ekansekans's blog: "df"

LA PLATA, Argentina -- A Cory Jane hat-trick led New Zealand to a dominant 54-15 victory over Argentina on Saturday to secure the Rugby Championship title for the world champions. Julian Savea added two tries -- bringing his tally to five tries in five tests -- as the All Blacks overpowered Argentina, which has yet to win in five matches in the new four-nation championship. The victory gave the defending World Cup champions an unassailable nine-point lead atop the standings with one round of matches to go in the tournament, allowing them to add the first Rugby Championship trophy to the Bledisloe Cup and Webb Ellis Cup. It was the 15th-straight victory for the All Blacks, who have also won 15 of 16 matches against Argentina. The other match was a draw. It was also their most lopsided victory against Argentina in Argentina, larger than a 36-6 victory in 1991. New Zealand fell behind 5-0 on an 8th-minute try by Martin Landajo, who split open the All Blacks defence on a long, angled run toward the right corner, delighting the 45,000 sellout crowd in the coastal city of La Plata. It didnt last, as the world champion All Blacks showed their class in tearing apart Argentinas defence at will. "Its a hell of a place to play here and we probably gave them a bit of a start there -- conceding the first try -- but we showed composure," captain Richie McCaw said. "Its easy to get caught up in (the atmosphere) and go a bit quiet. But the boys stuck to it and every opportunity pretty much we got tonight we took." New Zealand grabbed the lead -- for good -- in the 16th on Aaron Smiths try and Dan Carters conversion. It was never close after that. Carter extended New Zealands lead with a penalty before Jane gave New Zealand a decisive 17-5 lead with his first try in the 24th minute. Flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez clawed back three points with a penalty which carried him past 100 points in tests before Carter goaled again. Savea then broke the Pumas hearts with a length of the field try against the run of play. Argentina was threatening New Zealands line when backrower Keiran Read made a tackle that dislodged the ball from a Pumas attacker. Savea kicked threw and showed exceptional soccer skills to control the ball for 80 metres. His second try seven minutes later gave New Zealand an unassailable 32-8 lead at halftime. "We were excited (about scoring the first try) but we met a really good team today and I think today we made more mistakes than usual, and every time we did a mistake they made it seven points," Argentina captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe said. "So it was very tough, but there are lessons to be learned." Argentina closes out the championship next week against Australia in Rosario, Argentina. New Zealand finishes with South Africa. "We set out to win the championship from day one, and to be able to do it so early is a reflection on how well the boys have worked and how well theyve played," New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said. "We train all week to do things with purpose and accuracy in our execution and by and large tonight we achieved that." He said he was not surprised Argentina scored first. "I think thats what youre going to get sometimes in an atmosphere like this," he said. "We were a bit jittery, particularly in the first five or 10 minutes. "I think Argentine fans would be disappointed that they werent closer on the scoreboard but they should be thoroughly proud of their team becausee they never gave up at any stage and were playing just as hard at the end as they were at the beginning." It was a disappointing match for the Pumas, who have otherwise been impressive in their first appearance in the premier southern hemisphere tournament. "There is still a big difference between us and them," Argentina coach Santiago Phelan said. "They play with intensity and precision, something we lack." As soon as New Zealand took the lead, it began to build on it with slick ball handling and better speed than the Pumas. Argentinas Gonzalo Camacho opened the second half with a try to cut the lead to 32-15, before Jane responded in the 51st to push New Zealand ahead 37-15. Maa Nonu added another try in the 60th with the lead growing to 44-15 and Aaron Cruden added a penalty in the 66th to make it 47-15. Jane added his third try in the final minute with Cruden adding the conversion to complete the rout. "Its probably one of our best performances of the season," McCaw said. "When we started out four or six weeks ago the goal was to put last year behind us. "Weve got the tag of world champions and we needed to play like that. To secure the Rugby Championship was obviously the big goal and its nice to be able to do that." ------ New Zealand 54 (Cory Jane 3, Julian Savea 2, Aaron Smith, Maa Nonu tries; Dan Carter 3 conversions, 2 penalties; Aaron Cruden 2 conversions, penalty) defeated Argentina 15 (Martin Landajo, Gonzalo Camacho tries; Juan Martin Hernandez conversion, penalty). HT 32-8. Wholesale NFL Jerseys From China . The 29-year-old Michalek returns to Phoenix, where he spent five NHL seasons before signing as an unrestricted free agent with Pittsburgh in the summer of 2010. Michalek scored two goals and 11 assists in 62 games for the Penguins last season. NFL Jerseys China . Coquitlam, B.C.s Garcia,who made the quarter-finals after a walk-through in the 66kg preliminariesfollowed by a three-round win over Tajikistans Zalimkhan Yusupov, fell in atough match to Japans Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu 0-1, 1-0, 5-0 and then lost hisrepechage bout 1-0, 0-1, 1-0 to Cubas Livan Lopez Azcuy. http://bloodcopy.org/wholesale.html . 