Gerry Thornley on why the Springboks are top dogs; Ken Early on Manchester City’s easy street; Ian O’Riordan on the mental pain of the Dublin marathon
Jean Kleyn celebrates with his wife Aisling after the Rugby World Cup final win over New Zealand. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho. Four years ago he watched the final on a flight from South Africa to Ireland, the prospect of ever featuring in one feeling decidedly remote. But having won five caps for Ireland, a change in World Rugby’s eligibility rulings made him an option for the country of his birth, his first call-up only coming in July.
When Ken Early looked at United’s team-sheet an hour before kick-off, he reckoned things didn’t look promising for them “The first two-thirds of the club year is full of decaffeinated matches and the championship phase of the season is consumed like a shot of espresso,” writes Denis