The term "group of death" may be a hackneyed cliche, but the Rugby World Cup's version is already a painful place to be. At the very least, Pool A is the group of collateral damage.
Wales have suffered most to date. Before a ball has even been punted, they appear certain to be down two key players.
Their task was already tough enough, with Australia and England sizeable obstacles to the knockout phase, as well as Fiji, who ended Wales’ campaign in 2007.
They are shorn of Leigh Halfpenny, the world game’s most reliable goal-kicker. If they lose Rhys Webb, the Welsh player of the year, their assignment might seem hopeless.
That is, were it not for the fact they are used to adversity. They have had four years to foster a siege mentality, anyway.
So they are starting the 2015 tournament without two of the first names on their teamsheet. So what? At least they will have 15 men on the field, which is different to how they ended their last world title pursuit.
Sam Warburton’s sending-off against an eminently beatable France side 18 minutes in to the 2011 semi-final was a terminal blow. The loss of Halfpenny, to an injury sustained in the final warm-up against Italy, is manageable by comparison.
Warren Gatland, the Wales coach, is known for being meticulous. All the bases are usually covered. To prepare for the World Cup, he had his squad train in 40-degree heat at the Aspire Academy in Doha earlier this summer, then at altitude in Switzerland.
The players receive cryotherapy treatment to recover quicker and train more. They have even been known to employ a writer-in-residence, an award-winning poet, to document their successes or otherwise.
But even Gatland’s best-laid plans can be thrown askew. When Warburton was shown red four years ago, it prompted anger in the stands and confusion on the field.
In the immediate aftermath of it, Huw Bennett, the Wales hooker back then, was remarkably calm as he replied to an inquiry from Alain Rolland, the referee.
“We’re just trying to decide who’s captain, see,” he could be heard saying on the referee’s mic.
Four years is a long time to bear a grudge. In truth, the angst over Rolland’s controversial call probably dissipated as soon as Wales next took the field.
They would be well-served by channelling the feeling that the world is against them again, though, and rail against it.
They will need that fury, as well as a little of the luck which has evaded them in the build-up, if they are to make it out of this pool.
Players to watch
Billy Vunipola, England
A special – if tenuous – resonance for UAE supporters. Vunipola made his first-class rugby debut on the lawns of Emirates Palace, when a cup match with his then-employers Wasps was exiled to Abu Dhabi in 2011. Still a Harrow schoolboy back then, he has since graduated to become a key player for England from No 8. He lost 8kgs in the build-up to this competition, a small mercy for opponents. All that means is he will last longer and get to collisions faster.
Matt Giteau Australia
He was stuck on 92 caps for four years and one day, before Australia relaxed their rules on overseas-based players this year. Still a class act.
Jake Ball, Wales
He will not be difficult to spot. The English-born, Australian-polished former cricketer has a grizzly beard and is built like a house.
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AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The 15 players selected
Muzzamil Afridi, Rahman Gul, Rizwan Haider (Dezo Devils); Shahbaz Ahmed, Suneth Sampath (Glory Gladiators); Waqas Gohar, Jamshaid Butt, Shadab Ahamed (Ganga Fighters); Ali Abid, Ayaz Butt, Ghulam Farid, JD Mahesh Kumara (Hiranni Heros); Inam Faried, Mausif Khan, Ashok Kumar (Texas Titans
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
More on Palestine-Israeli relations
Match info:
Manchester City 2
Sterling (8'), Walker (52')
Newcastle United 1
Yedlin (30')
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
Dunki
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rajkumar%20Hirani%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Taapsee%20Pannu%2C%20Vikram%20Kochhar%20and%20Anil%20Grover%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Scoreline:
Barcelona 2
Suarez 85', Messi 86'
Atletico Madrid 0
Red card: Diego Costa 28' (Atletico)
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
