‘There were alligators and hippos running wild on the streets of Tbilisi' – Billy Holland recalls eventful 2015 visit to Georgia
'We decided we were going to celebrate like we'd won the World Cup,' recalls Billy Holland, the self-confessed veteran of the group.
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The 42
6 hours ago
- The 42
Van den Berg strikes twice as South Africa beat Italy
SCRUM-HALF MORNE van den Berg scored two tries as Rugby World Cup holders South Africa beat Italy 42-24 in Pretoria in the first of two Tests. Winning his third cap, the 27-year-old half-back from the Johannesburg-based Lions also impressed with his tactical kicking and won the player of the match award. It was a game of two halves with the Springboks using their scrum power to score four tries and build a 28-3 lead by half-time in front of a near-capacity crowd at the 52,000-capacity Loftus Versfeld. Two of those tries came when Italy were temporarily reduced to 14 men after No 8 Lorenzo Cannone was sin-binned by Scottish referee Hollie Davidson. South Africa's Morne van den Berg kicks as Andrea Zambonin tries to block the ball. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Much-improved Italy outscored the record four-time World Cup winners by three tries to two in the second half despite fielding an experimental team with numerous first choices remaining in Europe. 'We knew it would be tough because Italy are an extremely passionate side. We certainly did not write them off and they showed why tonight,' South Africa captain and centre Jesse Kriel said. Advertisement 'There is lots for us to work on. In the first half we started strong, but in the second half they defended like their life depended on it. So it was very tough, but it always is at Test level. 'We let ourselves down a bit at the breakdown. They defended very well, but we wanted quick ball to attack with. They frustrated us and we have a lot of work to do there.' Italy captain and lock Niccolo Cannone said: 'We are very happy with our performance. It was a very tough, physical game. But we are happy, although there are some details to improve for next weekend. 'We know the guys we were playing against because we play them a lot in the United Rugby Championship. But this is another type of game and they are different when they wear that (Springbok) jersey.' Victory continued the 100% record of South Africa when hosting Italy, but it was the second smallest winning margin in eight Tests since 1999. The other Springbok try scorers were Kriel, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, replacement prop Vincent Koch and flanker Marco van Staden. It was a special moment for tighthead Koch when he barged over as he notched his first try for South Africa while winning his 62nd cap. South Africa's Vincent Tshituka. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The outstanding try came from Arendse, who raced through the Italian defence from midfield to score after impressive Test debutant Vincent Tshituka won a lineout. Veteran out-half Handre Pollard slotted all six conversions, raising his total for the Springboks to 784 points in 81 Tests. Flanker Manuel Zuliani, replacement hooker Pablo Dimcheff on debut and Niccolo Cannone scored tries for the Azzurri. Out-half Giacomo Da Re kicked three conversions and a penalty for Italy, whose starting line-up included only five of the team beaten by Ireland in their last 2025 Six Nations Championship match. When Da Re converted the Cannone try with 11 minutes remaining, there were only 11 points between the teams, raising the possibility of a stunning victory for the visitors. But the Springboks put the outcome beyond doubt on 74 minutes when Van Staden powered his way over the line and Pollard maintained his perfect record from the kicking tee. The second Test is scheduled for Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in eastern coastal city Gqeberha next Saturday. – © AFP 2025
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Centurion Ford inspires England to surprise win over Argentina
Summer Test: Argentina 12 England 35 England recovered from two first-half sin-bins to down Argentina by a 35-12 score with Test centurion George Ford kicking 15 points. Alex Coles and debutant Seb Atkinson were shown yellow cards by referee Angus Gardner to temporary reduce Steve Borthwick's team to 13 men in La Plata, but after a superb regard defensive action, England were much improved after the break. Tom Roebuck grabbed a first try within two minutes of the restart and added another after Freddie Steward crossed over. Caden Murley concluded the scoring with five minutes left on a night where co-captain Ford showed his class on his 100th appearance for England. All eyes were on Ford initially, but it was scrum-half Ben Spencer who did most of the kicking early on with a number of box kicks as Argentina dominated territory. Infringements were a regular occurrence from England and Coles was first to be sent to the sin-bin for a head-on-head contact with Facundo Isa. It was followed by rock-solid English defence led by co-captain Jamie George and after Santiago Carreras missed a simple penalty for Argentina, Ford landed a drop goal to conjure memories of his virtuoso display in the 2023 World Cup group stage. Atkinson followed Coles in being shown a yellow following a succession of team offsides, which reduced England to 13 men. However, George again starred to keep Argentina at bay and while Ford missed another drop goal effort, it remained 3-0 at half-time. England started the second period with better intent and needed only 65 seconds to score the first try of the match. A fine carry by Ben Curry was followed by quick ball from Ford and Steward, who found Sale wing Roebuck and he crashed over on the right. Ford failed to add the extras, but quickly made amends with a superb pass to release his former Leicester team-mate Steward for England's second try. This time Ford kicked the conversion and the purple patch continued as Roebuck grabbed another in the 49th minute. After being stopped just short of the try-line after a free-flowing move, Roebuck made no mistake second time around to help England move 22-0 ahead. Pablo Matera helped Argentina to produce an instant response and when Pedro Rubiolo finished off a superb team attack minutes later, the momentum had suddenly shifted. Borthwick turned to his bench as Guy Pepper was introduced for his Test debut, but fittingly it was Ford who took charge on his 100th international outing with two inch-perfect penalties - the second from near the halfway line. Harlequins wing Murley entered the fray with eight minutes later and wrapped up the scoring with an excellent finish before Ford kicked his third conversion to help England begin their summer tour in style.
