Kritik und Anregungen » 2.25 underdogs in Pretoria,

Team news:Its almost a cliche now but rarely have we seen a closer NRL competition than this year.When Melbourne and Cronulla kick-off on Saturday night to decide the 2016 minor premiership, there will have been 372 NRL games that have come and gone and still it boils down to the final round to decide top spot after the regular season.Cronulla will assume the mental edge after downing the Melbourne 14-6 when the two sides last met in round four and a timely return to the winners list against the Roosters will lift confidence.History weighs heavily in favour of Melbourne, the Storm having won two-thirds of the encounters between the clubs while they havent lost to the Sharks at home since 2008.Melbourne Storm:?1. Cameron Munster, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Ryan Morgan, 5. Marika Koroibete, 6. Blake Green, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Tim Glasby, 11. Kenny Bromwich, 12. Tohu Harris, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Felise Kaufusi, 15. Christian Welch, 16. Jordan McLean, 17. Ben Hampton, 21. Matt White.Cronulla Sharks:?1. Ben Barba, 2. Sosaia Feki, 3. Jack Bird, 4. Gerard Beale, 5. Valentine Holmes, 6. James Maloney, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Andrew Fifita, 9. Michael Ennis, 10. Matt Prior, 11. Luke Lewis, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14. Joseph Paulo, 15. Chris Heighington, 16. Jesse Sene-Lefao, 17. Jayson Bukuya.What they said:These guys (Cronulla) are very good at being aggressive and trying to put you off your game, we just cant allow that to happen. - Cameron Smith, Storm captain.Youve just got to prepare for a tough game ... theyre going to come down here and play an aggressive style so weve got to match that. - Jesse Bromwich, Storm prop.It is always good fun coming up against quality opposition so Saturday night should be a good test. - Blake Green, Storm five-eighth.Theyre always hard down there. Their record over the past 10 years shows theyre a tough team and weve got now doubt how hard its going to be for us. - Wade Graham, Sharks forward.Key head-to-head - Cameron Smith vs Michael EnnisTwo of the craftiest players in the NRL and the two players that hold the key to victory for their respective teams.As dummy-halves, they will have their hands on the ball more often than most and that alone makes them a major threat to the opposition.Smith is arguably the smartest brain in the competition; he understands the game better than any other. Hes neither fast, big and is no great stepper, but he has an ability to influence referees as well as mesmerise and manipulate opposing defences with his scheming.Michael Ennis has similar qualities and although not as polished in each area, he is a genuine competitor that will do anything to win for his teammates. He is a world-class niggler and has the ability to unsettle the opposition with some subtle actions or a few well chosen words.Key Stats:The Storm have won 12 of their previous 15 matches against the Sharks.The Sharks have won just four matches against the Storm in Melbourne.The Storm boast a strong head to head record over the Sharks - winning 20 of 30 matches.The Storm are coming off a defeat to Brisbane but are yet to lose consecutive games this season.UBET verdict:Melbourne Storm ($1.45) v Cronulla Sharks ($2.75), AAMI Park, Saturday at 7.30pmThe Sharks got back into the winners list last week but the worry is they did give the Roosters 12 points start.The Storm were beaten last week, but the minor premiership awaits the winner, so there is plenty on the line.Cronulla defeated Melbourne the last time they met but all of the early money is on Melbourne.Weather:Sydney is expecting a chilly temperature of 11 degrees by kick-off with only a 10 percent chance of rain.Prediction:The finals start a week early for these two sides and Melbourne have too much experience in this area for Cronulla.Its no secret that Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk are key for the Storm - both have regularly shown at club, Origin and international level that the bigger the game, the better they play and this is the type of environment they enjoy most.The Sharks have had a fantastic season but I still have my doubts that they can find another gear required for finals football and its a quality theyll need to show against the Storm on Saturday.After a month without a win, Paul Gallens return from injury made a noticeable difference to Cronullas physicality and composure. The Sharks are a huge chance of claiming their first minor premiership since 1999 but I am just leaning towards the Storm on this occasion because of the Smith/Cronk factor, their superior experience and the home ground advantage.Tip: Melbourne by 8Tyler Ennis Rockets Jersey . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Austin Rivers Rockets Jersey . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. https://www.rocketsrookiesshop.com/Marquese-Chriss-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Steve Francis Rockets Jersey . