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“Is Bazball the route for English rugby?”

This was a question posed – but not answered – by Steve James in yesterday’s Times. James was a prodigious run accumulator for Glamorgan but, when it comes to cricket writing, a bit of a bore. He is a bore as he tends to be limited in scope to himself, Glamorgan cricket and Wales. So [...]

December 9, 2022 // 0 Comments

The case for Eddie Jones.

Given that the Rust has been one of the most trenchant critics of England coach Eddie Jones you may be surprised by the title of this post. Of course the RFU are reluctant to sack him for financial reasons but – despite his many faults and failures – a case can be made to retain him [...]

November 29, 2022 // 0 Comments

My sporting weekend

Saturday – from the comfort of my sofa – I watched 3 rugby games: the Women’s World Cup Final, England versus Japan and France versus South Africa. I must agree to differ with Sandra on her take on the World Cup Final whilst agreeing it was an enthralling contest. Lydia Thompson knew [...]

November 14, 2022 // 0 Comments

The Women’s Rugby World Cup Final

England’s Red Roses rugby union team duly came off second best against New Zealand’s Black Ferns yesterday by a score margin of 31 to 34 in the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup final played at Eden Park in front of over 40,000 spectators, thereby concluding their 30-match winning streak against [...]

November 13, 2022 // 0 Comments

T20 World Cup semi finals

I wish I could enjoy T20 cricket – I really do. I watched both semifinals. I am deeply unsatisfied. Firstly, the technique is so awful as you constantly see slashing across the line. The only elegant stroke I can recall was a sumptuous six from Virat Kohli. Kohli had his feet in place, [...]

November 11, 2022 // 0 Comments

Petworth Literary Festival/Simon Sebag Montefiore

Yesterday I attended the Petworth Literary Festival where Simon Sebag Montefiore was interviewed by Davide Soskin about his new book The World.    This is a history of the world through families. His thesis is that the treatment of history is too narrow – whether of a country or a [...]

October 31, 2022 // 0 Comments

Sacked!

We are now well into the football sacking season with Thomas Tuchel, Bruno Lage and Stevie Gerrard early casualties. Leeds’ Jesse Marsch’s head is in the noose. In an article in yesterday’s Times their chief football writer Henry Winter identified the increasing role fans play in such [...]

October 26, 2022 // 1 Comment

Boxing in the dock (again)

The debacle of the recent non-fight between Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn – actually a bout cancelled by the British Board of Boxing Control as “against the interests of the sport”, apparently  despite the protests (up to and including threatened legal action) of promoters [...]

October 15, 2022 // 0 Comments

Champions League qualifiers

As often as not, a match on which much hangs can result in a cagey game. Not so Barcelona v Inter Milan last night. Barcelona’s debts are said to have reached 1 billion euros and their  future revenue streams have been compromised. Although on top of La Liga they must qualify for the business [...]

October 13, 2022 // 0 Comments

Boxing’s muddy waters never settle

Since  the dawn of human time the “sport” of boxing – gladiatorial combat using only fists – has been inextricably linked with corrupt practices. Where should I begin? Shoe-horns or knuckle-dusters in gloves? “Fixed” contests, with or without boxers (from [...]

October 12, 2022 // 0 Comments

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