Stuart Lancaster looks to Super Rugby to heal enduring torment of Rugby World Cup failure April 10, 2016 Former England head coach Stuart Lancaster admits he is still haunted by last year’s Rugby World Cup failure but is hoping to rebuild his career in the southern hemisphere. Lancaster’s four-year tenure ended in ignominy in November after his England team became the first hosts of the tournament to suffer elimination at the group stage. [...]
Kevin Pietersen ready to switch allegiances and play Test cricket for South Africa April 10, 2016 Controversial former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has floated the possibility of making a sensational return to international cricket with his native South Africa. The Pietermaritzburg-born batsman made his England debut during the 2005 Ashes series and proceeded to score 8,181 runs in 104 Tests, at an average of 47.28, for his adopted country. Pietersen was [...]
Defending champion Spieth soars, Europeans threaten and world No1 Day wilts in opening round of Masters at Augusta April 8, 2016 Unflappable reigning champion Jordan Spieth defied his recent form to make a blistering start to his Masters defence with a flawless six-under-par opening round of 66 at Augusta National yesterday. Spieth holds a two-shot lead from Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Danny Lee of New Zealand after a bogey-free round, while world No3 Rory McIlroy is [...]
Borussia Dortmund 1, Liverpool 1: Klopp happy to prove doubters wrong on return for former club April 7, 2016 Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp revelled in proving the doubters wrong as his side netted a potentially pivotal away goal to eat a draw from their Europa League quarter-final first leg against tournament favourites Borussia Dortmund. Striker Divock Origi justified his manager’s decision to thrust him into frontline action ahead of Daniel Sturridge by scoring a [...]
Boulevard, Robin Williams’ last movie, is a muted tribute April 7, 2016 Dir. Dito Montiel | ★★★☆☆ While not the last film he shot, Boulevard has the sad distinction of being the late Robin Williams' final on-screen role, arriving just over 18 months after the actor’s death. He plays Nolan, a married bank employee whose existence has become a simple, sad matter of plodding through the days, [...]
Timothy Spall excels in The Old Vic’s The Caretaker April 7, 2016 The Old Vic | ★★★★☆ Harold’s Pinter’s first big hit, The Caretaker, is a frenetic comedy about three social outcasts, all woefully incapable of communicating with each other. This claustrophobic play takes place inside a leaky loft conversion strewn with lofty piles of newspapers and a host of unfinished DIY projects. It’s exhausting just looking [...]
Football betting: Harry Kane able to help Tottenham Hotspur end home hoodoo against Manchester United April 7, 2016 Nothing better sums up Tottenham’s Premier League home record against Manchester United than one of their most memorable encounters 15 years ago. After the hosts raced into a 3-0 first half lead over the Red Devils in 2001, it only took a few words from Sir Alex Ferguson at the interval to rejuvenate his side, [...]
X at the Royal Court review: a terrifying, claustrophobic space horror that comes unravelled April 7, 2016 Royal Court | ★★★☆☆ The best science fiction is virtually always a vehicle for social commentary, a metaphor for talking about the here and now. Alien can be read as an advocation of abortion; Dune reflects the geopolitics of the Cold War-era oil industry; Dawn of the Dead is a critique of consumerism. But, crucially, you [...]
Whistler at the Fine Art Society shows an artist who was rightly considered thoroughly radical April 7, 2016 James McNeill Whistler is best known for his painterly concern for harmony of tones and mood, rather than overtly symbolic or moral content. This is famously evident in his Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1 of 1871, commonly known as Whistler’s Mother. What is less known is that he was also an extraordinary pioneer both [...]
Anthony Joshua v Charles Martin: Callow Joshua insists he is ready to seize first world title chance April 7, 2016 British heavyweight Anthony Joshua admits he is taking a risk by challenging for a world title just 15 fights into his career but insists he is ready to dethrone IBF champion Charles Martin. London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Joshua, who has won all of his fights by knockout since turning professional, clashes with American Martin at [...]