On the Transformers set in New Mexico, a handful of military personnel stand by at all times to help Bay strategize his attack scenes.

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Springbok fly-half Morne Steyn gave his side hope with a third penalty but Lions stand-off Stephen Jones kept the home side at bay with two kicks of his own, and Odwa Ndungane's late disallowed try for a foot in touch compounded South Africa's misery.

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Unlike most of his peers, who lived a comfortable colonial existence in Shanghai's international settlement, Crow reported on floods up the Yangzi, negotiated the release of hostages from a Shandong warlord and slept in inns so grim he would stand his bed legs in kerosene to keep centipedes at bay.

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Finally, somehow, he makes it to City Hall's front door, and a line of suited men stand firmly in the way, like bouncers to a posh nightclub, keeping the snapping hordes at bay.

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