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on the field stoood. Scioscia
Its time for a change of pace in the southern hemisphere as rugby fans forget their provincial allegiances and channel Olympic fervour in preparation for the Test season. Air Max 2017 Womens Sale . The Rugby Championship has arrived and so too the Bledisloe Cup.Sydneys ANZ Stadium plays host to the first of three trans-Tasman battles this year, with the Wallabies out to end the All Blacks 14-year stranglehold on the giant piece of silverware. The Wallabies and their fans could have been forgiven for feeling a sense of optimism at the start of the year given the retirements of all-time greats Richie McCaw and Dan Carter among others; but that cheery attitude quickly turned to despair as New Zealands Super Rugby sides again performed strongly while the Australian teams struggled and the Wallabies suffered a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Eddie Jones England in June.The build-up to Saturdays Test has had its usual bit of tension, with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen telling Wallabies counterpart Michael Cheika to worry about his own side, a barb that saw the Australian respond with I dont know what hes upset about. It all adds to the spectacle.On the field, it looks like a battle between extended preparation and plain old good form. The Wallabies have been together for almost a month, while New Zealand had three teams involved through to the penultimate weekend of Super Rugby.Team newsAustralia: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (captain), Scott Sio. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Dean Mumm, Scott Fardy, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Rob Horne.Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has pulled two selection rabbits from his hat, naming Will Genia to play his first game since January and picking Ben McCalman over Scott Fardy in the No. 6 jumper. As expected he also named Genias fellow France-based veterans Adam Ashley-Cooper, on the wing, and inside centre Matt Giteau after missing Australias 3-0 series loss to England in June..New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Ryan Crotty, Waisake Naholo, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett. Replacements:?Dane Coles, Kane Hames, Charlie Faumuina, Liam Squire, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Aaron Cruden, Julian Savea.Form won out over reputation in New Zealand with Hansen unable ignore the irresistible selection claims of Beauden Barrett. The Hurricanes No.10 retains the fly-half role he filled in Aaron Crudens absence for the final Test against Wales; Barrett is joined in the backline by the centre combination of Ryan Crotty and Malakai Fekitoa.It was a different story up front though with Sam Cane holding onto the No.7 jersey ahead of Ardie Savea, despite the Hurricanes flankers superb Super Rugby season. The All Blacks have been forced into a late change at hooker with Codie Taylor to start after Nathan Harris went down with a knee injury on Friday; that has also forced Dane Coles inclusion on the bench despite Hurricanes skippers ongoing battle with a rib injury.Key matchup: Matt Giteau vs. Ryan CrottyIt may not have been greeted with the same glowing reception as last year, but the Giteau Law is in full effect once more with the veteran playmaker for whom it is named back at No.12. Yes, the likes of Mark Ella and veteran scribe Spiro Zavos may have an issue with foreign eligibility, but there can be little debate as to the impact Giteau made at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Crucially, the Toulon star offers left-foot kicking and second playmaking options, while therell be no Maa Nonu or Sonny Bill Williams charging down his defensive channel either.That responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of the ever-reliable Ryan Crotty. The Crusaders centre certainly doesnt possess the power of Nonu or Williams, but he runs straight and hard and is a classy second distributor. Crotty is also regarded as one of the finest defensive centres in the game, which will be vital with Malakai Fekitoa joining him in midfield; the Highlanders back is one of the hardest hitters in the game, but he is also prone to the odd error, too.Key stats (Opta Stats)Australia have lost their last four Tests in a row and have not lost five on the bounce since a run of seven consecutive defeats in 2005; the