Match Facts: England v Scotland - Eurosport.com AU

Facts and figures ahead of the World Cup Group B clash between England and Scotland at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday.

This fixture is the oldest in world rugby, with the first match dating back to 1871 and a win for Scotland by one goal to nil.

These sides have only met once before in a World Cup match, with England winning in the 1991 semi-final 9-6 at Murrayfield.

The biggest margin of victory between the two sides came in the 2001 Six Nations when England emerged as 43-3 winners with Iain Balshaw and Lawrence Dallaglio both scoring two tries.

Jonny Wilkinson holds the record for the most individual points scored in a match between the two sides, having collected 27 in a 42-20 England victory during the 2007 Six Nations.

This will be the 129th meeting between the two sides, England have won 68 so far with 42 Scotland victories and 18 draws completing the record.

Scotland have missed just six tackles per game so far in this tournament, no other side has a better record than this.

England require four more penalties to become the third side to notch up 1,000 penalties in Test rugby.

England are looking to win a fifth consecutive match for the first time since 2004, a run which included their World Cup triumph in 2003.

The last time Scotland beat England by more than seven points came in 1986 when they won 33-6 at Murrayfield.

If Chris Paterson features in this match he will stand alone as Scotland's most capped player in World Cup history (15 games).

Opta

M-way speed limit increase mooted - The Press Association

(UKPA) – 42 minutes ago 

The Government is to begin a consultation on raising the speed limit on Britain's motorways from 70mph to 80mph, it has been announced.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the current limit was "out of date" and a higher one would bring economic benefits.

It is understood the consultation will be launched later this year with a view to introducing the new limit in 2013.

Mr Hammond said: "Now it is time to put Britain back in the fast lane of global economies and look again at the motorway speed limit which is nearly 50 years old, and out of date thanks to huge advances in safety and motoring technology.

"Increasing the motorway speed limit to 80mph would generate economic benefits of hundreds of millions of pounds through shorter journey times. So we will consult later this year on raising the limit to get Britain moving."

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "There are good reasons for making 80 the new 70, and good reasons not to. Drivers travelling that 10mph quicker might reach their destination sooner, but will use about 20% more fuel and emit 20% more CO2.

"There is also likely to be a slight increase in road casualties. And what about enforcement? If police follow existing guidelines, many people could do 90mph before action is taken."

He went on: "Before you change a speed limit, you have to know whether you are doing it for safety, economic or environmental reasons. Unfortunately not all of these are compatible."

Stephen Joseph, chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said: "Increasing the motorway speed limit to 80mph would not help the economy and would increase costs for drivers.

"It would also add to pollution and increase road casualties. Responsible motorists know that driving steadily at or below 70mph is most fuel-efficient, reduces jams and is safer."

Copyright © 2011 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

Europe Power-Curve prices rise, track firmer oil, CO2 - Reuters

Thu Sep 29, 2011 12:37pm EDT

* Temperatures to remain above averages until next week

* Spot prices in OTC market fall on good solar output, low demand

PARIS/FRANKFURT, Sept 29 (Reuters) - European electricity curve prices rose on Thursday with firmer oil and carbon prices, which were driven by hopes euro zone leaders will be able to organise an effective response to the region's debt crisis.

German Cal '12 baseload gained 25 cents to 56.85 euros, a one-week high, after its steep losses earlier this week. The French contract mirrored the move, up 10 cents at 55.45 euros.

In macro news, German unemployment fell more than expected in September despite the generally worsening economic atmosphere, proving a surprisingly robust segment while overall euro zone business sentiment dropped sharply.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel won a vote on enhancing the euro zone's bailout fund with support from her own coalition majority without having to rely on the opposition, which reaffirmed her authority.

Spot prices in the over-the-counter market in France and Germany eased, pushed lower by expectations of high solar production for the next few days, combined with lower electricity demand due to high temperatures sweeping the region for this time of year.

Next week, a cooler weather trend will be setting in but this will be accompanied by more wind. Demand will be curbed by a German public holiday on Monday.

Day ahead baseload in Germany was 2.15 euros off at 56.35 euros in OTC trading while the French contract fell by 4.25 euros to 53.00 euros.

Weather forecasts show temperatures will slump from Tuesday, and reach below seasonal averages from Thursday.

Elsewhere, RWE said in a statement it is a founding member of a new European Association for the Storage of Energy (EASE) across Europe as one of the central challenges in the next 5 to 10 years will be the integration of green power onto grids.

The head of energy agency Dena reiterated an earlier Dena statement at a conference in Austria that Germany must move faster to integrate renewables. (Reporting By Muriel Boselli and Vera Eckert; editing by Keiron Henderson)

Broadband ad guidance issued over 'unlimited' claims - ZDNet UK (blog)

Broadband companies will need to be more careful with claims of 'unlimited' broadband services or maximum speeds following new guidelines that apply to future advertisements.