49 in last years CFL Top 50 Players list; a Grey Cup MVP and Most Outstanding Player award equaled a steep climb up the rankings for the 28-year-old BC Lions QB. NEW ORLEANS -- San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver apologized Thursday for anti-gay comments he made to a comedian during Super Bowl media day, saying "thats not what I feel in my heart." "Im sorry if I offended anyone. They were very ugly comments," Culliver said during an hour-long media session. "Hopefully I learn and grow from this experience and this situation." He said he would welcome a gay teammate to the 49ers, a reversal of his remarks to Artie Lange two days earlier during an interview at the Superdome. "I treat everyone equal," Culliver said. "Thats not how I feel." He added that he realized his comments were especially offensive to many people in San Francisco and the Bay Area, which is home to a large gay community. "I love San Francisco," Culliver said. During the interview with Lange, Culliver responded to questions by saying he wouldnt welcome a gay player in the locker room. He also said the 49ers didnt have any gay players, and if they did those players should leave. San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh met privately with Culliver to discuss the remarks. "I reject what he said," Harbaugh said. "Thats not something that reflects the way the organization feels, the way the rest of the players feel." The coach would not discuss if Culliver would face discipline from the team, such as a fine or loss of playing time. "He pledged to grow from it," Harbaugh said. The interview began with Lange asking Culliver about his sexual plans with women during Super Bowl week. Lange followed up with a question about whether Culliver would consider pursuing a gay man. "I dont do the gay guys, man. I dont do that," Culliver said during the one-minute taped interview. "Aint got no gay people on the team. They gotta get up outta here if they do. Cant be with that sweet stuff." Lange asked Culliver to reiterate his thoughts, to which the player said, "Its true." He added he wouldnt welcome a gay teammate -- no matter how talented. "Nah. Cant be ... in the locker room, nah," he said. "Youve gotta come out 10 years later after that." The 24-year-old Culliver, a third-round draftt pick in 2011 out of South Carolina, made 47 tackles with two interceptions and a forced fumble this season while starting six games for the NFC champion Niners (13-4-1).dddddddddddd He had his first career post-season interception in San Franciscos 28-24 win at Atlanta for the NFC title, which sent the 49ers to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995. They will face the AFC champion Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The 49ers participate in the NFLs "It Gets Better" anti-bullying campaign. Three organizations working for LGBT inclusion in sports -- Athlete Ally, You Can Play, and GLAAD -- reacted to Cullivers remarks and later acknowledged his apology. "Chris Cullivers comments were disrespectful, discriminatory and dangerous, particularly for the young people who look up to him," said Athlete Ally Executive Director Hudson Taylor. "His words underscore the importance of the athlete ally movement and the key role that professional athletes play in shaping an athletic climate that affirms and includes gay and lesbian players." Calling Langes questions "real disrespectful," Culliver said he realized he was speaking to a comedian and not a journalist. "That was pretty much in a joking manner," the player said. "Its nothing about how I feel." Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who made headlines this season with his vocal support of a gay-marriage initiative in Maryland, said Cullivers comments to Lange were reflective of how many players in the NFL feel, even if they dont express it publicly. He hopes the 49ers cornerback will learn from this experience and become a positive role model in the quest for equality. "You cant fight hate with hate," Ayanbadejo said. "Youve got to fight hate with love." Baltimore safety Bernard Pollard said Culliver should be allowed to express his views, even if some people found them offensive. "The guys entitled to his own opinion," said Pollard, who has acknowledged that he disagrees with Ayanbadejos stand on gay marriage. "Im not going to sit here and knock him. Im not going to sit here and judge him. Its freedom of speech. If you dont like it, dont listen to it." ' ' '