fifth defeat in that run came against New Zealand.Steve Hansens side have won their last 11 on the bounce by an average margin of 27 points; only South Africa have managed to finish within 10 points of the All Blacks in that time.The All Blacks have lost just one of their last 13 against Australia (W10, D2); their 10 victories in that run have come by an average margin of 16 points.WeatherSydney is expecting some early showers on Saturday before conditions clear up in the afternoon. Chasing a top of 17 degrees, the temperature will likely hover around 13 from kick-off.UBET verdict: Australia $3, New Zealand $1.40.The Wallabies have only beaten New Zealand once in their past 13 attempts, while the All Blacks havent recorded a win on their past two trips to Sydney, suffering a loss and a draw. They beat the Aussies 34-17 in the World Cup final in London, but the Wallabies did have a very good tournament. However England travelled Down Under in June and whitewashed Australia, winning that series 3-0, so this will be difficult. There is some support for Australia at $3.00, but New Zealand go in as clear favourites on the back of the domination of the Kiwi sides in Super Rugby.PredictionWhitewashed by England, the Wallabies are staring down a fifth straight defeat; that prospect seemed almost unthinkable during last years Rugby World Cup as the Australians rode a wave of momentum right through to the final. Where has it gone wrong? Cheika is on record as saying the Wallabies may be playing too much rugby, prompting suggestions that Australia will look to kick more during the Rugby Championship. Whatever the game plan, they certainly have had the time to refine it. That hasnt been the case for New Zealand, and that perhaps is the only concern for the All Blacks ahead of this one. Will rust be an issue? A 3-0 series win over Wales suggests it wont, and then there is the scintillating form of Barrett. If the All Blacks pack can at the very least achieve parity up front, then its hard to see the Wallabies containing the New Zealand No.c10. He is playing that well.New Zealand by five. Nike Air Max 90 Cheap Australia .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Adidas Gazelle Og Sale . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. http://www.max90australia.com/nike-free-5-0-trainers.html . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. CHICAGO -- Javier Baez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer deep into Wrigleys Fields left bleachers in the seventh, Addison Russell added a grand slam in a five-run eighth and the Chicago Cubs beat the White Sox 8-1 on Wednesday night.Jason Hammel (10-5) allowed one run and five hits while striking out seven in seven innings. Hector Rondon pitched a perfect eighth, and Aroldis Chapman worked a 1-2-3 ninth -- striking out Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia -- in his Cubs debut.Baez went deep on a full-count pitch against Anthony Ranaudo (1-1) to chase the right-hander in his White Sox debut. Ranaudo didnt allow a hit until Kris Bryants solo homer with one out in the sixth tie the score 1-1. Bryants 26th homer matched his total last season when he was NL Rookie of the Year.After Ben Zobrists RBI double in the eighth, Russell followed two hitters later with his 12th homer to help the Cubs end a two-game slide and snap the White Soxs four-game winning streak.Ranaudo allowed three runs and two hits -- both homers -- in 6 2/3 innings and smacked an opposite-field homer in the fifth for his first major league hit.Chapman had 20 saves in 21 chances this season with the Yankees before the Cubs acquired the hard-throwing lefty on Monday for a package of prospects.REDS 2, GIANTS 1SAN FRANCISCO -- Jay Bruce homered in his career-high fifth straight game, connecting off Madison Bumgarner in Cincinnatis victory over slumping San Francisco.Bruce broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning with his sixth homer during his five-game streak and 25th of the season.The NL West-leading Giants got just four hits and lost for the ninth time in 11 games since the All-Star break. The last-place Reds are 8-4 over that stretch.Dan Straily (6-6) gave up three hits in 7 2/3 innings, and Tony Cingrani pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save.Bumgarner (10-6) allowed one earned run and five hits in eight innings, striking out nine. The Giants have lost six of his last eight starts.Conor Gillaspie hit a solo homer for