Its time for a change of pace in the southern hemisphere as rugby fans forget their provincial allegiances and channel Olympic fervour in preparation for the Test season. The Rugby Championship has arrived and so too the Bledisloe Cup.Sydneys ANZ Stadium plays host to the first of three trans-Tasman battles this year, with the Wallabies out to end the All Blacks 14-year stranglehold on the giant piece of silverware. The Wallabies and their fans could have been forgiven for feeling a sense of optimism at the start of the year given the retirements of all-time greats Richie McCaw and Dan Carter among others; but that cheery attitude quickly turned to despair as New Zealands Super Rugby sides again performed strongly while the Australian teams struggled and the Wallabies suffered a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Eddie Jones England in June.The build-up to Saturdays Test has had its usual bit of tension, with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen telling Wallabies counterpart Michael Cheika to worry about his own side, a barb that saw the Australian respond with I dont know what hes upset about. It all adds to the spectacle.On the field, it looks like a battle between extended preparation and plain old good form. The Wallabies have been together for almost a month, while New Zealand had three teams involved through to the penultimate weekend of Super Rugby.Team newsAustralia: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Ben McCalman, Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (captain), Scott Sio. Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Dean Mumm, Scott Fardy, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Rob Horne.Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has pulled two selection rabbits from his hat, naming Will Genia to play his first game since January and picking Ben McCalman over Scott Fardy in the No. 6 jumper. As expected he also named Genias fellow France-based veterans Adam Ashley-Cooper, on the wing, and inside centre Matt Giteau after missing Australias 3-0 series loss to England in June..New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Ryan Crotty, Waisake Naholo, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett. Replacements:?Dane Coles, Kane Hames, Charlie Faumuina, Liam Squire, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Aaron Cruden, Julian Savea.Form won out over reputation in New Zealand with Hansen unable ignore the irresistible selection claims of Beauden Barrett. The Hurricanes No.10 retains the fly-half role he filled in Aaron Crudens absence for the final Test against Wales; Barrett is joined in the backline by the centre combination of Ryan Crotty and Malakai Fekitoa.It was a different story up front though with Sam Cane holding onto the No.7 jersey ahead of Ardie Savea, despite the Hurricanes flankers superb Super Rugby season. The All Blacks have been forced into a late change at hooker with Codie Taylor to start after Nathan Harris went down with a knee injury on Friday; that has also forced Dane Coles inclusion on the bench despite Hurricanes skippers ongoing battle with a rib injury.Key matchup: Matt Giteau vs. Ryan CrottyIt may not have been greeted with the same glowing reception as last year, but the Giteau Law is in full effect once more with the veteran playmaker for whom it is named back at No.12. Yes, the likes of Mark Ella and veteran scribe Spiro Zavos may have an issue with foreign eligibility, but there can be little debate as to the impact Giteau made at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Crucially, the Toulon star offers left-foot kicking and second playmaking options, while therell be no Maa Nonu or Sonny Bill Williams charging down his defensive channel either.That responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of the ever-reliable Ryan Crotty. The Crusaders centre certainly doesnt possess the power of Nonu or Williams, but he runs straight and hard and is a classy second distributor. Crotty is also regarded as one of the finest defensive centres in the game, which will be vital with Malakai Fekitoa joining him in midfield; the Highlanders back is one of the hardest hitters in the game, but he is also prone to the odd error, too.Key stats (Opta Stats)Australia have lost their last four Tests in a row and have not lost five on the bounce since a run of seven consecutive defeats in 2005; the fifth defeat in that run came against New Zealand.Steve Hansens side have won their last 11 on the bounce by an average margin of 27 points; only South Africa have managed to finish within 10 points of the All Blacks in that time.The All Blacks have lost just one of their last 13 against Australia (W10, D2); their 10 victories in that run have come by an average margin of 16 points.WeatherSydney is expecting some early showers on Saturday before conditions clear up in the afternoon. Chasing a top of 17 degrees, the temperature will likely hover around 13 from kick-off.UBET verdict: Australia $3, New Zealand $1.40.The Wallabies have only beaten New Zealand once in their past 13 attempts, while the All Blacks havent recorded a win on their past two trips to Sydney, suffering a loss and a draw. They beat the Aussies 34-17 in the World Cup final in London, but the Wallabies did have a very good tournament. However England travelled Down Under in June and whitewashed Australia, winning that series 3-0, so this will be difficult. There is some support for Australia at $3.00, but New Zealand go in as clear favourites on the back of the domination of the Kiwi sides in Super Rugby.PredictionWhitewashed by England, the Wallabies are staring down a fifth straight defeat; that prospect seemed almost unthinkable during last years Rugby World Cup as the Australians rode a wave of momentum right through to the final. Where has it gone wrong? Cheika is on record as saying the Wallabies may be playing too much rugby, prompting suggestions that Australia will look to kick more during the Rugby Championship. Whatever the game plan, they certainly have had the time to refine it. That hasnt been the case for New Zealand, and that perhaps is the only concern for the All Blacks ahead of this one. Will rust be an issue? A 3-0 series win over Wales suggests it wont, and then there is the scintillating form of Barrett. If the All Blacks pack can at the very least achieve parity up front, then its hard to see the Wallabies containing the New Zealand No.c10. He is playing that well.New Zealand by five. Brad Davis Jersey . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. Wholesale Mavericks Jerseys . Having already announced that the race will start May 9 with three stages in Northern Ireland and Ireland and finish in Trieste on June 1, the rest of the route was unveiled Monday. https://www.cheapmavericks.com/923l-isaiah-roby-jersey-mavericks.html . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. Josh Howard Jersey . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. Jason Kidd Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy isnt clear when Joey Bosa will practice again.I cannot tell you when he will be back out there, McCoy said on Thursday.San Diego continued its preparations for Sundays opener against the Kansas City Chiefs as Bosa skipped another workout.Bosa, the drafts third pick, has practiced once since ending his 31-day holdout. It appears he injured his left hamstring during a light, non-padded session Sept. 5.Hes getting better, and like I am going to keep saying until he is out here, Im going to say he is day to day, McCoy said. When he is healthy and ready to roll he will be out here and helping our team win.The Chargers, at 4-12, didnt do much of that last year, producing their worst record since 2003. Among the reasons San Diego missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons was its mark against AFC West teams.San Diego was blanked, losing all six games against divisional rivals to run its losing streak to eight. In the past two seasons, the Chargers are 2-10 in the AFC West, with both victories coming against winless Oakland Raiders teams.You have to win games in the division, Philip Rivers said. When we have been 3-3 or better, we have had a chance, weve been right there. When we are not, we are not even around. We definitely know how important those division games are and we got to get back to winning them.ddddddddddddThey will be challenged to begin on Sunday. The Chiefs ended their playoff season last year with 10 straight regular-season wins. In two games against the Chargers last year, Kansas City held them to six points.The 33-3 shellacking the Chargers absorbed at Arrowhead in November was the second-worst loss in McCoys three years.Championships start in the division, Rivers said.The Chargers think they can contend in an AFC West that is considered more wide open than in past years. The Denver Broncos defend their title without Peyton Manning.Shoot, we lost all six (AFC West) games so we cant put ourselves up there yet, Rivers said. But I do think our expectation is to win the division. We believe in here that we can go from the very bottom to winning the division.There are a lot of things that we have to do to make that happen, but I think its going to be all four teams I would imagine battling for a long time.When Bosa joins that battle remains to be seen.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '