There are people who believe Nelson Mandela died years before he really did, who swear they remember reading about his funeral in the 1980s, hearing it on the radio, even watching it on TV. It is such a common mistake that the phenomenon’s got its own name: the “Mandela effect”. Time was when that phrase…
Month: March 2019
Scarlets sunk by late penalty try as Racing 92 triumph in the rain
This 80 minutes will not make any Champions Cup highlights reel, and the fact the Scarlets went down to a last-gasp defeat made a drab evening worse still for their head coach, Wayne Pivac. Racing 92 emerged with the spoils as their huge pack – to which the Scarlets had stood up impressively – won…
Passing of Dr Z adds extra motivation for rugby Eagles in Chicago
One by one they have gone, and this week the last of them took his final breath. Paul Zimmerman, known to anyone who ever took a passing interest in the NFL as Dr Z, has died. He was 86, and had lived with aphasia for the past decade. What a cruel fate to befall a…
England sluggers to return for scrap against Australia’s ‘street fighters’
In the aftermath of England’s unconvincing victory over Japan, Eddie Jones’s thoughts turned to the last match of the autumn against Australia and his choice of words was telling. It will be “a good scrap”, said the coach, who will renew hostilities with Michael Cheika – a “street fighter” who will have his beleaguered Wallabies…
Australia turmoil as Ashley-Cooper and Beale left out on disciplinary grounds
Australia have been plunged into chaos on the eve of Saturday’s encounter with England after it emerged Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper were not available for selection for disciplinary reasons, just hours after David Pocock was ruled out through injury. Ian Robertson hangs up his mic: ‘You don’t gain anything from being an assassin’ |…
Andrew Conway’s hat-trick steers Ireland past USA to extend home record
Joe Schmidt has thanked his Ireland bosses for their “patience” while he finalises the decision on his long-term future. The Ireland head coach’s contract expires after next year’s World Cup in Japan, and next week he will announce his decision on his long-term movements. The 53-year-old is expected to return to his native New Zealand…
Andy Farrell to take over from Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach
Andy Farrell will succeed Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach after next year’s World Cup, the Irish Rugby Football Union has announced. Schmidt will leave Irish rugby after the tournament in Japan having taken charge in 2013. “I have decided to finish coaching and will prioritise family commitments after the RWC in 2019,” the 53-year-old…
Eddie Jones says England have power game to shock Ireland in Dublin
England have flown into a wintry Dublin firmly believing they can kick off the Six Nations by overpowering Ireland on the opening weekend. With Manu Tuilagi set to start in the championship for the first time in six years, their head coach, Eddie Jones, insists the visitors can upset the defending champions and register a…
The end of an era: what next for All Blacks after Steve Hansen?
The impending departure of All Blacks coach Steve Hansen may mark the end of an era in more ways than one. Hansen, 59, announced his intention to step down as All Blacks coach after the World Cup in Japan next year, saying it was time the world champions had “a fresh pair of eyes.” He…