Kritik und Anregungen » were No. 3 in the penultimate CFP ra

Australian rugby is on its knees, with the Wallabies out to avoid a soul-destroying record-equalling seventh straight defeat when they host the Springboks in Brisbane. Having barely fired an attacking shot in two heavy defeats by the All Blacks, missed 40 and 30 tackles in Sydney and Wellington respectively, and won just over half off of their lineout ball, Michael Cheikas side are well down on confidence and form in almost every aspect of the game. Injuries to Matt Giteau, Matt Toomua and Rob Horne certainly havent helped the situation, while Cheikas persistence with the Pooper back-row combination is the hot selection topic, drawing impassioned responses from Wallabies greats Nathan Sharpe and Toutai Kefu.Its hardly sunshine and rainbows in the Springboks camp, though. Coach Allister Coetzee has made a 3-2 start to his tenure, most recently splitting a pair of Tests with the Pumas in what were tight encounters. Coetzee is trying to develop South Africas game from the one-dimensional 10-man style of his predecessor Heyneke Meyer, and has entrusted Lions halves pairing Faf de Klerk and Elton Jantjies to run the show. But they still remain a huge force up front, with locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager, and back-rowers Francois Louw and Warren Whiteley, all capable of wreaking further havoc on Australias lineout.Team newsAustraliaCheika has stuck to his guns in retaining Hooper and Pocock in the back-row, but he has sprung a surprise at blindside with the selection of Dean Mumm. That sees Scott Fardy once again dropped from the side, with the pack otherwise unchanged from Wellington. There is just one change to the backline, too, with Reece Hodge set to earn just his second cap after Adam Ashley-Cooper was called back to French club Bordeaux.Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Reece Hodge , Quade Cooper , Will Genia , David Pocock Michael Hooper , Dean Mumm , Adam Coleman , Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu , Stephen Moore (captain), Scott Sio Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Lopeti Timani, Sean McMahon, Nick Phipps, Tevita Kuridrani, Drew Mitchell (One to be omitted).South AfricaThe Springboks will field a new centre combination with Juan de Jongh and Jesse Kriel replacing Damian de Allende and Lionel Mapoe at No. 12 and No. 13 respectively. Kriel, 22, scored a try on his Test debut in Brisbane last year while Coetzee has opted for another strike weapon on the wing in the form of the versatile Francois Hougaard. Up front, prop Lourens Adriaanse is the only change to the pack.Johan Goosen, Bryan Habana, Jesse Kriel, Juan de Jongh, Francois Hougaard, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk; Warren Whiteley, Oupa Mahoje, Francois Louw, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Lourens Adriaanse, Adriaan Strauss (captain), Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Franco Mostert, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jaco Kriel, Morne Steyn, Lionel Mapoe.Key match-up: Dean Mumm vs. Francois LouwThere is little left to discuss when it comes to the Wallabies lineout, with opinions seemingly split three ways as to whether the problem lies with Stephen Moores throwing, the lock combination itself or the Pooper setup in the back-row. Whatever the case, Cheika is banking on Mumms ability to right the horrors from the Bledisloe Cup and ensure the Wallabies lineout is up around the 90 percent mark, rather than 65. It will want to be, as Mumm is struggling to have much of an impact around the park nowadays and doesnt carry the ball-running frame of opposite number Louw.While Louw wears the No. 6 on his back, he is more of a 6 ? with Coetzee relying on him to offer a similar ball-poaching threat to openside Oupa Mahoje. But its with ball in hand where the Bath man does most of his damage. Louws 1.90m and 115kg frame make him an imposing ball carrier and an often brutal defender, and in a real concern for the Wallabies, he completes a four-man lineout threat, too.Key stats (Opta Stats)Overall, the Wallabies have won eight of their nine games against South Africa at Suncorp Stadium, including their biggest ever victory over the Springboks in July 2006 (49-0).Bryan Habanas try against Argentina meant he overtook David Campese (64) as the top try scorer for any Tier One nation and he sits just four tries behind Daisuke Ohata (69) as the top international try scorer in history.David Pocock has won five turnovers in the competition so far, two more than any other player.WeatherBrisbane is headed for a cloudy Saturday with a chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. It could be a rather uncomfortable, sweaty environment come kick-off.UBET verdict: The Wallabies opened as favourites at $1.62, and while their form suggests they shouldnt be that short, the early money has in fact been for South Africa. The Wallabies are coming off two humiliating losses to New Zealand while South Africa were fortunate to score a late converted try at home to beat the Pumas 30-23 before losing in Argentina a week later. This Saturday they meet at Suncorp in Brisbane, where they met last year during the Rugby Championship; on that occasion the Wallabies got home 24-20. Interesting match. The Wallabies will be desperate for a win to appease the critics, but the punters are saying they may have their work cut out.PredictionThis match could be decided in the opening 10 minutes, such will be the importance of the opening few lineouts. If Australia lose a couple of early balls on their own throw, then it could well be another long night -- one which ends in a disastrous seventh straight defeat. If, however, they can win their own set-piece, and if they have fixed the defensive woes from the Bledisloe Cup, then Hooper and Pocock may start to resemble the combination that was so effective in England last year. Will Genia has been in superb form. If Quade Cooper can free up Israel Folau, and Australia are able to contain the Springboks midfield threat, then Wallabies fans should finally breathe a sigh of relief late Saturday night.Australia by one.Montez Sweat Jersey . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. Sam Huff Jersey . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. https://www.redskinssportsgoods.com/Womens-Derrius-Guice-Inverted-Jersey/ . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Darrell Green Redskins Jersey .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. Clinton Portis Youth Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2.GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Clemson (12-1, ACC) vs. Ohio State (11-1, Big Ten), Dec. 31, 7 p.m. ESTLOCATION: Glendale, Arizona.TOP PLAYERSClemson: QB Deshaun Watson. 3,626 yards, 34 TDs passing; 441 yards, four TDs rushing.Ohio State: J.T. Barrett. 2,428 yards, 24 TDs passing; 847 yards, nine TDs rushing.NOTABLEClemson: The Tigers, who lost to Alabama in last years national championship game, were No. 3 in the penultimate CFP rankings and moved ahead of Ohio State after beating No. 18 Virginia Tech in the ACC title game.Ohio State: The Buckeyes lost to Penn State on Oct. 22, but got into the playoff after beating then-No. 3 Michigan in double-overtime to close out the season.dddddddddddd. They are the first team to reach the CFP without winning a conference title.LAST TIMEClemson 40, Ohio State 35, Jan. 2, 2013 in the Orange Bowl.BOWL HISTORYClemsons 12th straight bowl appearance, lost 45-40 to Alabama in last years national championship game.Ohio State: Beat Notre Dame 44-28 in the Fiesta Bowl last season after winning the inaugural CFP championship the year before. The Buckeyes will be playing their 16th bowl game in 17 seasons. ' ' '