Defence of Flood and Youngs is over the top
Leicester Tigers players always talk about being part of a close-knit rugby family at Welford Road. English Premiership rugby's most successful club have certainly got the embarrassing parent thing down pat.
Coming back into the bosom of family life is probably very comforting when a player has been told he is currently not required by his country. However, Leicester's England contingent might do better without their club bosses starting battles that do not necessarily need to be fought on their behalf.
Last year, it was the England coaching staff who were to blame for Toby Flood's radar going on the blink. "You'll have to ask Dave Alred [England's then kicking coach] about that," Richard Cockerill, Leicester's director of rugby said back then of his fly-half's sudden fallibility in front of goal.
And this week, Matt O'Connor was on the defensive again, after Flood and Ben Youngs were overlooked for starting places for England's trip to France in the Six Nations.
Rather than it being down to poor form on the scrum half's' part, or bad luck for Flood, who had been usurped by both Owen Farrell and Charlie Hodgson while he was injured, it was a failing of the England hierarchy instead.
"England don't want creative players, they are just trying not to lose," the head coach was quoted as saying in defence of his two half backs.
Coaches are right to stand up for their players when they have been slighted. But Youngs and Flood are big boys. Perhaps they should be fighting their own battles.
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY PROFILE
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Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
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Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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The specs
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Wydad Nahiri 21’, Hajhouj 90'
Urawa Antonio 18’, 60’, Kashiwagi 26’
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
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- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%20Profile
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Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
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The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press
RESULTS
Women:
55kg brown-black belt: Amal Amjahid (BEL) bt Amanda Monteiro (BRA) via choke
62kg brown-black belt: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Ffion Davies (GBR) via referee’s decision (0-0, 2-2 adv)
70kg brown-black belt: Ana Carolina Vieira (BRA) bt Jessica Swanson (USA), 9-0
90kg brown-black belt: Angelica Galvao (USA) bt Marta Szarecka (POL) 8-2
Men:
62kg black belt: Joao Miyao (BRA) bt Wan Ki-chae (KOR), 7-2
69kg black belt: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Gianni Grippo (USA), 2-2 (1-0 adv)
77kg black belt: Espen Mathiesen (NOR) bt Jake Mackenzie (CAN)
85kg black belt: Isaque Braz (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE), 2-0
94kg black belt: Felipe Pena (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL), 4-0
110kg black belt final: Erberth Santos (BRA) bt Lucio Rodrigues (GBR) via rear naked choke
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