The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), which is overseen by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), issued the new guidance on Thursday. It is due to come into full effect on 1 April 2012, and was the result of an eight month public consultation.

"This new guidance directly responds to consumer concerns by setting an appropriately high bar for advertisers who want to make speed and 'unlimited' claims in ads," James Best, chairman of CAP, said in a statement. "Advertising is only effective if consumers trust the messages they see and hear. This guidance will help deliver that."

Under the new guidance, claims of unlimited broadband can only be made if a user is not charged, or has their service suspended, for exceeding a fair usage policy (FUP) or traffic management policy on an unlimited tariff.

However, the terms do allow for an ISP to use traffic management, but only if it does not unduly affect the user.

Consumer watchdog Which? said that the suggestions did not go far enough, and still left customers at the mercy of ISPs.

"Unlimited should mean unlimited at your normal broadband speed, but ISPs will be allowed to slow down a supposedly 'unlimited' connection once a customer goes over a certain threshold," Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which?, said in a statement.

CAP also issued new guidance over the speeds claimed by broadband providers in their advertising. The body said that the provider should be able to demonstrate that a maximum speed claim is achievable by at least ten percent of users and that additionally, advertisements should include additionally information to ensure consumers are not misled.

"Where relevant, this includes information that bears out that a significant proportion of subscribers receive a speed that falls considerably short of what consumers might reasonably expect the service to offer," CAP said.

However, Lloyd added that these rules were equally insubstantial and would not help frustrated consumers that are not getting the speeds they expected.

"Broadband providers have just been given the green light to mislead consumers. The rules say that providers don't have to state what range of speeds most of their customers' experience. That means advertising campaigns can now be based on the experience of a privileged few. If just one in 10 customers get access to the top speeds advertised, that's within the guidelines," Lloyd said.

"Ofcom should step in where the advertising regulators have failed, and make sure consumers can't be misled about the broadband service they're paying for," he added.

Rio hit with £500k bill after losing court battle - Eurosport.com AU

Rio Ferdinand has lost his court case against a newspaper who published a 'kiss and tell' story about an extra-marital affair.

The England and Manchester United star will now be saddled with paying the estimated £500,000 legal bills incurred by the Sunday Mirror in defence of the lawsuit.

Ferdinand sued the newspaper for misuse of private information after they published details of his 13-year relationship with interior designer Carly Storey, who accepted £16,000 for telling the tale of her liaisons with the defender.

But Mr Justice Nicol dismissed the case at London's high court on Thursday, and refused Ferdinand's legal team permission to appeal.

"Overall, in my judgment, the balancing exercise favours the defendant's right of freedom of expression over the claimant's right of privacy," he said.

The judge was not swayed by Ferdinand's claims that he had not tried to meet Storey after being made England captain, despite claims in the newspaper that he had snuck Storey into the team hotel.

"I did not find this answer persuasive. In his evidence the claimant said that (Fabio) Capello had told him to be professional, not only on the pitch but 'around the hotel'," the judge said.

"In the past, the Claimant (Ferdinand) had not behaved in a professional manner around the hotels into which he had tried to sneak Ms Storey.

"Whether or not he had done that in the few weeks since he had been made the permanent captain of England, his relative recent past failings could legitimately be used to call into question his suitability for the role."

Former England captain Ferdinand, who has three children with wife Rebecca, had told the judge at an earlier hearing that, "I do not see why I should not be entitled to a private life just because I am a famous footballer."

Sunday Mirror editor Tina Weaver hailed the judge's decision.

"The Sunday Mirror is very pleased that the court has rejected Rio Ferdinand's privacy claim," she said.

"The judge found that there was a justified public interest in reporting the off-pitch behaviour of the then England captain and discussion of his suitability for such an important and ambassadorial role representing the country.

"We are pleased the judge ruled that Mr Ferdinand had perpetuated a misleading public image and the Sunday Mirror was entitled to correct this impression.

"There has never been greater scrutiny of the media than now, and we applaud this ruling in recognising the important role a free press has to play in a democratic society."

Eurosport

Man admits murder of Jia Ashton - BBC News

29 September 2011 Last updated at 13:09 ET

A man has admitted murdering a woman as she walked home from work through woodland in Derbyshire.

Jia Ashton, 25, went missing in March after leaving work at chocolate maker Thornton's headquarters in Somercotes in March.

Her body was discovered by a mountain rescue search dog in nearby Sleetmoor Woods three days later.

David Simmonds, 21, from Heanor, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to murder.

Police believe Mrs Ashton, who was employed on a graduate scheme by Thorntons, was killed after walking into the woods along a path known locally as the "yellow brick road".

