56 h. ago The Breakdown | Jac Morgan’s pivotal Lions moment reignites jackling debate in rugby

Some people consider it sacrosanct but has World Rugby extended too much latitude to the jackler or ‘stealer’?Another Lions tour added to the annals, and everyone is more or less happy. The British & Irish Lions take a series win, just about, and Australia have a pivotal moment at the end of the second Test to whinge about, or console themselves over, depending on your viewpoint.Certainly, these days, it is difficult to know what disciplinary outcome may pertain to each incident in the cut and thrust of elite rugby. Most people with eyes can appreciate there was no head contact when Jac Morgan tried to clear out the jackling Carlo Tizzano in the buildup to Hugo Keenan’s winning try, but there is no doubt, either, that Tizzano was in an exposed position, just as that particular split-second represented an impossible situation for Morgan. Had he gone any lower he would have made contact with the head, higher and he would have missed the clearout altogether. Continue read...

Politics

3 d. ago Celtic new boy in nod to Jock Stein with famous line as he admits 'that's why I signed'

The Swede looked slick in the win at Pittodrie and was front and centre of the supporters' celebrations after the final whistle

Politics

6 d. ago What the jury wasn't allowed to hear in the Erin Patterson trial: suspicions and mystery illnesses

Material and claims the jury in Australia’s mushroom lunch murder trial wasn’t allowed to hear can be reported after a suppression order was liftedFive key moments in the murder trial of Australia’s mushroom lunch cookErin Patterson’s hospital visit – and what the beef wellingtons really looked like: mushroom murder exhibits revealedSimon Patterson told his father, Don, and other family members that he suspected his estranged wife, Erin Patterson, had been trying to poison him before she invited his parents and his aunt and uncle to a fatal beef wellington lunch, according to evidence heard in a pre-trial hearing.One argument heard in court, but not able to be revealed to the jury in Erin Patterson’s triple murder trial, involved police suspicions that she might have previously used rat poison in an alleged attempt to kill Simon.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

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6 d. ago ‘Leave it to nature’: how enticing insects to kill off pests helped cut reliance on pesticides

While working to stop bollworms destroying cotton crops, Dr Robert Mensah wondered whether other insects could provide a solutionWhile trying to come up with a pesticide solution to kill off bollworms, Dr Robert Mensah had his eureka moment.It was the 90s, and in Australia bollworms were devastating cotton farms, with the larvae of these moths chomping up the crops faster than farmers could eradicate them. The farmers were trapped in an arms race with the bollworms, applying more and more pesticide to combat an increasingly resistant species of pest – killing many beneficial insects in the process. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Lions had special moments but lacked consistency needed to be ranked among greats | Robert Kitson

Andy Farrell’s team deserve place in history after a 2-1 series win but return from Australia nursing nagging regretsHow best to describe the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour? Even before the final Test was interrupted by lightning, it was a strange old series. To the Lions the spoils but it was Australia who led for all but 60 seconds of the last two Tests. Just a solitary point divided the teams over three games and it was only courtesy of Will Stuart’s late consolation that the visitors collected 10 tries compared to the Wallabies’ nine.What would have happened had Joe Schmidt’s side had an extra warmup fixture or made a faster start in Brisbane? Had Will Skelton been fit for the pivotal opening game, or Rob Valetini and Taniela Tupou featured for more than 40 and 60 minutes in the series respectively? If Australia had not lost their first-choice fly-half on the eve of the series, or protected their 23-5 lead in Melbourne? Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Unseen Lions v Australia moments as final whistle greeted by strange response

Ben James was inside the Suncorp Stadium for a big Lions occasion that ended with a peculiar feeling

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3 w. ago Captain Harry Wilson backs Wallabies to surprise British & Irish Lions in first Test

Australia’s No 8 says team will try to ‘win every moment’ on SaturdayNick Champion de Crespigny and Tom Lynagh come into injury-depleted squad Australia captain Harry Wilson said the Wallabies were confident of beating the British & Irish Lions in the first Test at Lang Park on Saturday despite being heavy underdogs after losing several key players to injury.The Wallabies have won only four of their last 11 Tests and on Saturday will be without regular fly-half Noah Lolesio and their best Test player of the last two years, loose forward Rob Valetini. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Wallabies learn lessons of 2013 Lions series in bid to avoid first Test slip

Australia fly half Kurtley Beale slipped at an inopportune moment during the 2013 Lions first Test, and the Wallabies are keen to avoid a repeat

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