Dein erstes Forum » Purcell Pavilion on Wednesday evenin

CARDIFF -- The Springboks handed tighthead prop Frans Malherbe a test debut and recalled veteran backs Jaque Fourie and JP Pietersen for the tour opener against Six Nations champion Wales at Millennium Stadium on Saturday. The 22-year-old Malherbe, from Western Province, replaced Jannie du Plessis, who didnt make the tour because of a chronic shoulder injury and broken hand. Another uncapped player, Sharks lock Pieter-Steph du Toit, was in the reserves. He would have played earlier this season if he hadnt injured his sternum, coach Heyneke Meyer said on Wednesday. There are five changes from the starters who lost an epic match to the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Oct. 5. The centre Fourie last appeared for South Africa at the 2011 World Cup, while Pietersen hasnt been available all year until now. The only other change in the forwards has Flip van der Merwe locking with Eben Etzebeth. "Frans has big boots to fill, but hes been with us for most of 2012 and shown good form since recovering from injury recently, and we dont have any doubts that he has what it takes to make the step up," Meyer said. "Hell have two players with more than 50 test caps each next to him in the scrum (Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira), and his general workrate across the field and on defence is very good. Im very happy for Frans." The inclusion of Fourie and Pietersen means all but fullback Pat Lambie, in for Zane Kirchner, in the backline have at least 40 caps. "Were very fortunate to have two world-class players in JP and Jaque and I wanted to get then into the action as soon as possible," Meyer said. "It was clear from our training sessions thus far that they are in great form and ready for test rugby." ------ South Africa: Pat Lambie, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Flip van der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malberhe, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Gurthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Ruan Pienaar, JJ Engelbrecht, Willie le Roux. James McCann Jersey .A. Happ is coming off his first start of the year, a win at Philadelphia Monday. The former Phillie allowed three hits in five scoreless frames of a 3-0 triumph. Michael Fulmer Jersey . The Braves optioned outfielder Jose Constanza to Triple-A Gwinnett. As expected, the Braves also called up right-hander Julio Teheran from Gwinnett to start Sundays game and optioned backup catcher J. http://www.tigersgearshop.com/Tigers-Oma...ds-Jersey/.Mack, a reserve guard who came in averaging 3.8 points, made all six of his 3-pointers as the Hawks went 16 for 28 from behind the arc.Trailing 50-38 midway through the second quarter, Atlanta outscored Cleveland 89-48 the rest of the way and sent the Cavaliers to their largest loss of the season. Detroit Tigers Jerseys . -- Pinch-runner Rajai Daviss decision to steal third base just as Oakland catcher Derek Norris was throwing the ball back to the pitcher caught most everyone by surprise -- including several of his Detroit teammates. Travis Wood Jersey . Grimes signed a $32 million, four-year contract to remain with Miami. The deal, which includes $16 million guaranteed, rewards Grimes for his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury that forced him to miss almost all of the 2012 season.South Bend, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - A top-10 matchup is on tap at Purcell Pavilion on Wednesday evening, as the eighth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish play host to the fourth-ranked Duke Blue Devils in a marquee ACC showdown. Mike Krzyzewski became the first coach in Division I history to reach 1,000 career wins, as his Blue Devils came from behind to post a 77-68 victory over St. Johns on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. The historic win pushed Duke to 17-2 overall as the team jumps back into ACC action. Mike Breys Irish may be looking up at Duke in the Top-25 poll, but it is the Blue Devils (4-2) that are looking up at Notre Dame in the ACC standings. The Irish also posted a dramatic win last time out, edging out NC State in overtime on the road on Sunday, 81-78. With the win, Notre Dame moved to 19-2 overall and 7-1 in-conference, good for a second-place tie with North Carolina and trailing only No. 2 Virginia (7-0). Duke has dominated this series, winning 19 of the 22 all-time meetings. However, the Irish won the last matchup, a 79-77 victory last year at home. These two teams will meet again in less than two weeks in Durham. It wasnt easy by any stretch of the imagination, but Duke ended its game against St. Johns with a 26-7 run to come from behind and earn Coach K his 1,000th victory. Freshman Tyus Jones matched his career-high with 22 points, while fellow freshman Jahlil Okafor recorded his sixth double-double of the season, posting 17 points and 10 rebounds. Quinn Cook matched Okafors scoring output with 17 points of his own, while Amile Jefferson chipped in 11 points in the win. Duke can win games at either end of the floor, thanks to a roster chock-full of talent. The team is averaging a robuust 81.dddddddddddd6 ppg this year, while shooting .499 from the field. Okafor has been a monster inside despite his youth. The 6-11, 270-pounder leads the ACC in both scoring (18.5 ppg) and field-goal percentage (.671), while ranking third in rebounding (9.0 rpg). Cook is the teams veteran presence, as the senior guard posts 14.3 ppg and leads the team with 50 3-pointers. Jones is both a scorer (10.7 ppg) and deft distributor (5.1 apg). Yet another freshman, forward Justise Winston (10.5 ppg) gives the team more offensive power. There arent many teams in the nation that could win a shootout with Duke, but Notre Dame is one of them. The Irish are as efficient a squad as there is, shooting .521 from the floor (second nationally), leading to 81.9 ppg (ninth nationally). Four of the five starters are averaging double figures, giving the team plenty of balance at the offensive end. Guard Jerian Grant is bucking for All-America honors, as he is both a potent scorer (17.1 ppg) and tremendous facilitator (6.2 apg - 11th nationally). Pat Connaughton adds 13.9 ppg and although he isnt the biggest guy (6-5), he is among the conferences best rebounders (8.3 rpg). Zach Auguste (13.7 ppg) and Demetrius Jackson (13.4 ppg) can fill up the basket as well. The Irish overcame a 12-point halftime deficit against NC State to tie things up in regulation and then finally moved past the hometown Wolfpack and earn the win at PNC Arena. Five Notre Dame players finished in double figures in the victory, led by Grants 25 points. Jackson, Connaughton and V.J. Beachem all checked in with 11 points, while Auguste, who had missed some time due to an academic issue, recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. ' ' '