the Giants in the second. San Francisco left fielder Angel Pagan dropped a flyball in the fifth, setting up Tucker Barnharts tying sacrifice fly.NATIONALS 4, INDIANS 1CLEVELAND -- Stephen Strasburg shut down Cleveland for seven innings and bounced back from his only loss this season, leading Washington past the Indians.Strasburg (14-1) began the season with 13 straight wins before he was beaten by the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 21. The powerful right-hander shook off that blemish, holding the Indians to three hits. Strasburg walked one and struck out seven.Washington rookie Trea Turner drove in three runs and Daniel Murphy hit his 20th homer off Carlos Carrasco (7-4). Murphy extended his hitting streak to 13 games with the towering shot.Nationals reliever Blake Treinen stopped Clevelands threat in the ninth, getting a game-ending double play for his first major league save.CARDINALS 5, METS 4NEW YORK -- Yadier Molina and pinch-hitter Kolten Wong each had an RBI double in the ninth inning, and St. Louis rallied past New York to end Jeurys Familias saves streak at 52 games.Yoenis Cespedes hit a go-ahead homer off Adam Wainwright to cap a three-run comeback in the seventh that gave the Mets a 4-3 lead. But then Familia, who hadnt blown a regular-season save opportunity since July 30 last year, finally faltered.Jedd Gyorko drew a one-out walk in the ninth and was replaced by pinch-runner Randal Grichuk. Molina hit the next pitch to deep center field, and Grichuk scored to tie it.Molina was thrown out at third by Familia (2-2) on pinch-hitter Jeremy Hazelbakers comebacker, but Hazelbaker stole second and scored when Wong lined a double just inside the left-field line.Familias franchise-record saves streak was the third-longest in major league history behind Tom Gordon (54) and Eric Gagne (84). Jonathan Broxton (3-2) threw a scoreless eighth, and Seung Hwan Oh worked the ninth for his sixth save.RAYS 3, DODGERS 1LOS ANGELES -- Matt Moore pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning, Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays won at Dodger Stadium for the first time.Luke Maile had an RBI double in a three-run fourth inning to help Tampa Bay wrap up a nine-game West Coast road swing by snapping a four-game skid. The Rays were swept in a three-game series at Chavez Ravine in 2013, the only other time theyve visited the Dodgers hallowed home turf.Moore (7-7) struck out five and allowed an unearned run. Alex Colome pitched a perfect ninth for his 22nd save in 23 chances. Brandon McCarthy (2-1) lasted just four innings for the Dodgers in his first loss since Sept. 23, 2014.TIGERS 4, RED SOX 3BOSTON -- Miguel Cabrera hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning that bounced off the top of the wall and into Bostons bullpen, lifting Detroit past the Red Sox for a three-game sweep.James McCann also hit a solo homer, and Victor Martinez had four singles, a walk and drove in two runs for Detroit. The Tigers have won five of seven.Boston is the last major league team to be swept in a series of any length this season.Xander Bogaerts and Dustin Pedroia had solo homers for the Red Sox. They lost for the fifth time in six games to complete a nine-game homestand at 4-5.Bruce Rondon (4-2) got one out for the win. Justin Wilson got the final three for his first major league save. Brad Ziegler (0-1) took the loss.ROCKIES 3, ORIOLES 1BALTIMORE -- Nick Hundley broke up Dylan Bundys no-hit bid witth a sixth-inning homer, and Colorado used a strong pitching performance by Jon Gray to beat Baltimore. Air Max 90 Australia. David Dahl hit his first major league home run in his third game for the Rockies. Colorado took two of three from the AL East leaders, has won six of seven and is 9-4 since the All-Star break.Manny Machado connected for the Orioles.Gray (7-4) outpitched Bundy (3-3) in a duel between rookie right-handers. Carlos Estevez got three straight outs for his 10th save.ATHLETICS 6, RANGERS 4ARLINGTON, Texas -- Khris Davis homered twice, Coco Crisp also went deep and Oakland beat AL West-leading Texas.Oakland has won four consecutive series for the first time since May 2014. The As are 9-4 since the All-Star break.Crisps two-run homer in the eighth, on a 99 mph fastball from Matt Bush (3-2), put the As up 4-3. Davis added another two-run shot, his 25th homer of the season, in the inning.Ryan Dull (5-2) threw 1 1/3 perfect innings in relief of Sean Manaea. Ryan Madson worked the ninth for his 22nd save. Rangers starter Yu Darvish, winless in his last nine starts against Oakland, stuck out six without a walk and departed with a 3-2 lead after six innings.Ian Desmond hit his 20th homer for Texas.MARLINS 11, PHILLIES 1MIAMI -- Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer in the first inning to lead a 16-hit attack in Miamis victory over Philadelphia.Stanton hit his 22nd homer in support of Adam Conley (7-5), who pitched around eight hits and three walks to throw 6 2/3 scoreless innings.Don Kelly, who began the game 1 for 22 this season, went 3 for 5 with two triples, two RBI and two runs scored. That raised his average from .045 to .148.The Marlins Ichiro Suzuki did not play and remained at 2,997 hits.Philadelphia rookie Zach Eflin (3-4) was the loser.PADRES 8, BLUE JAYS 4TORONTO -- Adam Rosales hit a two-run home run, Alex Dickerson and Brett Wallace each hit solo shots and San Diego beat Toronto to avoid a three-game sweep.San Diego extended its club-record streak with at least one home run to 25 games. Its the longest run since 2002 Texas set the major league record by homering in 27 straight.Luis Perdomo (5-4) allowed four runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.R.A. Dickey (7-12) was the loser. He has surrendered 26 home runs this season, tying Kansas Citys Ian Kennedy and Chris Young for most in the majors.Melvin Upton Jr. made his first start for Toronto after being acquired from San Diego on Tuesday. He went 1 for 4 with a single.PIRATES 10, MARINERS 1PITTSBURGH -- Gerrit Cole threw a three-hitter for his first career complete game and slumping Andrew McCutchen had a three-run home run and two other hits in Pittsburghs victory over Seattle.Making the 88th start of his four-year career, Cole (6-6) struck six and walked one while winning for the first time since May 20. McCutchen and Jung Ho Kang each had four RBI to help the Pirates win for the sixth time in nine games.James Paxton (3-5) was the loser.ASTROS 4, YANKEES 1HOUSTON -- Lance McCullers struck out 10 in six innings, Colby Rasmus broke out of a slump with a two-run homer and Houston beat New York.Rasmus snapped an 0-for-29 skid when he sent an off-speed pitch from Masahiro Tanaka (7-3) into the seats behind the bullpen in right-center field to make it 4-0 with in the third.McCullers (6-4) allowed five hits and one run and tied a season high by fanning 10 for the second straight game. Ken Giles and Luke Gregerson pitched a scoreless inning each before Will Harris got his 11th save by striking out two in the ninth.DIAMONDBACKS 8, BREWERS 1MILWAUKEE -- Yasmany Tomas hit two home runs, Archie Bradley pitched seven innings and Arizona took advantage of Milwaukees season-high five errors.Tomas had his fifth multihomer game of the season. He hit a three-shot off in the first and sliced an 0-2 pitch for a two-run homer in the fifth, both off of Jimmy Nelson (6-9).Bradley (4-6) allowed one run on four hits, walked three and struck out six.Brewers right fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis had three errors, and shortstop Jonathan two.ROYALS 7, ANGELS 5KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Raul Mondesi had a bunt single for his first big league hit, with two runs scoring on the play on pitcher Matt Shoemakers throwing error, and Kansas City beat Los Angeles.Shoemaker, who did not allow a base runner until the fifth inning, yielded singles to Alex Gordon and Paulo Orlando to start the seventh. Mondesi put down a bunt and beat the throw to first as the throw by Shoemaker (5-11) sailed into right field.Both runners scored and Mondesi wound up on third. Angels manager Mike Scioscia came out claiming interference, and after a review the call on the field stoood. Scioscia officially protested the game.Joakim Soria (4-4) pitched a scoreless inning for the victory.BRAVES 9, TWINS 7MINNEAPOLIS -- Freddie Freeman homered, doubled and tied a career high with five RBI and Atlanta held off Minnesota for a two-game sweep.Freeman went 4 for 4 with a walk. His 18th homer gave the Braves a 7-0 lead in the fourth inning.The Twins closed to 8-7 in the sixth on an RBI grounder by Joe Mauer. Nick Markakis singled home a run in the Atlanta eighth.Mike Foltynewicz (4-4) got the win despite giving up seven runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his fourth save. Tyler Duffey (5-8) was chased in the second. 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