Aktuelles » and the Vunipola br

CHICAGO -- Star slugger Anthony Rizzo hit a soft liner for the Chicago Cubs final out, which only seemed fitting.While the rest of Chicagos lineup can take consolation knowing Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is about to get a few days off, Rizzo and shortstop Addison Russell wont share in that small solace. The duo that totaled 204 RBI in the regular season is a combined 2 for 45 through six games in the postseason.Kershaw only underscored their struggles during Los Angeles 1-0 win Sunday night that tied the NL Championship Series at a game apiece.Kershaw held Chicago to two hits over seven innings and Kenley Jansen finished with two perfect innings, but that 1-2 punch could quiet Murderers Row.The other Cubs have done plenty of damage, with six players getting a hit in an 8-4 Game 1 victory. Rizzo and Russell, however, were a combined 0 for 9 Saturday night before going hitless in six at-bats in Game 2.Rizzo said changing his plate approach at this point in the series would be foolish. While it sounds counterintuitive, hes learned that patience is the quickest way to end a slump.I dont think its fair to everyone trying to get six, seven, eight hits at one time. Ive done that before in my career, he laughed ruefully, and it doesnt work.You just keep going through the process, he added. Keep battling, keep grinding.Rizzo and Russell were key contributors for baseballs best regular season team, but both have made every pitcher look unhittable in October, even as Chicago rolled past San Francisco in four games during an NL Division Series.Weve been taking some good hacks, said Russell, whose tailspin actually began at the end of the regular season. Theyre just not falling.Rizzo batted .292 with 32 home runs and 109 RBI during the regular season. Hes gone 1 for 23 in the playoffs with just a single and three walks, including the only one Kershaw issued in seven innings.When Rizzo got to 3-0 in that at-bat, he was bristling for a pitch to hit.No doubt, he said. Its a 1-0 game at that point. One swing changes that.He nearly did that in the fourth inning, turning a 1-1 fastball from Kershaw into a towering shot that cleared the outfield wall in right by plenty -- it landed on Sheffield Avenue, behind Wrigley Field -- but hooked just outside the foul pole. Kershaw threw high and tight on the next pitch, then coaxed Rizzo into grounding out.Rizzo was hoping for a second bite at the long ball in the seventh. But Kershaw walked him on the next pitch.Anytime you can get on, Rizzo said, his voice trailing off.Russell hit only .238 in the regular season, but contributed plenty of power, with 21 homers and 95 RBI. Yet, like Rizzo, hes got only a single in his 22 at-bats. He sat out the Cubs playoff run last year due to an injury, but he said that lack of experience wasnt an excuse.He got ahead early and he throws strikes, Russell said. He had his stuff tonight. ... Ive got to learn to grind out the at-bats better, extend the pitchers more.Kershaw yielded only two hits in seven innings. Tough as he was on Rizzo, the left-hander dominated Russell, who grounded out in his first at-bat then produced a pair of routine flyouts.Rizzo said neither he nor Russell had a reason to hang their heads, at least on this night.We just faced the best pitcher on the planet, he said. Boston Bruins Shirts . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. Wholesale Bruins Jerseys . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. https://www.cheapbruins.com/ . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Bruins Jerseys 2020 . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. Boston Bruins Gear . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances.The Sky Sports pundits give their predictions ahead of Saturdays Champions Cup final between Saracens and Racing 92. The game will be televised live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 3.45pm and we will have special guests Jonny Wilkinson and Paul OConnell joining us to offer their insights as former champions of Europe.The game itself promises to be a lively one with the likes of former All Black Dan Carter, rising England star Maro Itoje and Argentina flyer Juan Imhoff all on stage. Neither side has ever won the title, but who will end the match the toast of Europe?Paul OConnellTo me it is hard to look beyond Saracens. Their form, settled team and coaching staff, injury profile and confidence and belief in everything they do makes them favourites in my book. Alan Quinlan and Paul OConnell celebrate with the trophy following Munsters victory over Biarritz in the 2006 Heineken Cup Final They are on a steady journey in the competition. They will have learned from past experiences. I think Racing are on the same journey but not as far down the track.A little piece of me says not to go against a team with Dan Carter playing and Ronan O Gara lurking in the background but Im gonna go with Saracens.Will GreenwoodSaracens will be looking to get rid of the curse that has been going on for 20 years: No team has ever gone right through the tournament in its current format unbeaten and gone on to win. Northampton were so close before Leinster downed them in 2011. Chris Masoes battle with Billy Vunipola will be absolutely epic in deciding who wins the gainline. Will Greenwood Saracens form has been outstanding, their defensive press as good as always but they have continued to add expanse and width to their game - Sarries are now a threat in the wide channels.This year Racing have looked calm and composed. When it comes to Racing, the Kiwi who people may not talk about is Chris Masoe at No 8. His battle with Billy Vunipola will be absolutely epic in deciding who wins the gainline - and in finals whoever wins the gainline goes a long way in winning the match. Will Greenwood previews the Champions Cup final between Saracens and Racing 92 Racing are full of stellar names but I am sticking with Saracens, who I have backed from the start. I think their time is now.Scott QuinnellThis should be a cracking encounter. Saracens have been to one