导出博客文章Italys success against South Africa was, of course, one of the most important wins in its rugby history.
Brenden Dillon Jersey . The Springboks are ranked fourth in the world and had never been beaten by their hosts before.But victory in Florence was also a triumph for all Italians, during a difficult time for the country.Lets start with the first, essential, news -- the team won the rugby game. It may sound na?ve but it is key. In the recent past, Italy have beaten both France and Ireland for the first time, and went close in other big games too.They almost beat Australia in Florence in 2012, losing by just three points. Italy have twice finished within a converted try of England -- in a freezing Rome in 2010 and then at Twickenham three years later -- and lost 20-6 to New Zealand in front of a record crowd at San Siro.So, they got close. They almost did it, yet they were beaten. Close, but no cigar.On Saturday in Florence they got a huge win and that will make a heck of a difference. A terrific performance was built on their play at the breakdown -- Italy were close to perfect at rucks -- on a top-class defence and on their ability to keep the scoreboard moving when they had the chance.They won the game by dominating the fundamentals of the game. How many times could you say that? Never. Even during those celebrated wins against France and Ireland they were not as competent in the basics.Defensive consultant Brendan Venters influence has been displayed in the blitz-oriented defensive approach adopted on Saturday. It was that system that exposed the essence of Simone Favaro in his entire beauty, and made the difference. But mainly Italy won on aggression and intensity.I have never seen an Italian rugby side playing with such a hunger. I have watched the game again and again and it is impossible to ignore the way that every single aspect of the game, from personal battles to more broader line movements, has been turned into a physical battle by Conor OShea and his staff.Against a Springboks side that in their previous outings showed a total lack of its once devastating tactical kicking game, winning every clash was crucial. And thats where Italy won the game.To ensure possession -- not always necessarily of a high quality -- OShea gave solutions to Italys recent lineout problems with variations. And those variations in jump, throw and time did the job.Then there was the coldness of the Italian kickers. Carlo Canna with those huge try conversions and Edoardo Padovani with that halfway-line penalty that kept the Springboks in reach. Again, Italy got the fundamentals absolutely right.A few words should also be said on Sergio Parisses new role. Every media outlet highlighted the huge performance by the Italy captain but he was not centerstage as he used to be. And that was another key factor in the overall production of his teammates. He played a solid game, he was inspirational as he always is for the team, yet he played like an international No. 8.Parisse did not overcook plays, he wasnt asked to do extra work as he was made to in the past and from the stands the feeling was that he didnt feel obliged to take responsibility in every aspect of the game. OShea made his contribution a crucial part of a team performance. It happened, with less evidence, in that second win over France but for the first time Italy fans saw a sort of Stade Francais-version of Sergio Parisse.And is not a coincidence that we could admire the rise of Padovani, Canna and Giorgio Bronzini, just to name a few, and the return of Tommaso Benvenuti to his highest standards. That is another interesting aspect of the OShea era -- selection policy was finally at its best.We all know that it wasnt by far the best South Africa side ever to run onto a rugby pitch but that was the best XV Coetzee could pick from his tour squad. Italy were given a chance to make history and they took it, capitalising on that one and only opportunity.Details? Not at all. It was the sign of a different mentality. A huge rise in confidence that OSheas system has brought into a revitalised squad.The historic victory put rugby back on the mainstream media radar, reigniting a flame across the country that seemed to be slowly dying. The Azzurri were back on the national newspapers front page and got a lot of attention from national TV. The entire country celebrated this victory.Now Italy have an immediate maturity test. They must perform against Tonga and record a comfortable win.On Saturday in Padua, the Azzurri will not win with the same recipe the they used to beat the Springboks, though. Patience and composure will be vital. Only methodically absorbing the Islanders aggression at the breakdown and winning from that a probable high number of penalties will guarantee the win. They may well end up doing what top tier rugby nations usually do against Italy: stretch the score in the final quarter of the game.It wont be easy for a team that in the past has never shown the ability to control a rugby match. But after that historical result in Florence there is a chance for Italian fans to celebrate their best ever autumn international campaign.
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http://www.officialsharksnhlshop.com/evander-kane-jersey/ .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. EUGENE, Ore. -- Just 18 years old, Vashti Cunningham is the reigning world indoor high jump champion. Trying to qualify for her first Olympics in the opening round of the U.S. track and field trials Friday afternoon, she was so focused on her jumps that she did not distract herself by talking to competitors inside the Hayward Field track.Not that there wasnt someone competing there alongside Cunningham who could provide strong advice for her future career.Amy Acuff first competed at the track trials at age 16 in 1992 before the Barcelona Games. She did not qualify at those trials, but she made the next five U.S. Olympic teams, competing in Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London. Despite being a month shy of her 41st birthday, having two children and a number of health issues this year, she was fighting for her sixth Olympics in Rio.Unfortunately, Acuff failed to advance to the high jump finals, missing her final three attempts at 1.84 meters (6 feet, one-half inch). With mixed emotions, she walked away from the high jump, and her career.I feel closure, Acuff said. I guess I felt like, Oh well, I tried my best and thats all you can hope for. I am officially retired from track and field. I said that before, but its for real now.Meanwhile, Cunningham qualified for Sundays finals, along with American record-holder and three-time Olympian Chaunte Lowe. The daughter of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham, Vashti is considered the favorite by many, though she says she doesnt consider herself that way. There are people who have done amazing things before me, she said. Im just one of the jumpers.Acuff said not to count out Lowe as the favorite, either, though she is definitely impressed by Cunningham.Vashti looks great, Acuff said. I had never seen her jump before. She just looks so natural and elastic. Im sure shell have a great career.Asked for what advice she has to pass to Cunningham and others, Acuff said: Just take care of your bodies.
Custom San Jose Sharks Jerseys. There are so many great jumpers littered on the side of the freeway to the Olympics. Mainly ankles. A lot of people are just done by their late 20s due to injuries, so you have to be really smart about your training and very open to looking at it and being realistic about what you can handle.So how was Acuff able to jump so high for so long?I think because I just love it, she said. At the core of it, I just love the art of jumping. My biggest hope was to come here and have that perfect timing and beautiful jump. Thats the funnest part.Despite having never medaled in her five Olympic competitions (she came closest with a fourth-place finish at the 2004 Games in Athens), she definitely has a symbolic Olympic torch to pass on to Cunningham, perhaps one that will help the younger jumper compete all the way to the 2036 Games.I think that for Amy going into this meet, and her willpower is just amazing. Shes mentally stronger than a lot of other people, to come and fight and jump and do what she loves. I respect her a lot for that, Cunningham said. After the years shes competed, the fact she still has the fight to come back and compete again is amazing and I hope that Im like that when Im older.Given how well Cunningham is jumping at such a young age -- she won indoor worlds with a leap of 1.95 meters -- she could definitely win a medal, perhaps gold. Not that she says she feels any pressure in that respect.There is not as much pressure as there is on people who have been here before, Cunningham said. I think Ive done well at the beginning of the season. ? Im trying to win [Sundays final]. Get first place and go into the Olympics with that confidence. ' ' '