Irish Grand Slam win chimes with Brexit border tussle

In the Brexit referendum debate, the few that acknowledged that the Irish border might be relevant were equally content to assume that a compliant government in Dublin would quietly adjust to any new reality

Ireland celebrate their Grand Slam victory at Twickenham. Pic: Getty

Mostly, sport is a wonderful distraction. Compared to the messy complexities of politics, its simple certainties are comforting and clear. Winners and losers, heroes and villains and a definitive result at the end of the contest. Almost uniquely, it seems able to channel raging partisan passion into benignly harmless banter.

But occasionally sport seems to offer deeper insight. TheGrand Slam victory of the Irish rugby team in Twickenham this year has chimed with the ...