Hamilton fell to sixth place, and as his contender -- Ferrari's Felipe Massa -- crossed the finish in first place, it looked as though the title had slipped through his grasp for the second year in a row.

CNN: Extraordinary F1: the final race in pictures

However, captain Victor Matfield spurned a glorious opportunity to put the tourists in front, ignoring an overlap in favour of glory as a fine challenge by Courtney Lawes, abetted by a last-ditch sweep from scrum-half Ben Youngs, pushed the ball from the second-row's grasp as he was about to apply downward pressure.

BBC: England 11-21 South Africa

The unprecedented wealth creation of the last half-decade has brought second--and third and fourth--homes within the grasp of more Americans.

FORBES: Homing In On Taxes

If you assume this kind of fiscal pact is now within the leaders' grasp, plus some revamped policy commitments from countries like Italy, we would then move to the second act in this feel-good tale, in which Germany agrees to some form of collective underwriting of eurozone debt.

BBC: A happy ending for the euro?

Dr Molfino's second unusual approach involves flat surfaces that grasp the fabric they are manipulating much as geckos stick to ceilings.

ECONOMIST: Automated tailoring comes closer

Paul has a comprehensive grasp on the global economy, so when he says loose money first and prosperity second, I sit up in my chair.

FORBES: The Economy's Trillion-Dollar Question

It was a vital and timely contribution from the Croatian midfielder, used sparingly this season, who struck just as the game seemed to have slipped from Tottenham's grasp following a lacklustre second-half display.

BBC: Tottenham 2-1 Bolton

And five minutes later an horrendous error from Jensen gifted the home side a second when he allowed O'Hara's volley to squirm through his grasp.

BBC: Tottenham 4-1 Burnley