Once the flare was released at 1213 BST, he led 62 seconds of cheers, to mark the 62 seconds it took for Titanic to slide from its dry dock and into the Irish sea.

BBC: Titanic launch 100th anniversary marked in Belfast

It may also mark the start of a political degeneration that sees the country slide towards nationalism, autocracy or something nastier.

ECONOMIST: Russia devalued

Fortunately for them Hull were even shakier and before the half-hour mark Torres doubled the lead, slipping on to a Benayoun slide-rule pass, nonchalantly rounding Ibrahima Sonko and Myhill before clipping into the net.

BBC: Liverpool 6-1 Hull

And De Villiers' team turned up the intensity as the clocked ticked towards the hour mark as a deft pass from Spies set up replacement Alberts to slide over in the corner in the 58th minute.

BBC: England 11-21 South Africa