Dublin Live
9 hours ago
- Dublin Live
Dublin v Cork recap from All-Ireland Hurling semi-final
19:07 Oisin Doherty Report from Croke Park Cork 7-26 Dublin 2-21 The last time a Corkman came to Dublin and landed a knockout blow like this was when Roy Keane took out Marc Overmars. That was the infamous 2001 World Cup qualifier between Ireland and the Netherlands when Keane's early-doors tackle turned winger Overmars into the flying Dutchman. On Saturday evening, it was hat-trick hero Alan Connolly and his relentless Rebels who took flight. An All-Ireland final against the winners of Sunday's clash between Kilkenny and Tipp awaits. Neither team stands a chance. Not if Cork play like this. Not if Hayes, Horgan and Connolly are on the field. And certainly not if they face a side who abandon the idea of defending. Because that was what Dublin did on Saturday. (Image: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie) In the end they coughed up seven goals; there could have been more. For Cork, three-goal Connolly was their biggest hero but not their only one. Brian Hayes finished the game raising two green flags; Pat Horgan raising concern for Tipp and Kilkenny defenders with his deadly accuracy while at centre back, Robert Downey was imperious. Why stop there because Cork never stopped? Eoin Downey shored things up at full back, which was vital as Niall O'Leary was having serious issues with Cian O'Sullivan, who had chalked up 1-3 by half-time. But by this stage the game was as good as over. And that came down to two things. First, there was the way Cork manipulated the structure of their side to create a huge amount of space in front of the Dublin half-back line. And from there, Cork were razor sharp with their finishing. Hayes and Connolly's touch was exceptional, Cork's overall skill levels off the charts. Then there were the goals - Cork getting three within the opening 13 minutes, four by half-time, seven by the end. Hayes got the first, tidily stroking the ball past Sean Brennan, the Dubs keeper, to put the Rebels three points clear. (Image: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon) That came when there were just four minutes on the clock and before we could draw breath, the Dubs had conceded two more, had subbed two of their starters and were staring down the barrel of defeat. Yet, despite that bitter reality, they didn't play terribly. In fact some of their performers excelled, notably O'Sullivan and Sean Currie, scorers of 1-6 between them in the first half alone. Plus, there were the events that conspired against them, Conor McHugh going off midway through the first-half with an injury, Fergal Whitely hitting the crossbar when his effort deserved a goal, Dublin failing to add to a run of form that saw them notch five of the seven points scored between the 19th and 30th minutes. But the bottom line remained that whenever Cork needed a score, they went and got one, Connolly getting their second goal on 11 minutes, after brilliant approach play by Hayes. And then came the third - Hayes again the provider, Connolly again the scorer, this goal straight out of Roger Federer's playbook, as he smashed it, tennis style past Brennan. Game, set and match? Not yet. The Dubs fought back, staying in the fight via O'Sullivan's 15th minute goal, created by Currie. Then came their purple patch between the 20th and 30th minutes which cut the gap to five. (Image: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie) And just when we thought it was safe to say there was a game going on, Cork stretched their lead yet again, Hayes getting his second goal, three minutes before the break, Horgan and Connolly flicking the ball delicately in his direction, the corner forward doing the rest. Ten ahead at half-time, they were never going to be caught. And so it proved. After 41 minutes there was a fifth Cork goal, when Horgan set up Tim O'Mahony whose finish made it 5-16 to 1-13 - a 15-point gap. A brief Dublin resurgence followed but that was bluntly interrupted on 50 minutes when Tim O'Mahony got his goal - yet another one-hander straight out of centre court. And finally seven minutes from time came the hat-trick for the sensational Connolly who got on the end of Robbie O'Flynn's run and pass. The sub could have finished it off himself. But he - and every other member of the 83,000 crowd - knew this was going to be Connolly's day. He, and Cork, march on.
