ateo Kovacic and Andrea Ranocchia scored for Inter,

Just 23, Tyler Ardron has big shoes to fill as Canadian rugby captain. Hans de Goede, Gareth Rees and Al Charron are just some of the rugby icons to lead Canada to battle. Other Canadian skippers of note include Mark Wyatt, Spence McTavish, John Graf and Mike James. More recently, Morgan Williams, Pat Riordan and Aaron Carpenter have captained Canada. Ardron, who has got congratulatory emails offering advice and support from many of those captains, really is the new kid on the block. "I know it is a great honour and its great to be able to follow up in those guys footsteps," said Ardron, who turned 23 on Monday. It speaks volumes that after being named captain, Ardrons thoughts were not about himself but of those who helped him along his rugby road. "Theres so many things that if they hadnt happened right, I wouldnt be here now," said the willowy back-row forward from Lakefield, Ont. With Carpenter transitioning to a new position -- from No. 8 to hooker -- Canadian coach Kieran Crowley opted for a new leader ahead of the June internationals. His choice was Ardron, who is coming off his first pro season in Wales with Ospreys. While young, with just 15 caps going into Saturdays Pacific Nations Cup match against the U.S. Eagles in Sacramento, Ardron is no stranger to leadership. He captained the McMaster University team, as well as Canada at the IRB Junior World Trophy. Ardron, who made his national team debut in June 2012, also led Canada twice in 2013 before Crowley made it permanent this year. "Hes a good player, he knows the game," said Crowley. "His year at Ospreys has really helped him. Hes even being brought into the leadership group in the Ospreys camp. So that just shows you what their opinion of him is. "I see him as a leader who could be a leader for Canada for a long time to come. Hes grounded, he has good character. Hes still obviously learning the whole leadership role of it but Ive been very impressed with him." The six-foot-four 242-pounder showed his commitment to the team last November in Tbilisi when Georgian flanker Vito Kolelishvili clotheslined Canadian fly half Liam Underwood. Ardron, who was captain on the day, confronted the Georgian and a brawl began, with several Canadians engulfed in packs of Georgia players. Almost every player on the field got involved, with several mini-clashes breaking out as Canadian trainers tended to the prone Underwood. Kolelishvili and Ardron were both red-carded when peace was restored. The Canadian forward escaped further sanctions because he did not throw a punch. Rees, currently manager of the national mens program, says Ardrons rugby story is one of a "meteoric rise." "For me one of the most important things with a captain is his name is one of the first on the team sheet, from the selection point, and it is in his case," said Rees, a member of the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame. "By no means a finished product in terms of captaincy but a really good head on his shoulders. Hes very open to using and engaging the other senior players which is something that I learned over my course (as captain) is really important." "A guy who cares about the jersey," said Charron, who like Rees played in four Rugby World Cups. Charron, no stranger to leading by example, likes what he sees on the field with Ardron. "Ive been impressed with his play," added Charron, Rugby Canadas manager of player advancement and alumni relations. Ardron grew up playing hockey, adding rugby in Grade 9. A centre in hockey, he played at the triple-A level and had dreams of playing in the OHL before focusing on university and rugby. He moved to Victoria during his third year at McMaster to take his rugby to the next level. He had already won sevens gold at the 2011 Pan American Games, a squad whose members continues to excel for Rugby Canada. This was the first season he hasnt played a sevens, due to his pro commitments with his Welsh club team. Ardron, who rooms with fellow Canadian Jeff Hassler in Wales, played 22 games for Ospreys in his debut season. "It went really well," he said. "Jeff made the dream (all-star) team of the league and played a ton. As a forward we had a lot more rotation but I still played well over 20 games and had a ton of game time." Nicknames are key on a team that includes five Jones, two Smiths and two named Thomas. There is more to life than rugby, however. Ardron continues his university studies in finance and economics online. An avid reader, he can see a future in real estate. With his growing club and international demands, it makes for a busy schedule but Ardron has no regrets. "Any time you take a step back and think if I had just done the normal thing and finished my degree, Id be sitting behind a desk probably now and wishing I was doing this. So Ive got plenty of time to do that when Im done. I think I just need to always keep that