber kind of came in while we were in the middle of that. It got really tricky. He tried those sliders on a few lappers and I was getting runs off that. If I wouldn’t have got under him off turn four, I don’t think he would’ve messed up again.”

After leading the opening 24 laps, Schuchart settled for runner-up honors while regaining the point lead.

“Freakin’ guy beat me in golf this week, and now on the race track,” Schuchart joked. “It’s just hard to tell when you’re out front leading in traffic by yourself. It’s hard to gauge how hard you need to push, especially when the track is like this, really wide and not a ton of grip. I pushed the limit too hard with Parker (Price-Miller) and let Sheldon get by me. I had that chance to get him back in turns three and four, but underestimated his entry and couldn’t make it work. Hopefully we can come back here and park it in victory lane.”

Rounding out the podium was Brad Sweet with a 12th-to-third bid in the Kasey Kahne Racing.

“The goal is to be up here standing on the frontstretch every night, and we’re doing that,” Sweet said. “The real adversity and grind of an 80+ race Outlaw tour is sometimes you’re starting up front, but other times like tonight you’re digging yourself out of a hole. I felt like we could’ve contended for the win there, but by the time we got up here the track got top dominant I think and I used up my tires to get this far. It was fun watching Sheldon and Logan be aggressive there, and Donny and I had another fun battle too.”

Schatz and Kasey Kahne, who started 23^rd, rounded out the top five.

To seee full results, turn to the next page.

BAD GOISERN AM HALLSTATTERSEE, Austria – Justin Kunz has extended his contract with DF1 Racing for a third season and will drive the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series again this year.

Hama Trucks Austria, a sponsor of DF1 Racing since last season, also extended its sponsorship deal and will be on the car’s hood once again.

The 23-year-old Kunz has been part of the Euro Series since 2016 and a DF1 Racing driver since 2019.

“I’m really happy that we extended my contract. I feel at home in the team and last year we made some progress as a team and as a driver. We want to continue where the last season ended and now we can concentrate on that,” said Kunz.

With five top-10 results in the highly competitive EuroNASCAR Pro championship last year, the young German was able to close the season in third place in the Junior Trophy.

“This is my third year with DF1 Racing. Everyone knows that joining a new team means that first you have to get to know each other, learn how people work, build up friendships and so on. Now everybody knows each other, how everyone works, how to treat each other. I’m sure that this season will be really good,” Kunz added. “Due to the simulator and the ENES the practice is something completely different, despite the situation with COVID-19. Our goal is the Junior Trophy and we want to further improve. I’m in the right team for that. I’m really looking forward to the new season and I’m highly motivated.”

“We are very delighted that Justin extended his contract with us. He became an integral part of our team. We see his development as a driver and the decision to move up to EuroNASCAR PRO was the right one for Justin,” added Norbert Walchhofer, Head of Motorsport at DF1 Racing. “Only three Junior Trophy drivers managed to be in the top-10 in the overall standings in 2020. Justin was one of them, the other one also was a DF1 Tiger. In the new season our goal with Justin is the title in the Junior Trophy of the EuroNASCAR Pro and we hope we will see him on the podium on a regular basis.”

HICKORY, N.C. — After a successful inaugural season despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Carolina Pro Late Model Series will begin its second season Saturday evening at Hickory Motor Speedway.

Nearly 30 cars have pre-entered the 100-lap main event that headlines a busy night of racing at the historic three-eighths-mile asphalt oval that also includes a 62-lap Carolina Crate Modified Series race, a pair of 40-lap late model stock car features and races for the limited late model and street stock classes.

A limited number of fans will be allowed in the grandstands based on North Carolina’s current COVID-19 policies. Fans unable to attend the event will be able to watch it live via SPEED SPORT Network affiliate HickoryMotorSpeedway.TV for a one-time cost of $14.95.

Keith Graham, who founded the series with his wife Wendi, is thrilled to see such a strong entry list for the tour’s season opener.

“Last year was very successful with what we had,” Graham said. “I think it just got around. I think the word spread that we were providing a good place to go race and putting on good shows.”

A season ago the Carolina Pro Late Model Series was originally scheduled to debut in March, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the series to wait until May to make its debut at Dillon (S.C.) Motor Speedway.

With the pandemic keeping the gates closed at many tracks, Hickory Motor Speedway stepped up and allowed the series to hold six of its nine events at the track. Other events last year were run at Dillon, Florence (S.C.) Motor Speedway and North Carolina’s Orange County Speedway.

“Hickory really stepped up and helped us out a lot last year with the other tracks not racing without fans,” Graham said. “Hickory gave us a big opportunity to get our name out there and I think that’s really what propelled us to get everything going and get the flow going.

“We were able to still put on eight races last year amongst the COVID situation and I think that’s really what helped us the most. We were still able to race.”

Carson Kvapil, the son of 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil, won all but two races en route to the inaugural series championship. Other race winners last year were Nick Loden and Kyle Campbell.

Carson Kvapil’s younger brother, Caden Kvapil, is among those who have pre-entered Saturday’s race. Others who have pre-entered include Loden, Campbell, Tyler Church, Devin O’Connell, Annabeth Barnes Crum and Jerick Johnson.

“It blows my mind, to be honest with you,” Graham said of the solid pre-entry turnout. “I wasn’t expecting to be successful this quick. I was really nervous at the beginning. It’s fantastic. During the offseason when I was receiving phone calls about some of those racers wanting to come run with us, it made me and Wendi super happy about the whole situation.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the racers, their families and fans for supporting the series and helping us get this thing off the ground,” Graham continued. “Without them, we wouldn’t have anything.”

Grandstands open at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, with qualifying set to begin at 4:15 p.m. The first green flag of the evening is set to wave at 6 p.m.

Hickory Motor Speedway Carolina Pro Late Model Series Pre-Entries

1X – Tyler Church
2 – Amber Lynn
2R – Ronald Renfrow
03 – Kyle Campbell
4 – Leland Honeyman
5 – Jasec Holladay
07 – Riley Neal
11 – Tony Cosentino
12 – Annabeth Barnes Crum
15nc – Chad Malloy
18 – Bill Catania
21 – Tommy Neal
22 – Tim Hollis
24 – Penn Crim
35 – Caden Kvapil
43 – Nick Loden
43d – Kyle DeSouza
43s – William Sawalich
44 – Josh Van Winkle
51 – Nathan Byrd
63 – Josh Lowder
71 – Katie Hettinger
76 – Jerick Johnson
81 – Bryce Carver
98 – Matt Henley
143 – Devin O’Connell

Chelsea dropped points against Leeds United on Saturday as Thomas Tuchel's side played out a drab 0-0 draw at Elland Road.

The result means Chelsea stay in fourth place. Leicester City have the chance to go five points ahead of them if they beat Sheffield United on Sunday.

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"It is super hard to play the pitch. Very slippery and bouncy. We had a couple of chances to go 1-0 ahead but they trouble you and pressure you," Tuchel said after the game. "You need to make a goal for belief. Sometimes it is like this. I don't want to be too harsh.

"As long as we have chances and touches in the box and don't concede too many chances the results will be there. We need to accept this."

Both goalkeepers were kept busy as the two sides sought a goal but Tuchel will be disappointed that his side didn't capitalise on their dominance in possession.

Raphinha had a good chance on 55 minutes to put Marcelo Bielsa's side ahead but quick reflexes from Edouard Mendy saw the shot parried away.

Chelsea continued to hammer the Leeds goal with Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell all getting shots away but failing to find their target.

In a strange decision on 79 minutes Rodrigo was subbed off by Bielsa despite only being substituted on after 35 minutes when Patrick Bamford suffered an injury.

"He has been without playing for a long time and it is natural that it cost him a little bit in adapting to the rhythm," Bielsa said after the game.

"I value a lot the effort he put in when he was on the field because it is an effort that is above what he is actually capable of at this moment in time."

FC Juarez and Mexico international midfielder Marco Fabian has been suspended for 10 days and fined an undisclosed amount for his participation in an unsanctioned party after posts on social media showed the former Chivas and Eintracht Frankfurt man drinking and violating an assortment of COVID-19 norms.

"There was a [fine] and Marco has been informed of it," said Juarez president Guillermo Cantu on Thursday. "Breaking protocol benefits no one and we need to be clear, we're in the middle of a pandemic."

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Videos posted to Instagram showed Fabian in the company of Venezuelan singer DJ Adso doing shots of tequila only days after Juarez lost its third consecutive match, pushing them down to 16th place and only one point above the Mexican league's worst performers, Pachuca and Necaxa.

"We've just finished an ugly week in which we lost three games in a row, and of course we're not happy about that, so we must show a posture of discipline," Cantu said.

