TOMMY BOWE knows as much as the next player that perception counts for a lot in rugby, as it does in life.

Italy 23 Wales 20

The Arctic Monkeys have been tipped to record England's official World Cup song.

"THANK you for asking,” George Hook tells an autograph seeker who has just interrupted this interview. The man looks at him quizzically. The unspoken question — ‘Is this guy for real’ — is not far from his lips.

It's been a fantastic 18 months for New Order. Not only did they return to the charts after a lengthy break with a critically and commercially successful album, but they’ve also been immortalised on film, sampled by Kylie and played some of the most well-received gigs of their career.