in mind and take a step back and look at it that way." Canada is ranked 16th in the world by the IRB while the U.S. is No. 18. Both teams are coming off earlier losses to Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup. Air Max Ireland .com) - Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer were among the third-round winners Friday at the French Open. Air Max Ireland Sale .com) - St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk and Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury have been selected as the NHLs top players for last week. http://www.airmaxireland.com/. Ortiz hit a pair of two-run homers, including his 400th shot in a Red Sox uniform, and drove in a career high-tying six runs to power Boston past the Houston Astros 10-7 on Saturday night. Cheap Air Max Ireland . Pierre last November, only to watch St. Pierre leave the UFC octagon with his welterweight title belt and a split-decision victory. Air Max Free Shipping .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.If Patriots-Packers — aka Brady vs. Rodgers I — really WAS a Super Bowl preview, as so many suggested, then it will be definitely be worth watching what happens on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona.Green Bays 26-21 victory over visiting New England was a taut, well-played game, featuring just the right amount of defence and a couple of MVP contenders at quarterback who had never faced each other as starters. Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady combined to go 46 of 73 for 613 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions.Rodgers extended one particularly remarkable streak: He hasnt thrown an interception at home in two years.His Packers have won four consecutive games and eight of nine to pull even with Arizona and Philadelphia at 9-3 atop the NFC.Theyre good. Theyre really good, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, in what counts as loquaciousness for him.Theres a realistic chance Green Bay could win out, because the rest of its schedule includes Atlanta and Detroit at Lambeau Field, and Buffalo and Tampa Bay on the road.The Patriots, meanwhile, had their seven-game winning streak end, but they also are 9-3, and remain atop the AFC.Very few folks would be surprised if these two teams — and these two QBs — are sharing a field again in two months.In case you missed it, here are the other top topics after the NFL seasons 13th Sunday:HEEEEEERES JOHNNY: Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel got his first chance to play for the Browns since Week 3, scored his first NFL TD on a 10-yard run, and flashed his famous — infamous? — money sign in the end zone.Now what everyone wants to know is whether Johnny Football or the guy he replaced in the fourth quarter of Clevelands 26-10 loss at Buffalo, Brian Hoyer, will start at quarterback next week at home against the Colts.Hoyer, lifted after throwing two interceptions, spoke about the Browns as my team, but its possible Manziel will now get a long look.If that is the case, and my name is called, Manziel said, I definitely will be ready.ddddddddddddCOUGHLINS UPSET: If ever a two-time Super Bowl champion coach were going to lose his job, this is how. Tom Coughlins tenure with the Giants hit a new low when New York blew a 21-point lead against a bad Jaguars team and lost 25-24.Im upset with everything, Coughlin said after a seventh consecutive loss dropped his club to 3-9. And Im upset with me.COLLAPSING CARDINALS: So much for Arizona running away with the NFC West. And so much for the team being just fine with Drew Stanton at quarterback in place of the injured Carson Palmer.The Cardinals have lost two in a row — this time, 29-18 at Atlanta — and their division lead over Seattle is down to one game.With Palmer done for the season, and receiver Larry Fitzgerald out the past two weeks with a left knee injury, the Cardinals offence has produced a grand total of one touchdown over 2 1/2 games.HANDS UP, DONT SHOOT: Five players from the St. Louis Rams showed solidarity with protesters in Ferguson, Missouri, by standing with hands raised before heading out during pregame introductions against visiting Oakland.Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt came out together first, followed by Jared Cook, Stedman Bailey and Chris Givens. After Tre Mason scored in the fourth quarter, he and Britt raised their hands together.Some witnesses said teenager Michael Brown had his hands up before being fatally shot in Ferguson by police officer Darren Wilson in August. A grand jury decided last week not to indict Wilson.I dont want the people in the community to feel like we turned a blind eye to it, Britt said. What would I like to see happen? Change in America.Across the street from the Rams stadium, about 75 protesters gathered in the second half, with some chanting Hands up, dont shoot!___Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '