Saracens boss Mark McCall has vowed that his players will attack the game when they face fellow English heavyweights Wasps in Saturdays Champions Cup semi-final, live on Sky Sports 1 HD.
[b]Ryan Pressly Jersey[/b] . And Sarries considerable recent experience of knockout rugby - they are reigning Aviva Premiership champions and into a fourth successive European semi-final - could prove crucial at the Madejski Stadium.Somebody said to me that weve had 19 knockout games in the last six years. This is the 20th, McCall said. Its hard to get into the knockout stage, full stop, so to have played as many as we have is a good thing. Hopefully that experience is valuable but if it gets us over the line, we will wait and see.We have talked to the squad about this European journey that weve been on. I remember losing to Clermont Auvergne five years ago when it was men against boys. We were absolutely bullied off the park. Mark McCall is confident his side will progress to the Champions Cup final A lot has changed at our club in the five years. We understood that physically we needed to be in better shape, and our performance team has done a remarkable job and weve recruited well.This young pack that we have has all this experience, and everybody is much more confident in these games.Wasps have not reached this stage of the competition since 2007 when they went on to be crowned European champions, but rugby director Dai Young has overseen some scintillating performances this season including winning a Champions Cup pool that featured Toulon, Leinster and Bath. Whats the secret to the re-emergence of Wasps? Youngs men also smashed Saracens in the Premiership this term, winning 64-23 at Allianz Park, although that came when both sides were without their international players due to Six Nations commitments.He [Young] has done a brilliant job because four years ago they were on their knees, said McCall. They were down towards the bottom of the Premiership and not really contenders for the top four, and now they are playing as good rugby as any team has done in the Premiership for a long time. Saracens v Wasps: Key battles Five head-to-heads in Saturdays Champions Cup semi-final We dont want to be tentative or afraid of the consequences of losing. We want to attack the game and enjoy our rugby because when our team enjoy themselves on the pitch we are normally pretty good.We dont change anything but its a different atmosphere - everybody is a bit more on it. The players are pretty motivated for this week, they have done a brilliant job all year and they are really excited about this game.McCall makes one change to the team that defeated Northampton in the quarter-finals two weeks ago, Michael Rhodes named in the back row instead of Jackson Wray. Wasps forward James Haskell expects a Test-like challenge Wasps, captained by 2007 European Cup winner James Haskell, show two changes from the side that accounted for quarter-final opponents Exeter, with prop Lorenzo Cittadini replacing the injured Jake Cooper-Woolley and lock Bradley Davies in for Kearnan Myall, who has a knee problem.Young said: The players know how big this game is, so there hasnt been much that has needed to be said this week. We certainly dont need any extra motivation.This week, it has just been a matter of doing what we normally do, making sure preparation is good and that we are all clear on our roles and responsibilities.Saracens have probably been favourites for the title from the word go, really. They are a quality team and have plenty of experience at this level, so we will have to be at our best on Saturday.If we achieve that and do play to the best of our ability, we know we can cause any team problems.Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Schalk Brits, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Kruis, 6 Michael Rhodes, 7 Will Fraser, 8 Billy Vunipola.Replacements: 16 Jared Saunders, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Marcelo Bosch.Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Dan Robson; 1 Matt Mullan, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Bradley Davies, 6 James Haskell (c), 7 George Smith, 8 Nathan Hughes.Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Sam Jones, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Rob Miller.Watch Saracens v Wasps live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Saturday from 2.55pm. Catch the match for £6.99 with a NOW TV day pass.
[b]Nolan Ryan Jersey[/b] . Viewers in the Canadiens region can watch the game on TSN Canadiens at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The game can also be heard on TSN Radio Montreal 690. The Calgary Flames will see if they can take their recent hot streak on the road when they shoot for a sixth consecutive win Monday night in Montreal.
[b]Carlos Correa Jersey[/b] .Mateo Kovacic and Andrea Ranocchia scored for Inter, which had goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to thank for several crucial saves.Its an important victory against a Chievo side which plays well, Mancini said.DENVER - Matt McBride hit his first career grand slam and Jorge De La Rosa pitched eight crisp innings, helping the Colorado Rockies cool off the Kansas City Royals with a 5-2 win on Wednesday night. The loss trims the Royals lead to one game over Detroit in the AL Central. Danny Duffy (8-11) was cruising along with a 2-1 lead until a two-out error by third baseman Christian Colon in the sixth opened the door for a big inning. McBride lined a fastball from Duffy into the left-field bleachers and then zipped around the bases in exhilaration. It was McBrides first homer since Sept. 25, 2012, and third of his career. He was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs the day before. De La Rosa (13-8) allowed five hits and two run against his former team. He also got the Royals to hit into four double plays, tying a franchise record for most by a single pitcher in a game. LaTroy Hawkins pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 20 chances. Duffy was in command most of the night as he allowed five hits and five runs, one earned, in seven innings. After getting two quick outs in the sixth, Colon fielded a grounder and threw a one-hopper that first baseman Billy Butler couldnt scoop. Wilin Rosario singled and Corey Dickerson drew a walk to set the stage for McBride. Another hard-luck loss for Duffy, whos the only AL pitcher witth a losing record and an ERA under three runs.
[b]Dustin Garneau Jersey[/b]. This was just the second time De La Rosa faced his old team. He spent two seasons with the Royals before being dealt to Colorado in 2008 for cash considerations. He was cashing in on his slider and changeup to get out of one jam after another. De La Rosas only mistake was in the second when he grooved a 91-mph fastball that Alex Gordon hit into the right-field bleachers. Erik Kratz brought in another run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth that scored Josh Willingham, who led off the inning with a double. The Royals finished interleague play with a 15-5 mark. TRAINERS ROOM Royals: C Salvador Perez was a late scratch because of discomfort in his right knee. Perez was pulled from Mondays game with a sore knee. Rockies: OF Michael Cuddyer was out another day with a strained left hamstring. He said hes confident he will be back in the lineup Friday. UP NEXT Royals: After a day off, Kansas City begins a three-game series in Texas. Yordano Ventura (9-9) will start Friday. His nine wins are third-most among rookies this season. Rockies: The Rockies have their second off day this week on Thursday. They begin a three-game series with Miami on Friday. LHP Franklin Morales (5-6) will get the start after missing his last turn in the rotation for the birth of his daughter. ' ' '
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