Because of the week that’s in it, it seems a justifiable exercise to consider how those great managers of image, expectation, and their supporters — New Zealand’s All Blacks — have come to be all-conquering and all but unassailable, to see if their culture, their way of realising their ambitions offer any lessons for our new Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

In his 1936 book The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money back-in-fashion economist John Maynard Keynes used the phrase “animal spirits” to describe the emotions that shape human behaviour and the feelings that can be measured in terms of consumer confidence.

IRELAND coach Declan Kidney has called on referees to ensure the contest at the breakdown remains under the new global law interpretations.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has called on referees to ensure the contest at the breakdown remains under the new global law interpretations.

LAST Saturday, I had the privilege of attending the traditional end-of-tour meeting of the Barbarians and New Zealand in Twickenham.