Duane Vermeulen of South Africa is spear-tackled by Italy's Andrea Lovotti and Nicola Quaglio at the Rugby World Cup on Friday. The two props have each been given three-game bans. Reuters
Duane Vermeulen of South Africa is spear-tackled by Italy's Andrea Lovotti and Nicola Quaglio at the Rugby World Cup on Friday. The two props have each been given three-game bans. Reuters
Duane Vermeulen of South Africa is spear-tackled by Italy's Andrea Lovotti and Nicola Quaglio at the Rugby World Cup on Friday. The two props have each been given three-game bans. Reuters
Duane Vermeulen of South Africa is spear-tackled by Italy's Andrea Lovotti and Nicola Quaglio at the Rugby World Cup on Friday. The two props have each been given three-game bans. Reuters

Rugby World Cup 2019: a call for green cards, All Black brilliance and the Gallic flair from Fiji


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

The Rugby World Cup is speeding towards the knockout stage. There is even a danger that the players might start being spoken about even more than the officials. Although not quite yet

New cards?

This is the World Cup of “mitigating factors”. Namely, are there any when contact is made with a player’s head during a collision? If not, it usually means game over as a spectacle.

Even when a decision has been clearly thought through and entirely fair, it can totally ruin a game.

Like when Tomas Lavanini was sent off in the 18th minute of a tussle between England and Argentina that had been brewing nicely. From that point on, Argentina had no hope.

Might there be a case for a new card system – green if needs be – where the offending player is jettisoned from the game for good, but after 10 minutes a replacement player can enter? Like a basketball player fouling out, but being permitted a replacement.

Referees have a difficult enough job as it is, and ruling on an extra layer of foul play might be impossible.

But if the double spear tackle on Duane Vermeulen in the South Africa v Italy game represents the definitive red, might it be possible to work on a scale of infringements beneath that where the team of the offending player are not cut totally adrift?

Perfect planning

Even the very best are struggling to get a handle on the interpretation of the laws at the moment.

New Zealand’s game with Namibia was thought to be such a mismatch that local television did not even cut to live coverage until the score was 5-3 to the All Blacks, preferring to focus on Major League Baseball instead.

Predictably, the world’s No 1 side were comfortable 71-9 winners in the end, but they had moments of stress.

Front-row forwards Nepo Laulala and Ofa Tuungafasi were each shown yellow cards for getting tackles wrong.

New Zealand were well prepared for being shorthanded, though. They had played the last 15 minutes of their final warm-up match before the tournament against Tonga with 14 men out of choice.

New Zealand scrum-half TJ Perenara battles through two Namibian tackles to score a brilliant late try in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday. AFP
New Zealand scrum-half TJ Perenara battles through two Namibian tackles to score a brilliant late try in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday. AFP

Try of the tournament?

Steve Hansen might be the coach of the world’s best team, and have been involved in two World Cup wins already. But he remains difficult to please.

His post-match eulogies about his team do not tend to stray too far between “pretty happy” and “a little bit to work on”.

Even he was moved to fist-pumping the air by the quality of TJ Perenara’s sensational late try against Namibia.

OK, so it was only Namibia, New Zealand were miles ahead, and they are pretty tasty at the best of times. But this was something else.

Perenara first played a deft pass while falling. The ball found its way to Brad Weber. He played a round-the-back pass on the run to Perenara, who was back up supporting the attack, and who somehow tiptoed his way down the touchline and managed to ground the ball on the tryline while being bundled into touch. It was spellbinding.

Magic Kolbe

No side – bar perhaps Fiji – can match the excellence of New Zealand’s collective attacking skills.

But if there is one individual who has the most enviable running skills, it is surely Cheslin Kolbe of South Africa.

Saying an attacker can beat a defender in a phone box is hyperbole designed to talk up their stepping abilities.

But in Kolbe’s case, it might actually be true. Take the example of his sixth minute try that opened the scoring in the Springboks’ 49-3 win over Italy.

With barely any space to work with, the sevens convert managed to beat two Italian defenders, with them barely even laying a hand on him.

South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe ghosts past Michele Campagnaro of Italy to score a try in Shizuoka on Friday. EPA
South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe ghosts past Michele Campagnaro of Italy to score a try in Shizuoka on Friday. EPA

Mr Rugby

There was plenty of flair on show in the first half of France’s win over Tonga. Whether it was particularly Gallic is questionable.

Virimi Vakatawa, the New Zealand-born Fijian centre, scored the first try, from a pass by Alivereti Raka – whose surname means “rugby” in Fijian.

In his post-match TV interview, Vakatawa was prompted to speak in French. When he was done, he asked if he could say something in Fijian, too, and promptly did so with a broad smile.

Raka, too, had the chance to speak having been named player of the match. He said he was “happy playing next to another Fijian”.

Sometimes in this World Cup it has felt like a contest to see which side has the best Fijians.

Australia probably edge it, but France’s are decent, too. Pity, though, that Fiji themselves are heading out.

Virimi Vakatawa, the New Zealand-born Fijian centre, right, scores a try for France against Tonga at the Kumamoto Stadium on Sunday. AFP
Virimi Vakatawa, the New Zealand-born Fijian centre, right, scores a try for France against Tonga at the Kumamoto Stadium on Sunday. AFP
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history

4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon

- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.

50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater

1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.  

1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.

1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.

-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.

The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km

Price: Dh133,900

On sale: now 

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Essentials

The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes. 
 

Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes. 


In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes. 
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

What is Reform?

Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.

It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.

Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.

After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.

Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.

The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Director: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas

Three stars

Prop idols

Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.

Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)

An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.

----

Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)

Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.

----

Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)

Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.

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Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

The five pillars of Islam
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

While you're here
The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
 
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
 
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket

Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

About Seez

Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017  

Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer

Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon 

Sector:  Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing

Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed

Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A 

Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds 

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

Six large-scale objects on show
  • Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
  • The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
  • A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
  • Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
  • A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
  • Torrijos Palace dome