Die Macht » ahead of South Africa and Jones is likely to go

Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Friday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT:- MOSCOW -- The IOC must soon decide whether to ban Russia from next months Rio de Janeiro Games. Not long ago, relations between Russia and the Olympic body were far more cordial.- LONDON -- Forty-five more athletes, including 23 medalists from the Beijing Games, are caught doping following retests of samples from the last two Olympics. No names are given.- LONDON -- Usain Bolt runs in the 200 meters at the London Diamond League meet in his final race before the Rio Olympics.- LAS VEGAS -- Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the U.S. Olympic basketball team play their first exhibition, taking on Manu Ginobili and Argentina. Game starts 9 p.m.- RIO DE JANEIRO -- On the eve of hosting the worlds largest sporting event, Rio de Janeiros decade-long push to curb violence in hundreds of slums appears to be crumbling.- They were once big names with huge contracts. Now, several former NFL stars are unsigned and unemployed, and looking for what could be their last chance to get back on the field.- COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza await inductions this weekend to the Baseball Hall of Fame.- NEW YORK -- Madison Bumgarner pitches at Yankee Stadium for the first time when the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants take on Masahiro Tanaka and New York. Game starts 7:05 p.m.- SAINT-GERVAIS-LES-BAINS, France -- Tour de France leader Chris Froome crashes during the 19th stage after his bike slips on road paint. He borrows a teammates bike and keeps the yellow jersey.- OAKVILLE, Ontario -- U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson holds a share of the lead entering the second round of the Canadian Open.- GURNEE, Ill. -- Taiwan and England are coming off strong performances going into the second day of the LPGAs UL International Crown, an eight-nation event.- CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Clemson and Florida State enter this season as heavy favorites in the ACCs Atlantic Division, each standing in the others way of a possible return to the College Football Playoff.- STILLWATER, Okla. -- A junior college transfer dies after collapsing following an Oklahoma State basketball workout. Tyrek Coger arrived at the campus this month. He was 21.- LONDON -- Sam Allardyce is hired as Englands soccer coach, pledging to restore pride to this perennially underperforming team coming off an embarrassing European Championship.- KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The gold medalist U.S. womens soccer team plays Costa Rica in an exhibition. It is the Americans final tuneup before heading to the Rio Olympics. Game starts 9 p.m.- Horse racings summer season begins in a big way this weekend at two of the best tracks -- California Chrome runs at Del Mar and undefeated filly Songbird goes at Saratoga. What is the best place to buy knockoff jerseys . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. What is the best Chinese web site for cheap Jerseys . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. https://www.wheretobuycheapjerseys.com/ . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. What is a good website to buy sports jerseys . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. How to Buy Cheap Jerseys . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Maro Itoje was the player England could least afford to lose ahead of the end-of-year Tests. While an injury crisis has enveloped their pack and players seem to be dropping by the weekend, Itoje -- a man who never has a bad game -- was their beacon of hope.Itojes injury will mean England have to go through a major re-think ahead of the autumn Tests. His partnership in the second-row with George Kruis -- one which has become so effective for club and country -- was put on hold when news of the latters ankle surgery broke last Friday meaning Eddie Jones is now without the second-row partnership which played so effectively in their three-Test series win against Australia.Itojes fractured hand has further ramifications. There was a suggestion that he was being considered for the openside berth with just about every contender for the No.7 falling foul of this injury curse which has invaded the England side.England are now down to Plan F at openside with James Haskell, Jack Clifford, Sam Jones, Mike Williams and Itoje all out of the November Tests. Eddie Jones has his first major injury headache as England coach.But Jones will treat this lengthy casualty list as a bittersweet opportunity. He frequently turns attention towards the 2019 World Cup and reiterates how his success as an England coach will be judged on how they fare in Japan at the next quadrennial rugby gathering rather than in the Six Nations or on standalone Tests. Its the World Cup or nothing with Jones and his hand is now forced to weigh up some of the more periphery options in the pack..ddddddddddddWith regards to the second-row, Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes are now favourites to start against South Africa on Nov. 12. But behind that, he may look to Baths Charlie Ewels -- named in the Elite Player Squad -- or his teammate Dave Attwood who toured last summer with the Saxons. Another option could be to draft in Leicesters Ed Slater while Exeters Mitch Lees will also be in the frame.But it is at openside where Jones has a problem. Haskell has been first-choice and with him still recovering from a toe injury, it looked like Jones may go to his Wasps teammate Sam Jones to plug the gap. But one judo session later and hes out until next year. This is where England will have to pull a rabbit from the hat ahead of South Africa and Jones is likely to go for another attritional, abrasive option to complement Chris Robshaw and Billy Vunipola in Englands back-row. Sales Josh Beaumont could be a front-runner for this spot while Matt Kvesic will hope he finally gets a chance to impress.Elsewhere, heading into last weekends European action, England were already without Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson and Manu Tuilagi for the November Tests but the return of Jonny May and the resurgence of Marland Yarde go some way to equal out those absentees.England will look at this latest injury blow as an opportunity, but of all the players they could least afford to lose for the autumn Tests, Itoje would be high up that list. ' ' '