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@joesaward @autosport People don’t like journalists, for good reason these days……

Max Verstappen's full exchange with a journalist during a media session in Japan today 🗣️

On this day in 1995, the last clan chief in history known to have led his men into battle died at the age of 83. Simon Fraser, the 15th Lord Lovat, was the Chief of Clan Fraser. He was the man Winston Churchill described, in a letter to Joseph Stalin, as “the mildest-mannered man that ever scuttled ship or cut a throat.” The Scottish Commando chief whom Hitler placed a 100,000 Reichsmark bounty on, dead or alive. He was a well respected man that already had a serious war record before D-Day. The night before D-Day, Lovat addressed his men. He closed with this: “A hundred years from now, your children’s children will say - they must have been giants in those days.” Then came June 6th, 1944. Sword Beach, Normandy. As Brigadier of the 1st Special Service Brigade, Lord Lovat waded ashore leading 3,000 commandos into hell. And behind him came the sound that made the whole scene unforgettable. The English War Office had strictly banned bagpipes in battle. They said it was too conspicuous. Too dangerous. Lovat brought his personal piper, Bill Millin, and gave the order: “Play us ashore.” When Millin hesitated, citing the regulations, Lovat smiled and replied: “Ah, but that’s the English War Office. You and I are both Scottish, and that doesn’t apply.” So Millin played Highland Laddie, The Road to the Isles, and All The Blue Bonnets Are Over the Border. Men fell around them. Bullets tore through the surf. The noise of artillery was deafening. And through it all, the unmistakable scream of the bagpipes. Captured German snipers later admitted they had Millin in their sights, but didn’t shoot him because they assumed he had gone completely mad. Lovat’s mission was to reach Pegasus Bridge, where British glider troops were desperately holding on. The schedule said 1pm. Lovat and his men fought their way off the beach and arrived at exactly 1:02 PM. He calmly walked up to the commanding officer under enemy fire and apologised for being two and a half minutes late. His commandos then marched across the bridge in the open. Lovat had ordered his men to wear their green berets instead of steel helmets, so the Germans would know exactly who was coming for them. Twelve men were shot through their berets that day. After that, they finally put their helmets on. But they held the bridge. For Clan Fraser, there was something almost mythic about it. Their ancestors had come from Normandy centuries earlier. Now their chief had led Highland soldiers back onto those same shores in one of the most decisive battles in modern history. Six days later, Lovat was given his last rites after being hit by friendly fire from a stray artillery shell. Against all odds, he survived. He returned home a hero. He went on to serve in Parliament, judge cattle internationally, and manage his massive 250,000-acre Highland estate. But his final years were marked by grief. Two of his sons died within weeks of each other in 1994. Beaufort Castle, his ancestral home, had to be sold that same year. When Lord Lovat died on 16 March 1995, an era died with him. Bill Millin later played at his funeral, bringing the story full circle. The last clan chief who went to war. The brigadier who brought bagpipes onto D-Day. The Highlander with a price on his head. Scotland does not produce many men like that ⚔️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@tocarroll2 @EwanMacKenna If you think the out half change has turned Ireland from a bad team to a good team you’re retarded.

@EwanMacKenna won the second half against france - crowley in was the simple change that turned their fortunes

Going 4-1, and winning triple crown, in year with France and England away on fixture list is good going. Doing it after that sorry effort in Paris, when Italy should've beaten them, when Scotland are decent is... Impressive. That's my kind words used up for weekend. #6nations

@McdevittCharlie I’m talking about the last Irish try, Stockdale clearly throws it forward.

@HistoryAuditor Do you see the 2 forward passes for the Irish try?

Was that not clearly forward? #IREvWAL

@markdenis72 Aside from missing Kelleher clearly in front for one try and Stockdale throwing an obvious forward pass in the next?

This was our experimental game. Blooded new players, overcame a really one sided reffing display. #IREvWAL

Christ Ireland were poor. #IREvWAL

@Wildraar @yuanyi_z Immigration is by a wide margin the most important policy area which impact every other one in a way that no other policy does.

@yuanyi_z Does Reform have a philosophy other than an obsession with immigration?

“Most illuminating was the response from one friend who has been a Conservative Member since 12: “Can you really imagine what the Oxford University Reform Association would look like?”.”