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. DeAnthony Melton Rockets Jersey . -- Linebacker Myles Jack ran for four touchdowns, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a scoring pass, and No.The closing fortnight of this years Rugby Championship kicks off in Pretoria on Saturday night when a desperate Springboks face the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld -- a venue where the Australians have never tasted victory. That is some record to overcome and surely a massive confidence boost for the Springboks, yet it is the hosts who find themselves under the pump.Without a win in three Tests and having dropped four of his seven games since taking over, Springboks coach Allister Coetzee has already come in for plenty of criticism -- so much so that there have been calls for Jake White to return in a mentoring role.Coetzees selections in the back-row, halves and back three have all been questioned and the former Stormers boss has responded with recalls in the latter two of those areas in Rudy Paige, Morne Steyn and Patrick Lambie.?Coetzees Wallabies counterpart, Michael Cheika, is no stranger to criticism himself. But the Australian has managed to quiet some of his detractors with back-to-back, if patchy, wins in Brisbane and Perth. Still, the Wallabies will need to improve significantly on their last outing if theyre to trouble the South Africans on their home deck. The 15 minutes of quality, and individual brilliance of Will Genia, from Perth wont be anywhere near enough to get them within striking distance of the Springboks at home -- even with all of the South Africans issues.Team newsRudy Paige is handed his first Test start at scrum-half and he partners the recalled Morne Steyn in the half-backs. Johan Goosen is dropped from the matchday squad with Pat Lambie named at fullback while Willie le Roux is named on the bench.There is no place in the 23 for Elton Jantjies or Faf de Klerk who both started in the Boks defeat against the All Blacks in their last run out.South Africa: Patrick Lambie, Bryan Habana, Jessie Kriel, Juan de Jongh, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn,Rudy Paige; Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Francois Louw, Teboho Mohoje, Warren WhiteleyReplacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Stephen Kitshoff, Julian Redelinghuys, Lood de Jager, Willem Alberts, Jaco Kriel, Lionel Mapoe, Willie le RouxThe Wallabies will be without David Pocock for the second time this season, and its a situation they must adjust to with the openside set for a one-year sabbatical in 2017. Pococks hand injury has opened the door for Melbourne Rebels back-rower Sean McMahon, the bullocking back-rower rewarded for an impressive showing off the bench a fortnight ago. McMahons promotion is the only change to the Wallabies starting side, with Cheika to confirm his bench on Friday.Australia: Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Reece Hodge, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper, Dean Mumm, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio.Replacements:?James Hanson, James Slipper, Tom Robertson, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, Nick Phipps, Tevita Kuridrani,, Sefanaia Naivalu.ddddddddddddKey matchup: Patrick Lambie vs. Israel FolauThe choice of Lambie over Le Roux suggests the Boks will be favouring a kicking game against the Wallabies. Lambie was an option to start at fly-half but he shifts to the 15 shirt to provide a steady hand at the back of the field and a second playmaker option if required.Wallabies fullback Israel Folau, by his own admission, has been underperforming. Up to date its probably been the hardest [period] for me personally, Folau said recently. Having played outside centre for the Waratahs this season, Folau has struggled for impact at No.15 for the Wallabies and even hinted hed prefer to be playing in the front line. Playing at home, and given the pressure theyre under, there is every chance the Springboks will revert to their traditional bash-and-barge game, and will look to pepper the Wallabies back three with high balls. That means Folau could be in for a long night at the back, and will need to be at his best to defuse a Springboks aerial assault.Key stats- The Springboks have hosted Australia at Loftus Versfeld on six previous occasions, winning each of those games, and they havent tasted defeat at the venue against any team since New Zealand visited in 2006 (W7 since).- The Wallabies have the worst discipline in the 2016 Rugby Championship, conceding a tournament-high 53 penalties and three yellow cards.- Michael Hooper has made 10 more tackles (53) than any other player in this years Rugby Championship; he has also won the joint-second most turnovers (6).WeatherPretoria is expecting a warm day with extended sunny periods throughout. There is just a 10 percent chance of rain, giving the players the perfect conditions for rugby.UBET verdict: South Africa $1.65, Australia $2.25 Rugby punters appear to have regained confidence in the Wallabies, who, after two diabolical defeats to the All Blacks, have posted back-to-back Rugby Championship wins. A bruising battle awaits the $2.25 underdogs in Pretoria, but the initial investment suggests Stephen Moore and his men will weather the storm and pile even more pressure on the bumbling Boks.VerdictThe last time the Wallabies were in Pretoria they suffered a comprehensive 31-8 defeat and while the South Africans are enduring one of their toughest periods in recent memory, its hard to see them losing here. Australia have improved over the past few weeks but they are yet to put together a complete half of rugby, let alone 80 minutes, and that will likely bring about their downfall at Loftus. If the Wallabies can however stay with the Boks through to the final quarter, then the pressure of the last few weeks may see the hosts panic - gifting the Wallabies a perfect opportunity to break their Pretoria duck. Still, history tells us its Coetzees men who get the chocolates here.Springboks by five. ' ' '