Australia joins US in boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics as China hits back: ‘They violate Olympic spirit’ December 8, 2021 Australia’s prime minister said this morning the country will join the US in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights concerns. Scott Morrison said it should come as no surprise that Australian officials would boycott the event after the nation’s relationship with China had broken down in recent years. He added [...]
Champions League: Barcelona on brink ahead of Bayern Munich trip December 8, 2021 The last time that Barcelona were absent from the Champions League knockout stages, Lionel Messi was yet to make his debut and Gavi, the club’s newest star, hadn’t even been born. But 18 years later that scenario could come to pass again on Wednesday evening, depending on the outcome of the club’s make-or-break final Group [...]
Challenge Cup rugby gives teams the chance to hit reset December 7, 2021 A weird quirk of top flight European rugby is that in the big three leagues – England’s Premiership, France’s Top14 and Scotland, Italy, Ireland and Wales’s United Rugby Championship – every northern hemisphere team gets continental action. For the sides who finish in the bottom half of their league, except those who are relegated, are [...]
Rob Lee: Newcastle United owners should hire Alan Shearer as top advisor December 7, 2021 Newcastle United’s new owners can bring the good times back to St James’ Park by hiring an icon of the club’s most recent glory days, Alan Shearer, to oversee football matters, says Rob Lee. Fellow Newcastle great Lee played alongside Shearer for six seasons as they challenged Manchester United’s domestic supremacy and enjoyed their first [...]
Ashes: Relentless bowling attack can carry the Australian fight December 7, 2021 It tends to be the Ashes knocks that get the most recognition in a Test match – Adam Gilchrist, Ben Stokes and Kevin Pietersen come to mind – but it’s the relentless bowling attacks that provide the pressure. And in this year’s series, the Aussies have a fearful foursome. In spinner Nathan Lyon and seamers [...]
The big cheese: How old food can sell for crazy prices at auction December 7, 2021 It took two hours for bidding to draw to a close, but it was worth it. The 2.62kg Cabrales cheese left the auction tent at the 2018 Cabrales Cheese Competition to rapturous applause. Cream of the crop, the cheese had caught the attention of 15 restaurateurs from around Spain, each bidder hell-bent on blessing their [...]
Chris Tremlett: Ben Stokes is the England player who Australia fear December 7, 2021 Unfortunately, England do not take great form in Test cricket into their Ashes series against Australia, which begins in Brisbane on Tuesday night. Of their 12 Test matches so far this year, Joe Root’s men have won four, drawn two and lost six. It has been a story of inconsistency. But they do have one [...]
Winter Olympics: USA announce boycott of Beijing games over ‘ongoing genocide’ December 6, 2021 The White House yesterday confirmed a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 winter Olympics, due to be held in Beijing in February. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said:“The Biden administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games given the [People’s Republic of China’s] ongoing genocide and [...]
Cumberbatch shines in Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog December 6, 2021 It’s always interesting to see what Marvel stars do in-between saving the world. Tom Holland showed his dark side in Cherry; Brie Larson made legal drama Just mercy; and Chris Hemsworth mixed more action with ads for the Dubai Expo. Before he sends us to The Multiverse as Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch appears to be [...]
All eyes turn to Europe as rugby’s Champions Cup gets underway December 6, 2021 Come winter every season, European rugby halts its domestic competitions and looks towards the Champions Cup – the premier international club rugby competition in the world. This season, in a revised format, it’s imperative that teams get off to a flying start. Here’s what to look out for. Fast Start Last season saw a new [...]