A Fine Gael Senator is seeking a mandatory minimum sentence for tool theft, saying he has "broad support" across Government for the proposal. Asked by Gript if he would back a minimum sentence for sex crimes, he said he didn't have the "expertise" to say.

@PnishdMythMason @MemoryMedieval Napoleon is way too low. Embarrassingly low.

@MemoryMedieval Okay my list: 1. Alexander the Great 2. Subutai 3. Jan Zizka 4. Hanibal Barca 5. Hernan Cortez 6. Francisco Pizzaro 7. Napoleon 8. Oda Nobunaga 9. Yi Sun-sin - do admirals count as generals? 10. Timurlane

The problem with people who have a problem with top ten lists is that they haven't posted a top ten list.

@acuriocabinet @MemoryMedieval Correct and there is definitely an argument that Napoleon made numerous bad decisions in terms of foreign policy but when it comes to command on campaign and on the battlefield, he had no equal in the era and very few in history.

@HistoryAuditor @MemoryMedieval It was stark but not as stark as it used to be. He was studied, the Prussians altered their military doctrine in direct response to him. Or, for example, the Russians adopted Flavian tactics against him - that's an adaptation that cost him dearly.

Okay for all my Napoleonstans... What's the consensus on this?

@acuriocabinet @MemoryMedieval The difference was stark though, that is my point. The difference in 1814 was stark. The difference in 1813 was stark. The coalition having more troops, horses and better supply is why they won, not because of superior generalship.

He was still a military genius. The core difference is that whereas he used to be up in the clouds, the ground was raised and the difference wasn't as stark as it used to be. Same reason Hannibal is still studied in war colleges today. Officers don't have Hannibal insight, but they have hindsight

@acuriocabinet @MemoryMedieval How does that explain his ability on the battlefields of 1813 and 1814. The defence of France in 1814 is a masterpiece in command.

@MemoryMedieval Napoleon was quite unique, took a country in shambles that couldn't even pay its soldiers into a powerhouse. But the problem is that many of his victories can be attributed to innovation and logistics. It got incorporated by his enemies and he lost the advantage over time.

@JGWestphal @VFM0168 @MemoryMedieval Are you embarrassed to be so completely incorrect?

@VFM0168 @MemoryMedieval Wellesley outfought Boney at every turn, why is he at #7?!

Apparently this is making the rounds on facebook

@VFM0168 @MemoryMedieval You’re a complete idiot. 1805, 1807, 1813 and 1814 prove you completely incorrect.

@MemoryMedieval I cannot support Napoleon in the top 5. His early victories were against octogenarians who were stuck in tactics. Napoleon was a military great but his legend is comprised of besting old men and when he faced tougher challenges he made poor decisions and lost.

@MemoryMedieval In addition, 1814 is an absolute masterpiece in command. This lazy idea that Napoleon beat up old men and was then swiftly found out is so obviously complete crap. The plan for defeating Napoleon, the Trachenberg plan, was literally avoid fighting him personally at all costs.

@MemoryMedieval The take is awful. It only makes sense as far as 1799, but 1805 was against Kutusov, 1807 against Bennigson, 1809 against Archduke Charles. The German campaign in 1813 showed a clear edge when he himself was on the field, mistakes by subordinates in independent commands cost him.

@FMC_Rugby Crowley at 8.5 is ridiculous. Loughman and Furlong both 7s after getting destroyed at scrum time is definitely a choice.

Ireland ratings vs England ☘️: 1. Loughman 7 2. Sheehan 9 3. Furlong 7 4. McCarthy 8.5 5. Ryan 6 lot of silly penalties 6. Beirne 9 7. JVDF 9 8. Doris 9 9. JGP 9.5 10. Crowley 8.5 11. Lowe N/A, Tommy O’B 8 12. Big Stu 10 13. Ringrose 8 14. Baloucoune 9.5 15. Osborne 7

@alibiadventurer Two?

#EngvIre poor ref decisions denied Ireland an additional two tries in the first half. That really would have been game over!

🗣️ "I would have liked Hollie to stick with that decision to say 'No, this is not clear and obvious for me from what I'm seeing on the screen.'" ✍️ Nigel Owens: Hollie Davidson should have stuck by her 'decision' as TMO makes incorrect call. #GuinnessM6N planetrugby.com/news/nigel-owe…