1) The Six Nations begins on Saturday and England face Scotland at Twickenham, where the Scots famously haven’t won since 1983. It’s rarely a happy hunting ground for them. Still, here’s an impressive if narrow Scotland win from 1971 and notable draws from 1979 and the last-day 38-38 thriller from two years ago. There’s rather more footage to mine on the England win side of the ledger at Twickenham. Here’s some vintage action from their win in 1949, Movietone footage of their swashbuckling 27-14 home success in 1967, Clive Woodward’s side showing their 2003 World Cup credentials in sweeping Scotland aside to complete that year’s grand slam, and a Calcutta Cup pummelling from four years ago.
2) The Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers meet in the Super Bowl on Sunday, with much of the usual razzmatazz pared back by the pandemic. Nonetheless, it’s an intriguing match-up with much attention on the sides’ star quarterbacks, the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady of the Buccaneers, who will be making his 10th Super Bowl appearance. Here are his 40 longest touchdown passes, his best moments of 2020 and, further back, his many dazzling moments with the Patriots. And his greatest plays in general: we’ve got ’em. His younger rival already has plenty of memorable performances in his locker, and here are 25 of his best passes. The Chiefs will be seeking their fourth title – here’s some vintage footage of their second, in 1969, while the Bucs have won only once, in 2002.
3) Test cricket returns to Channel 4 on Friday for the first time since 2005. C4 went out on a high, with the decisive final day of the most thrilling of all Ashes series, and Richie Benaud’s final broadcast in England. We’re not crying, you’re crying. Here’s a review of the channel’s first series, New Zealand’s win in England in 1999.
4) Glorious days of the Australian Open on grass: Martina Navratilova v Chris Evert in the 1981 women’s final, their 1982 rematch, and Evonne Goolagong beating Helen Cawley to win the title in 1977. In the men’s singles you can have some of Mats Wilander outclassing Ivan Lendl to win the 1983 final and Arthur Ashe seeing off Dick Crealey in the 1970 final.
5) Palmeiras won the Copa Libertadores and their players celebrated by crashing their manager’s post-match press conference with an impromptu ice shower. At the other end of the spectrum, here’s the week’s best own goal, at Stockport.
6) Managers’ hinterlands: Sean Dyche goes off-piste in his press conference and just has a natter. And in a rather more serious fashion, Nuno Espírito Santo gives plenty back to Wolverhampton in troubled times.
Our favourites from below the line last week
1) You want mud? Essendon v Geelong in 1989 will give you mud.
2) Another athletics record is broken: Ryan Crouser sets a new indoor world best in the shot put.
3) A fascinating look at the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1982.
4) Diecast rallying, thrills and spills.
5) More India v England memories, with Eddie Hemmings an unlikely hero at the 1987 World Cup.
Spotters’ badges: GrahamClayton, vsbain67, whobroughtoranges, germit. M_T_Wallet
