Peacock (0-0, 2.86) will make his fourth start for Ho | Forum
Mitglied jcy123
Jan 31 '20
Steve Hansen says hes desperate not to lose the Bledisloe Cup on his watch before he signs off after Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, kicks back and toasts semi-retirement with a Canterbury Draught watching New Zealand go about their business. Johnson Bademosi Jersey .To the average Australian rugby supporter, it is a painful prospect to consider. But it also reflects the All Blacks determination to maintain their Bledisloe stranglehold for many years to come. And if Australian rugby is being serious, regaining the Cup in 2020 may in itself be a pipe dream such is the scope of the problem hamstringing the game this side of the Tasman: player depth.In Wellington on Saturday, the All Blacks were effectively down to their fifth-string inside centre in Anton Lienert-Brown; Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Charlie Ngatai and George Moala were on the injured list, yet Lienert-Brown slotted in with ease and made an impressive debut.The Wallabies, on the other hand, were forced to shift regular fly-half Bernard Foley to No. 12 following injuries to Matt Giteau and Matt Toomua, and that suffered by Kurtley Beale earlier in the year.One spot further out, Samu Kerevi endured a tough night after being called in for the desperately out-of-form Tevita Kuridrani while Adam Ashley-Coopers head knock added to the problems on the wings. After a strong debut series against England, Dane Haylett-Petty has been isolated and destroyed in defence by the All Blacks.There are similar problems in the pack without getting into specifics, although a fifth different lock combination in five Test matches highlights the issues the Wallabies have in the second row.And then there is the ongoing issue of the huge money on offer in European and Japanese rugby.It makes for depressing reading, particularly when compared with New Zealands embarrassment of riches, a seemingly always-overflowing pit of talent that could see the Highlanders Matt Faddes or Chiefs James Lowe step in out wide, the diminutive Brad Weber offer cover as the fourth-string scrum-half, and Elliot Dixon or Brad Shields provide options in the back-row.And the list goes on, right down through to generation-next, where you find a player such as Jordie Barrett. Sound like youve heard that name before? Thats because hes Beaudens brother.On Sunday afternoon, 19-year-old Jordie registered a lazy 25 points playing for Canterbury alongside another of the Barrett boys -- Scott -- in the Mitre 10 Cup. And therein lies New Zealands great advantage: a long-established and highly competitive third-tier.The Mitre 10 Cup has, under various banners, been around since 1976, affordeding New Zealanders from all parts of the country the chance to play quality rugby while representing their region. Add to that the Ranfurly Shield -- of which there was a superb challenge in Hamilton on Saturday -- and the strength of the pillar beneath Super Rugby in New Zealand becomes abundantly clear.Meanwhile in Australia, the Australian Rugby Union is playing catch-up with the National Rugby Championship which kicked off for just its third season at the weekend.Set up -- rightly or wrongly depending on who you talk to along the east coast -- by the ARU to help to close the gap between club rugby and Super Rugby, Australian rugby and New Zealand rugby, the quality of play in the NRC is some way short of that in the Mitre 10 Cup. And while Australia saw the first NRC-grown Wallaby in Reece Hodge on Saturday, its going to take some before that becomes the norm rather than the exception. Just as there should have been, there was widespread debate about the long-term planning and health of Australian rugby following the Wallabies 42-8 loss to the All Blacks in Sydney.Former Wallabies forward Peter Fitzsimons wrote in support of clubland, and the wonderful afternoon at the Shute Shield final -- covered for ESPN by Greg Growden - while Brett Papworth followed a similar path but decided to take aim at the ARUs top-level spending which was supposed to make us a rugby superpower.Both Fitzsimmons and Papworth made valid points and identified greater problems within Australian rugby, that in one way or another relate to the Wallabies most pressing problem: player depth.And thats exactly why, with this weekend off, Hansen will probably take a moment to stop, smile and take in some Mitre 10 Cup action all the while knowing the competition will continue to foster the talent he needs to retain the Bledisloe through to 2020.For Australia, 2030 might well be a more attainable Bledisloe brief. 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HOUSTON -- Already eliminated from playoff contention, the Los Angeles Angels quite enjoy playing spoiler.Yunel Escobar hit a two-run homer and pinch-hitter Rafael Ortega had three RBI during a six-run ninth inning, lifting the Angels over the Houston Astros 10-6 on Friday night.The loss dropped Houston to 2 1/2 games behind the Tigers for the second AL wild card, a tough blow after clawing back with a five-run sixth inning to make it 6-3 prior to the late-game collapse.We want to play spoiler, C.J. Cron said. Were not just going to push over and let them take the series. I think you saw that fight in us toward the end of the game today.Houston led 6-4 when Escobar sent a slider from Ken Giles (2-5) into the seats in left field to start the ninth. Giles walked Mike Trout with one out before intentionally walking Albert Pujols. Cron followed with a bloop single to score Trout and put the Angels on top.Giles was replaced by Michael Feliz after loading the bases with a walk. Ortega cleared the bases with his two-out double, which deflected off shortstop Carlos Correas glove, to extend the lead.Toughest inning of the year, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. For a lot of reasons.Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia was impressed with his teams comeback.You want to play the game the right way, he said. You want to play hard, you want to play well but that sometimes doesnt add up to a win. Tonight we overcame some of our own miscues, rallied and got some big hits on the offensive side.Nick Buss had two RBI for Los Angeles and Cron had an RBI double in the first. The Angels have won three in a row.Its the fifth blown save for Giles, who allowed three hits and six runs in 1/3 inning.I didnt do my job, Giles said. I put us in a hard position right now, and ... Im going to make up for it.Marwin Gonzalez hit a two-run single in the sixth that tied it before pinch-hitter Tyler White laced an RBI single to center field to make it 4-3. Jason Castro hit a third straight single to send home another run. Mike Morin took over and Houston got another run home on a passed ball to extend the lead.Buss drovee home a run with a groundout in the eighth to cut the lead to 6-4. Thomas Morstead Jersey. ouston starter Doug Fister allowed five hits and two runs in five innings.Los Angeles starter Alex Meyer yielded four hits and four runs with three walks in 5 1/3 innings in his seventh major league appearance. Cody Ege (1-0) got the last two outs of the eighth inning for his first major league win.Pujols doubled to start the second and Cron followed with his double to make it 1-0. A third double, this one by Buss with one out, scored Cron to push the lead to 2-0.THEY SAID ITIm not going to let Pujols be engaged in that inning. Ive seen enough of him over the years, as has this organization, Hinch on why he chose to intentionally walk him in the ninth inning.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: RHP Garrett Richards, who has been out since May after having Tommy John surgery, felt good on Friday after throwing a bullpen session a day before. He feels great ... the ball is really coming out hot, Scioscia said. Hes turning it loose and its exciting to see him healthy. Scioscia added that the next step will be to send him to pitch in their instructional league.Astros: Correa left the game after hitting the ground hard trying to make a catch in the ninth inning. There was no immediate word on his injury. ... Houston RHP Lance McCullers, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 3 with an elbow strain, will throw another bullpen in a couple of days after feeling good following his first once since the injury on Thursday. There still isnt a timetable for his return.UP NEXTAngels: Jhoulys Chacin (4-6 5.26) will pitch for Los Angeles on Saturday. Chacin allowed six hits and one earned run in five innings in his last start on Monday against Texas but did not factor in the decision.Astros: Brad Peacock (0-0, 2.86) will make his fourth start for Houston on Saturday. Peacock allowed three hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings in his last start but did not factor in the decision in a 4-2 win over Oakland. ' ' '
