WHAT’S HOT WHAT’S NOT

By JAMES MURRAY and RIATH AL-SAMARRAI

HOT FORMULA ONE

WITH all due respect to his brilliance, the dominance of Lewis Hamilton has strangled the life out of fans who like to see more unpredictability in their motorsport. Pierre Gasly winning for AlphaTauri at Monza came at just the right time.

IAN MADIGAN

IT HAS been a rough seven years for Ian Madigan, from losing his Leinster place to Jimmy Gopperth, to being part of Ireland’s 2015 World Cup implosion to difficult spells with Bordeaux and Bristol. Joining Ulster was a shot at redemption at 31 and Madigan made a hell of a contribution off the bench last week with two superb kicks to beat Edinburgh in Murrayfield’s Pro14 semi. Tonight, he will seek a similar impact against his old club in the final.

SAM BENNETT

A STUNNING week for the Carrick-on-Suir man who landed his first stage win and took command of the green jersey in the Tour de France — evoking memories of his fellow Carrick man, Sean Kelly.

NOT NOVAK DJOKOVIC

IN this time of reflection, when he looks within and turns this into ‘a lesson for growth as a human being’, perhaps we should all be a little thankful for Super Novak. For how many other sportsmen have offered such a rich variety of distractions and giggles during this wretched year?

OWEN FARRELL

OR rather, the disciplinary framework that gave the Saracens fly-half a fivegame ban instead of 10 for the horrible challenge that concussed Charlie Atkinson. The process includes character references and past behaviour but this was a case that could have been decided in silence: watch the tape... see the obvious... early dinner.

MARTIN KAYMER

IT is wonderful to see such a nice guy playing well again. But how galling for the German to get within five holes of a win in each of the past two European Tour events, only to lose both. He hasn’t won since 2014 and you can see why.