Wales, Scotland and Ireland all had their moments against the Springboks recently and if they are still too dependant on the “if only” theory of rugby to lend legitimacy to talk of a celtic renaissance, they are not beyond upsetting a few applecarts. The Irish welcome both England and France to Lansdowne Road, so hold on to your hats.Leicester will never have a better chance of winning the Premiership; neither Northampton nor Newcastle possess sufficient all-round pace to sustain a challenge into April and May and although the three big London powers – Wasps, Saracens and Harlequins – are comfortably quick enough, the Cup is a more realistic target for each.. THE 1999 season will be the last before a two-divisional Championship attempts to take English cricket into the new millennium. The World Cup, cricket’s prestigious four-yearly competition will also be held, albeit in May, when English pitches are at their most xenophobic.

After the World Cup, New Zealand tour here, while, later in the year, England travel to South Africa for a five-Test series.
Predicting what might happen, particularly where England are concerned, is always a hazardous business, but here goes.Alec Stewart sees the millennium out as England captain. Michael Atherton is dropped from the team, then comes back to open the batting against Allan Donald for the Johannesburg Test. Selectors cite “horses for courses” as the reason for his comeback.England’s run in the World Cup is ended by South Africa, who lose to Australia in the final. Kenya manage to beat two Test-playing countries in the opening rounds.Lord MacLaurin opens the first supermarket on a ground formerly used for first-class cricket.

Meanwhile, Bryan Young, New Zealand’s opening batsman, ensures the first over of the summer’s Test series is a maiden.Leicestershire win their third Championship in four years. In the headlong rush to finish in the top division, 12 counties are docked 25 points each for sub-standard pitches. Harry Brind, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s pitch inspector, learns to pilot his own helicopter, such is his workload.In a bid to make lady members feel at home, the MCC brings in a bulk consignment of pink toilet paper. Unfortunately, no loos have been built to accommodate it, and the surplus is used by groundstaff to mop up the ground after the hover-cover runs amok down St John’s Wood High Street.. IF MIKE TYSON’S return to the ring against Franz Botha in Las Vegas on the 16th of this month dominates the boxing calendar, it cannot divert all attention from a contest between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis to unify the heavyweight championship.