Benn Robinson of the Wallabies, left, and Kurtley Beale celebrate winning game two of their Test series with the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne on Saturday. Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
Benn Robinson of the Wallabies, left, and Kurtley Beale celebrate winning game two of their Test series with the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne on Saturday. Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
Benn Robinson of the Wallabies, left, and Kurtley Beale celebrate winning game two of their Test series with the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne on Saturday. Cameron Spencer / Getty Images
Benn Robinson of the Wallabies, left, and Kurtley Beale celebrate winning game two of their Test series with the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne on Saturday. Cameron Spencer / Getty Images

Lucky feeling shared mutually between Kurtley Beale and Australia rugby team


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MELBOURNE, Australia // After the tumultuous week he had endured, Kurtley Beale really did not need Leigh Halfpenny's stoppage-time penalty attempt to clinch a series win for the British & Irish Lions in the second Test.

"I was praying a little bit there. I just knew deep down, obviously I was in the position last week," he said. "It's a massive kick and there's a lot of things going through your head."

In an almost mirror finish to the first Test, when Beale missed a 46-metre penalty attempt that would have won the match for Australia as the siren sounded, Halfpenny's effort from the halfway line faded, allowing the Wallabies to escape with a 16-15 win and send the series to a decider in Sydney.

"It's a big ask, but he's been striking the ball all series very well," Beale said. "We're just very lucky in the end."

Beale had been quickly consoled by teammates in Brisbane, only his second match of any consequence in 2013 after a season derailed by injuries, suspension and counselling for alcohol-related issues.

A few nights later he was out with Wallabies teammate James O'Connor and a photograph of the pair with a Lions fan in a fast-food outlet at 4am was published in the British media, sparking questions about their professionalism and maturity.

While the Australian Rugby Union said the players did not break any rules, the late finish was frowned upon in such an important week.

It could have been the final straw for the Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, who had quietly ushered the Melbourne Rebels utility player back into his squad despite his lack of match practice, no doubt hoping his show of faith would be rewarded with some of the indescribable qualities that the likes of Beale can bring to a team.

Part of his quality is an ability to perform despite the kind of distractions that would derail so many elite athletes.

"I haven't really thought about it much," Beale said of his own missed kick in Brisbane. "I just sort of obviously had to keep moving on. I had to keep upbeat and keep my body language 'up' and I felt I did that.

"Obviously it did affect me a little bit, but in life you've got to go forward and it's the same like in rugby. You've got to bounce back and we got a great opportunity last night."

Deans said it was fitting "that we've got a finale in Sydney because I think it would have been pretty harsh for either side to be out of the series at this point".

At morning news conference yesterday, a laid-back looking Beale kept it simple when he explained how he was feeling.

"I'm a very lucky man, to be back as part of this special group," he said. "To be a part of it is amazing. I'm very grateful.

"Now it's up to me to be actually doing my role within the team and trying to help out where ever I can. Obviously it's a big game next week."

Deans injected, completely unprompted, to add a character reference for his sometimes wayward star.

"The group is lucky to have Kurtley as well. As much as he's lucky to be here, we're lucky to have him," said Deans, who has put his Wallabies coaching career on the line with his selections for this series.

"He's a quality bloke in the group who has some unique capabilities."

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Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.

SERIES INFO

Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series

All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Test series

1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March

Play starts at 9.30am

T20 series

1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March

TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube

'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Match info

Uefa Champions League Group C

Liverpool v Napoli, midnight

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Infiniti QX80 specs

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The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

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Ballon d’Or shortlists

Men

Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool), Sergio Aguero (Aregentina/Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlans/Barcelona), Hugo Lloris (France/Tottenham), Dusan Tadic (Serbia/Ajax), Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Donny van de Beek (Netherlands/Ajax), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon/Arsenal), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany/Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus), Alisson (Brazil/Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Netherlands/Juventus), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Georginio Wijnaldum (Netherlands/Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool), Bernardo Silva (Portugal/Manchester City), Son Heung-min (South Korea/Tottenham), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich), Roberto Firmino (Brazil/Liverpool), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Riyad Mahrez (Algeria/Manchester City), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal/Napoli), Antoine Griezmann (France/Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool), Eden Hazard (BEL/Real Madrid), Marquinhos (Brazil/Paris-SG), Raheem Sterling (Eengland/Manchester City), Joao Félix(Portugal/Atletico Madrid)

Women

Sam Kerr (Austria/Chelsea), Ellen White (England/Manchester City), Nilla Fischer (Sweden/Linkopings), Amandine Henry (France/Lyon), Lucy Bronze(England/Lyon), Alex Morgan (USA/Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands/Arsenal), Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany/Lyon), Pernille Harder (Denmark/Wolfsburg), Sarah Bouhaddi (France/Lyon), Megan Rapinoe (USA/Reign FC), Lieke Martens (Netherlands/Barcelona), Sari van Veenendal (Netherlands/Atletico Madrid), Wendie Renard (France/Lyon), Rose Lavelle(USA/Washington Spirit), Marta (Brazil/Orlando Pride), Ada Hegerberg (Norway/Lyon), Kosovare Asllani (Sweden/CD Tacon), Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden/CD Tacon), Tobin Heath (USA/Portland Thorns)

 

 

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

No more lice

Defining head lice

Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.

Identifying lice

Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.

Treating lice at home

Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.

Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital

Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses