• Extra match against Australia added for November
• Borthwick will lose time he has used for training in Spain

Steve Borthwick will have to forgo a crucial training camp and guide England into this year’s autumn internationals with a week’s less preparation after the Rugby Football Union arranged an extra lucrative November Test against Australia.

England habitually play three autumn internationals in the same year as a British & Irish Lions tour but the RFU arranged a fourth, which could generate up to £10m in revenue, after its latest accounts reported record losses to reserves of £42m.

• Salah and Szoboszlai on target in 2-0 victory
• Liverpool 11 points clear of Arsenal at top of table

After Liverpool defeated Manchester City 2-0 to take a crucial step towards the title, Arne Slot said being 11 points clear of Arsenal places them in a “good position” .

First-half goals from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai were enough to lengthen their lead, though Mikel Arteta’s side have played one game fewer than the Merseyside club. Slot was asked if it is now Liverpool’s championship to throw away.

Making tries worth more could be worth considering but for now Steve Borthwick’s men remain in Six Nations hunt

Style and beauty count for only so much in top‑level sport, as Welsh and Scottish supporters were eventually reminded on Saturday. There are no marks for artistic merit, no specific rewards (beyond a try bonus point) for throwing the ball around in the name of entertainment. Occasionally, though, there are days when the losers’ enterprise and energy leaves the deepest impression.

None more so, at long last, than Wales. After barely four training sessions under their interim head coach, Matt Sherratt, they looked a team who have not so much had an extreme makeover as assumed a whole fresh identity. Last time out they were gloomily trudging through Italian treacle; suddenly they were running and passing with elan and briefly threatening to cause the mother of all tournament upsets.

• Italy 24-73 France
• Visitors earn second-highest tally in Six Nations history

If there were questions over France’s ability to finish teams off after coughing up numerous chances against England a fortnight ago, they have been thoroughly put to bed. A ruthless 11-try demolition of a handy Italy side on their own patch served as a reminder that, on their day, there are few better outfits in rugby than a French team in full flow.

Fabien Galthié, the head coach, made some bold selection decisions, dropping his ace wing Damian Penaud and fly-half Matthieu Jalibert from the match-day 23. A seven-one bench split was a sign of the plan and France’s power game duly delivered. They stomped over the gainline with just about every carry, unloaded six heavies off the bench in one go on 48 minutes and pulverised the Italians, who sparkled on rare occasions but were totally outgunned.

All-rounder has yet to deliver in five major tournaments and missed out again in Champions Trophy defeat by Australia

The England players who hit the golf course on Sunday morning probably did the right thing, really. Back at the team hotel they were replaying the defeat against Australia the previous night on a jumbo‑sized screen, with the gentle flute muzak in the lobby barely softening the sight of Josh Inglis going gangbusters.

Plenty went back to their own struggle to tee off with the bat. At the 30-over mark, England were 200 with just two down, only to finish 351 for eight. It was their highest score at a global event, the highest by any side at a Champions Trophy. But it was still only par and swiftly bumped down to No 2 as regards the second of those two records.

• Bivol wins rematch by MD 12 (114-114, 116-112, 115-113)
• As it happened: Bryan Graham’s round-by-round report

Dmitry Bivol became the undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world after he outpointed Artur Beterbiev in another absorbing and magnificent contest of great technical skill and profound courage. Bivol, who narrowly lost a majority decision to the 40-year-old former champion just over four months ago, won the rematch and the sweetest redemption in the early hours of Sunday morning in Riyadh.

The scores were exactly the same as they had been in October – with one judge ruling it a 114-114 draw and the two other officials reaching verdicts of 116-112 and 115-113 – but the key difference was that the winning margins were announced in favour of the deserving Bivol.

• ‘I just don’t know how that’s a penalty,’ says head coach
• Steve Borthwick: ‘They found a way to win the game’

Scotland’s coaches and players believe two key officiating decisions potentially denied them another historic Calcutta Cup victory. Gregor Townsend feels his team were unlucky to concede the crucial second-half penalty kicked by Fin Smith that ultimately proved decisive and doubts have also been raised over the solitary English try, scored by Tommy Freeman.

Townsend was particularly unhappy about the crucial penalty given against Rory Darge and Tom Jordan for lifting Ben Curry out of a ruck. “I’m going to go through the game two or three times to see whether we could have got better decisions,” said Townsend, the head coach. “I did feel the decision that counted against us for the winning three points where we cleared someone out of the ruck … I just don’t know how that’s a penalty.

• ‘I never felt we were at the level required,’ says manager
• West Ham’s Graham Potter: ‘A really positive day for us’

A “very, very angry” Mikel Arteta conceded that Arsenal’s performance as they slumped to defeat against West Ham had not been up to the standard required to win the Premier League and said his players must “feel the pain” before their trip to Nottingham Forest in midweek.

Jarrod Bowen’s 50th Premier League goal sealed three points for Graham Potter’s side as the substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly was sent off in the second half. It leaves Arsenal still eight points behind Liverpool, with Arne Slot’s side having an opportunity to extend their lead when they face Manchester City on Sunday.

National supporters will see their heroes play against each other when Manchester City meet Liverpool on Sunday

The rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool has grown in recent years thanks to the coaching of Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp turning it into a battle for the title over numerous seasons. The fixture has become significant around the world but in one north African nation it has a new edge as their rising star and their national hero come face-to-face.

Omar Marmoush arrived in Manchester in January after City paid £59m to buy him from Eintracht Frankfurt. The Egypt forward built his reputation in Germany and has added to it in the Premier League after a hat-trick against Newcastle followed some promising performances to indicate he is up to Guardiola’s high standards. Marmoush is a beacon in a disappointing season for City but has some way to go to match his compatriot Mohamed Salah, the man leading Liverpool towards a second Premier League title. From Alexandria to Zagazig, eyes in Egypt will be on the Etihad on Sunday as the country’s heroes do battle.

• Interim coach proud even though Ireland win 27-18
• ‘Big moment’ when Ellis Mee ‘try’ ruled out by TMO

The new interim Wales coach, Matt Sherratt, paid tribute to his players’ “emotion and ambition” after a heartening display in the 27-18 defeat by Ireland at the Principality Stadium.

The 47-year-old Englishman, Cardiff’s full-time head coach, was appointed only last week and said he was pleased with the way his players had transferred his ideas on to the pitch. Wales led 18-10 in the second half before a Jamie Osborne try and three Sam Prendergast penalties for Ireland settled the contest.