There was only going to be one result when New Zealand full-back Ben Smith dropped the ball onto his right foot in the final few minutes of the 2015 Rugby World Cup final. For looming up on the inside was one of the fastest men in world rugby: All Blacks replacement Beauden Barrett.Yeah unbelievable, for how that ball bounced up I just couldnt believe my luck, Barrett recalled to ESPN.And its just a memory, a feeling that will stick with me for a long time. Obviously it was on the back of a great team performance and it was pretty nice to finish that way.Having come on with 15 minute to play in the Twickenham decider, Barretts fresh legs iced the All Blacks third Webb Ellis crown after Sonny Bill Williams had made a similarly important impact from the bench just after half-time.But it wasnt always about speed for the son of Pungarehu cattle farmers, and brother to seven siblings, with his early running more about endurance that pure pace.I was never that quick as a kid, Barrett told ESPN. I was more into the long-distance stuff: running the hills.Mum would make me run home from school and so on; we had some pretty adventurous cross-country courses, which was good fun.Barrett and Smith were at it again recently during the All Blacks 3-0 sweep of Wales.An injury to fly-half Aaron Cruden gave Barrett 45 minutes at No. 10 in the second Test before he started the third Test in the same position.A return of three tries, a further assist, four clean breaks and a swathe of beaten defenders reflected his superb contribution in Wellington and Dunedin, and only added to the selection headache All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will have come the Rugby Championship.Look it was unfortunate for Aaron and the injury that he had, but it was an opportunity for me to just play footy and, you know, drive the All Black team -- and that was an opportunity that I really enjoyed, Barrett said.I felt quite composed doing it and I really did enjoy that game and a half [at No. 10].As for moving to fullback, as he did in the closing stages of New Zealands 46-6 triumph in Dunedin, Barrett said: [Smith] is a class player; getting pushed back to fullback, it opens my eyes up and theres a lot more time, space and freedom back there, and if its alongside Ben its pretty exciting. But, yeah, I enjoy my time back there as well.[Acting as a replacement] certainly is part of development, playing footy is part of the development, and the time that I have had on the park [at Test level] has mostly been off the bench.But, yeah, Ive really enjoyed my opportunity starting and even if its going to full-back for the last part of the game Im really happy to do that. So theres different ways you can do it, but ultimately its just what works best for the team, and the coaches and selectors make those decisions.With the Test series put to one side, Barrett is now back at work with the Hurricanes as they seek a second straight appearance in the Super Rugby playoffs.Last weeks 37-27 over north island neighbours the Blues brought the Hurricanes within two points of the New Zealand conference lead while ensuring they continue to occupy a wildcard position.But they face a difficult road trip to Sydney for this weekends penultimate round before a final regular-season showdown with the Crusaders in Christchurch.A win over the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium on Saturday will be good enough to secure a semifinals spot; but having dropped their past two against NSW, and six of the last eight, it is anything but an easy assignment.Its going to be a huge challenge for us; both teams need to win, theres no hiding from that, Barrett told ESPN.Were aware of their strengths and theyve got plenty of X-factor, and power and strength in that forward pack as well. So its going to be a great game and were looking forward to it, were just going to have to take the opportunities that we get.We have to win that physical battle; theyve got some really big boys and you know [Hooper] is there, too.The breakdown; its going to be a huge, huge challenge for us to dominate that breakdown because both teams want to play footy and we know theyll do everything they can to slow us down and to give us poor quality ball, and well be doing the same. So whoever wins that battle will win the game.Kansas City Royals Shirts . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. Custom Kansas City Royals Jerseys . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. https://www.cheaproyals.com/ . - 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. Royals Jerseys 2020 . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout. Stitched Royals Jerseys . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite.SAN FRANCISCO -- With 38 games left and three teams standing between the Mets and the second NL wild card, manager Terry Collins is convinced his ballclub can still make a serious push for the playoffs.A strong outing from Noah Syndergaard and another home run from slugger Yoenis Cespedes certainly helped.Syndergaard and Jeurys Familia combined on a three-hitter and Cespedes homered off Jeff Samardzija, leading New York over the San Francisco Giants 2-0 on Sunday night.Weve had a tough time, but if youre going to win, your good players have to play good, Collins said. We ride those guys. Hopefully this is the start of what weve been looking to do.Cespedes homered for the third time in two days to help split the four-game series. It was also the 900th victory of Collins career, making him the 10th active manager to reach the milestone.Syndergaard (11-7) allowed two hits over eight innings for his second consecutive win following a six-start skid. Its Syndergaards 20th career victory in 49 games, coming in what Collins called his best outing in a long time.Syndergaard faced one over the minimum and didnt allow a runner past first base.That helped the Mets stay within 4 1/2 games of St. Louis for the second NL wild card.Today was the first day I went out there and actually relaxed and had fun, Syndergaard said. I just kept things simple. The past month and a half Ive been trying to think too far in advance.Samardzija (10-9) held the Mets hitless until Curtis Grandersons leadoff double in the seventh. Cespedes followed with his 25th home run, a towering two-run blast that appeared to clear the stands in left field.Ive had big power hitters but I havent had anybody (where) the ball comes off the barrel of the bat like that, Collins said. I mean nobody. The ball just jumps off his bat.Familia retired three batters for his major league-leading 41st save.The Giants dropped to second in the NL West after entering the day with a half-game lead on the Dodgers. Los Angeles beat Cincinnati earlier Sunday.Samardzija remained winless in four career starts against the Mets despite taking a no-hitter into the sevventh.dddddddddddd Samardzija allowed only three hits and two runs over seven innings and struck out seven.I liked where hes at and he carried that into todays game, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Samardzija. He pitched his heart out and ran into a hot hitter.The duel between Syndergaard and Samardzija was in stark contrast to the first three games of this series, when the teams combined for 40 runs. Only two runners from either team reached second base Sunday, and both scored.San Franciscos first two baserunners were thrown out trying to steal second. Catcher Rene Rivera caught Trevor Brown in the third and Eduardo Nunez in the fourth. Prior to that, opponents had successfully stolen 40 bases in 44 attempts against New York with Syndergaard on the mound.The Giants also made a pair of sparkling defensive plays. Brandon Crawford made a diving stop on Jose Reyes sharp liner in the first inning, then second baseman Joe Panik robbed Reyes of an infield single with two outs in the sixth when he fielded a slow grounder and flipped it to first base with his glove.STOP, DROP AND ROLLMets third base coach Tim Teufel had to react quickly to avoid being hit by a line drive from left-handed hitting James Loney in the fifth. The ball narrowly missed Teufel as he dropped to the grass on his back.TRAINERS ROOMMets: Jay Bruce was back in the lineup after being held out Saturday to rest.Giants: Buster Posey did not start but had a pinch-hit single in the ninth. ... OF Angel Pagan was kept out of the lineup with tightness in his groin. Pagan has the longest active hitting streak in the majors at 18 games.UP NEXTMets: LHP Jon Niese (8-7) pitches the opener of a three-game series in St. Louis on Tuesday. Niese has given up 25 home runs this season, second-most in the NL.Giants: Madison Bumgarner (12-7) faces the Dodgers on Tuesday to begin a key series in Los Angeles between the top two teams in the NL West. Bumgarner is winless in two previous starts against the Dodgers this season. ' ' '