Following stints in Germany, MLS and Qatar, the 31-year-old Fabian was considered a major signing for the fledgling Bravos de Juarez club. However, in 18 games spread across the Guard1anes 2020 and 2021 seasons, the attacking midfielder has yet to score and Juarez is again in danger of missing the playoffs after finishing 13th last season.

According to Cantu, Fabian will be placed into isolation for 10 days and tested before he is allowed to rejoin his teammates, presumably during the international break in late March and before the April 2 clash against Cruz Azul.

Fabian is not the first Liga MX player disciplined for violating protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic. UNAM defender Alan Mozo, Cruz Azul striker Jonathan Rodriguez and Chivas winger Uriel Antuna have been a few of the bigger names called out for unsanctioned gatherings during the health crisis, which has claimed over 193,000 lives in Mexico alone.

Andrea Pirlo defended Cristiano Ronaldo's record at Juventus following criticism after the Serie A champions' elimination from the Champions League against Porto.

Ronaldo was at fault for Porto's decisive strike in their away goals victory as Sergio Oliveira's 115th-minute free kick squeezed through the wall after Ronaldo had turned his back and lifted his leg up. TV pundit and former Juve manager Fabio Capello described Ronaldo's role as "the worst," while former president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli suggested the club offload the Portugal captain at the end of the season.

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The criticism led to various reports in Spain that Ronaldo was unhappy at the club and looking for a return to Real Madrid, whom he had left to join Juve, but Pirlo dismissed the rumours.

"It's normal that he's disappointed, as is the whole squad," Pirlo told a news conference ahead of the Serie A clash with Cagliari on Sunday (12 p.m. ET, live on ESPN+). "And it's normal there be rumours after an elimination.

"He is the most talked about footballer in the world alongside [Lionel] Messi -- people are always talking about him. It's worth reminding that he has always done well.

"He has 90 goals in a hundred games for Juventus and has always shown his worth. It can happen that he doesn't score in a certain match, as has happened with others, and this creates rumours."

Ronaldo also showed his determination to prove his doubters wrong with a post on Instagram where he said he is focusing on the future rather than the past.

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A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

Pirlo, who as a player won the Champions League twice with AC Milan and lost a final while at Juve, has urged his squad to take motivation from this disappointment.

"The team is getting itself together because it was a big blow," Pirlo added. "We need to look to take the best from difficult moments, and I am sure we will do that immediately.

"In my [playing] career, I have been in several of these situations: I won a lot but I also lost a lot, and I always tried starting again with great enthusiasm despite the big disappoints. We will do the same tomorrow."

Despite being eliminated from the Champions League, Juve are still in the hunt for a 10th successive Serie A title -- they sit 10 points behind leaders Inter Milan with a game in hand -- and in the final of the Coppa Italia.

"We are in March and still have 13 league matches and the Coppa Italia final," Pirlo said. "Our season didn't end Wednesday; it continues with the desire to show that we are Juventus: we want to fight for the title right until the final day, and that depends on us."

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has become the first Premier League player to not take a knee before a game since the demonstration began last season.

Players and officials have been taking a knee before games since protests began following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020 while in police custody

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Zaha, who has previously said taking a knee before every game is "degrading" and called for tangible change instead of being used to "tick boxes," opted to stand before his side faced West Brom on Saturday.

"The whole kneeling down -- why must I kneel down for you to show that we matter," he told the On The Judy podcast. "Why must I even wear Black Lives Matter on the back of my top to show you that we matter? This is all degrading stuff.

"When people constantly want to get me to do Black Lives Matter talks and racial talks and I'm like, I'm not doing it just so you can put 'Zaha spoke for us.' Like a tick box, basically.

"I'm not doing any more because unless things change, I'm not coming to chat to you just for the sake of it, like all the interviews I've done."

The Ivory Coast international came up through Palace's academy and has spent 11 seasons of his senior career with them. He is not expected to face a punishment.

Premier League CEO Richard Masters said earlier on Saturday that players would continue to take a knee before games until the end of the season.

"It is a big statement, it was player-led. We spent a lot of time talking to players. It was an emotional time during the pandemic," Masters told Sky Sports.

"Going back to Project Restart, when we were talking to players, they wanted to make a statement about their thanks to the NHS and key workers and to make a stand against the events in America last summer.

"We were happy to support the players. Perhaps for the first time, we had the Premier League, clubs and players on the same page on an important issue.