The economics graduate, from Somercotes, suffered a ferocious attack, said detectives, which caused the rupture of an atrium in her heart.

Her body was found hidden beneath logs and branches.

Simmonds, of Derby Road, was caught after a couple walking their dog saw a man of "possibly homeless appearance" in Sleetmoor Woods on the day Mrs Ashton disappeared.

Officers took fingerprints and DNA samples from people registered homeless in the area, one of whom was Simmonds.

'Despicable being'

There was no sexual element to the murder, said police, and Simmonds has yet to explain why he carried out the attack.

Det Supt Terry Branson, of Derbyshire Police, who led the murder inquiry, said Simmonds was "a habitual liar" who tried his best to cover up the killing.

"Without a doubt Mr Simmonds went to great lengths to hide the body to make sure that we never found Jia. He made every attempt to frustrate the subsequent police inquiry."

It is not known if injuries found on Simmonds' hands happened as a result of Mrs Ashton trying to fight him off.

Simmonds, at 6ft 2in and 19 stone, was more than three times the weight of his victim who was 4ft 11in and weighed six-and-a-half stone.

"The only person who knows what happened in that wood at the moment is David Simmonds and to what extent Jia fought back, it's only him that knows," Det Supt Branson said.

After the hearing, Mrs Ashton's husband Matthew said in a statement: "It has been six long and painful months since Jia was taken from us.

"Although Simmonds has finally admitted to the terrible crime he has committed, there can never be a sentence severe enough. He has taken someone so special and irreplaceable - and for what?

"At one time we thought that answers would help us come to terms with what he did to Jia. I now know that these answers may never come.

"I hope that justice will be done and that this despicable being will never be free to kill again."

Simmonds, who had originally denied the murder, is due to be sentenced on 7 October.

Jackson Bodyguard Says Doc Told Him to Hide Vials - ABC News

The first bodyguard to reach Michael Jackson's bedroom after the singer's doctor called for help testified Thursday that he was told by the physician to gather medicine vials before calling 911.

Alberto Alvarez said Dr. Conrad Murray grabbed the vials form a nightstand next to Jackson, who was still in his bed.

"He said 'Here, put these in a bag.'" Alvarez said of Murray. Alvarez said at first he thought he was bagging the items in preparation for a trip to the hospital. He said he trusted Murray because he was a doctor.

"In my personal experience, I believed Dr. Murray had the best intentions for Mr. Jackson," Alvarez said. "I didn't question his authority."

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren showed Alvarez and jurors a vial of propofol while the bodyguard was on the stand at the third day of Murray's involuntary manslaughter trial. Murray has pleaded not guilty.

Jurors intently looked at the bottle, which appeared to still contain some liquid.

Prosecutors are calling key witnesses in an attempt to show Murray delayed calling authorities on the day the King of Pop was found lifeless and was intent on concealing indications that he had been giving the singer doses of the surgical anesthetic.

At times during Alvarez's testimony, he looked directly at Murray, who occasionally passed notes to his attorney.

When he entered the bedroom, Alvarez said, he saw Jackson's eyes were open and was surprised to see the singer was wearing a condom catheter, a medical device that allows one to urinate without having to get up.

Alvarez testified that Murray only told him Jackson had a bad reaction.

Earlier, Alvarez testified that Jackson was in good spirits at a rehearsal on the night before he died.

"He was very happy," Alvarez testified. "I do recall he was in very good spirits."

Prosecutors have been calling witnesses who were with Jackson and Murray the day the singer died.

Authorities accuse Murray of giving Jackson a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol in the bedroom.

The jury has already gotten a glimpse into the entertainer's inner sanctum through photos and testimony.

Alvarez's testimony will likely be challenged by Murray's defense attorneys, who on Wednesday questioned Jackson's head of security and the singer's personal assistant about why they didn't reveal certain details about the day Jackson died to police for at least two months.

Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff asked Faheem Muhammad and Michael Amir Williams about whether they conferred with Alvarez before their interviews with detectives.

Williams, who was Jackson's personal assistant, said his interview with detectives had been delayed. He testified that he received an urgent phone call from Murray on the day of Jackson's death but wasn't told to call 911.

He called Muhammad, who then dispatched Alvarez to Jackson's bedroom on the second floor of the singer's rented mansion in the ritzy Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The room was off-limits to Jackson's staff, and Muhammad paused before racing up the stairs after reaching the mansion just before paramedics arrived.

He described a heart-wrenching scene. By then, he said, Jackson had been removed from his bed and was on the floor, where Murray, sweaty and frantic, was performing CPR.

Alvarez was pacing nervously, Muhammad told the jury. When he saw Jackson up close, he understood why.