Malenirvana.com - Sports News

"You become a champion by fighting one more round. When things are tough you fight one more round".

Munster reached their fourth Heineken Cup final after ending brave Saracens' European adventure courtesy of a pulsating 18-16 win at the Ricoh Arena.

The Irish giants will now return to Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium - scene of their 2006 title triumph against Biarritz - and an appointment with three-time European champions Toulouse on May 24.

This week Spain's Rafael Nadal won his fourth straight Monte Carlo Masters title. An incredible effort, especially when you take into account the fact that he has won the past three finals against his famous foe Roger Federer.

Nadal and Federer have now met 15 times, with Nadal holding a 9-6 win-loss advantage over the world No.1. Few can boast a positive record against Federer.

Looking at the numbers, Federer and Nadal have met 15 times, 11 of those matches (73%) have been finals. This is a high percentage, but when you take into account Nadal has been parked behind Federer in the No.2 spot for the past 144 weeks it makes sense.

Before this there was Agassi and Sampras - two Americans whose personalities couldn't have been more different. Agassi began his career in a blaze of media headlines and fluoro, while Sampras rarely courted controversy.

The Americans met 34 times with Sampras taking the honours 20 times. On 16 occasions the two met in a final - 47% of their matches.

The 1980s produced a few great rivalries, some of which stretched into the early part of the 1990s.

As her grandmother looked on, West Australian Casey Dellacqua upset former world number one Amelie Mauresmo to advance into the fourth round of the 2008 Australian Open.

South Africa for the second time take the Rugby World Cup in Paris defeating England 15-6 in a dour try less match. A controversial decision by TV Match Official Stuart Dickinson denied English winger Mark Cueto a dive over try in the corner in the second half claiming his boot just touched the line. If the try had been allowed it would have changed the tempo of the match and may have resulted in a different winner?.

Referees made more of an impact on this world cup than the IRB would admit with the NZ All Blacks sent packing by France in the quarter finals with a missed blatant forward pass resulting in a try for France and an absurd decision by Referee Wayne Barnes yellow carding Luke McAllister for a supposed obstruction. IRB Referee President NZ'der Paddy O'Brien's reaction to the bad refereeing claims was "grow up". O'Brien's reaction says it all, referees are untouchable and if they do come under scrutiny for bad decisions we are told to "grow up". Perhaps O'Brien is the one who needs to grow up and take accountably for the referees decisions which can change the result of these type match's. Rugby Union is being bogged down with technical phobia refereeing hindering the natural flow of the game as the players have got bigger, stronger and faster.

The whole IRB referee's association headed by O'Brien needs a big shake up for the future of Rugby Union to prosper and flow as it should. Perhaps the real problem is O'Brien at the helm of the IRB Referees, himself a former top referee who had his own moments during his career.