final before and have been absolutely outstanding in the way they have played and controlled the games. We take a look Saracens route to the 2016 European Rugby Champions Cup Final They won all six of their pool games which is impressive; they stuttered a bit against Northampton Saints in the quarter-final but had enough and followed that up with a good win against a high-flying Wasps side.You look through Saracens players - Maro Itoje, George Kruis and Billy Vunipola - and they all have really grown this year.Plus Jamie George is coming back - I thought he was outstanding before his injury. This game is in France and Racing will be very strong but the way Sarries are playing, I think you have to have them as favourites.Stuart BarnesThe day Saracens beat Toulouse in round one of the European Champions Cup was the day I thought this could be their year. This game was eclipsed however by the tragedy of the Paris attacks. Maybe Toulouse were off their game. Maybe, although Thierry Dusautoir refused to make any excuses. We take a look at Racing 92s route to the 2016 European Rugby Champions Cup Final One week later Saracens smashed Ulster in Belfast. That was the day I thought it would be their year. Nothing has changed my mind. Eight games played and eight comfortable victories. No team has won all nine games we are told, as if that has any bearing on the result. Racing have looked the likeliest danger since they ruthlessly demolished the Saints at home. But they have lost and drawn a game. Toulon - past their best - was a narrow squeak at home and Leicester should have been beaten with more conviction than they eventually were.dddddddddddd Anglo-French finals Saturdays final will be the sixth England v France decider. We look at the previous five. What I am suggesting is that Racing 92, with Dan Carter and all, have more flaws in their armoury than a Saracens side that has the belief, the extra European experience and the capacity to win it via their backs or forwards. An English trophy lift is not overdue.The Premiership has floundered in mediocrity and muscle for too long. The reason England has been the dominant side this season has been the massively more ambitious and balanced nature of its club rugby. Saracens will represent them well in Lyon, I expect them to win.Sean FitzpatrickI think we have the two best teams in Europe competing here and it is going to be a close game. Its not a home game for Racing 92 but it is being played in France which has got to count for something. I would not be surprised if Saracens won but I think Racing 92 will just win it with Dan Carter being the difference. Sean Fitzpatrick They also have a forward pack that can compete and if Dan Carter is on his game then they have every chance of winning. Saracens will look to get to him and unsettle him but many teams have tried that unsuccessfully. Saracens have come of age though and I have been very impressed with the depth and experience they have got.Saracens have really lifted the bar for English rugby both on and off the field and I really would not be surprised if they won, but I am going to say that Racing 92 will just win it with Dan Carter being the difference.Dewi MorrisEveryone is talking about Dan Carter but I think this game will be decided by the enormous Racing 92 pack. The club has invested heavily in their heavies and I see them squeezing the life out of their Saracens counterparts in the set piece and the loose.Racing 92 will know exactly what will comes from Sarries; they are the best in the English game with the press defence, but you need a bit more than that in the final. Brad Barritt thinks Saracens can finally win the European Champions Cup when they play Racing 92 in the final this weekend I see Carter winning his battle with Farrell in the No 10 jerseys, as hes got a better eye for a gap and the ability to score tries. If there arent many tries and the game is run close it will come down to kicking and I see Carter edging Farrell in that department too.Racing have shed their reckless approach to the game in favour of a more balanced style, so I think they will be able to absorb everything that Saracens throw at them, and hit back with points.Michael Lynagh Mako Vunipola is one of the Saracens ball carriers who wears opposition teams down, says Michael Lynagh Saracens have worked hard to get into the position of being in a European final as well as a Premiership semi-final. Theyve been here before and lost out on both titles, which will have hurt at the time but that experience will strengthen them going into this match.The way Saracens went while their big names were on international duty shows that they have plenty of young talent, but there are also the likes of Schalk Brits, Jim Hamilton and Kelly Brown who may not feature this Saturday, but will be offering plenty of their experience to the squad as they build towards the game. The last time Saracens appeared in a European final, they were beaten by Toulon I can see Saracens getting over the line this weekend. Owen Farrell had a good Six Nations and has improved since then, and if Sarries are to win the game a lot of it will come down to how he steers the ship.What works for Saracens is that their ball carriers are powerful runners - such as Maro Itoje and the Vunipola brothers - and it grinds teams down to have to tackle one after the other. Once a team has been softened, thats when Farrell can unleash the dangerous finishers out wide.In defence they hurry the half-backs and put them under pressure to play rugby in the wrong half of the field, which leads to a lot of kicking to someone like Alex Goode, who is a really good footballer with a sense for when to go and when not to go. He links up well with his his wingers to punish sides who dont make touch with their clearance. Watch the Champions Cup final between Saracens and Racing 92 live on Sky Sports 2 this Saturday from 3.45pm, where Jonny Wilkinson and Paul OConnell join us as special guests Also See: Five previous Anglo-French finals WATCH: Road to the final Farrell keen to emulate Carter Rugby on Sky Sports ' ' '