Funkerstation » there is a lengthy history of important benchmark win

Wrecking-ball flankers Nathan Hughes and Billy Vunipola could thrive in the same England back-row, according to Wasps loose-forward George Smith. Bullish ball-carrying loose-forwards Hughes and Vunipola will collide when Wasps face Saracens in the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup, but they could ultimately become England team-mates in the fullness of time.And Smith insists the pair could forge a devastating combination, despite their similar strengths. Definitely there is scope for them to play together in the same England back-row, said Smith.All back-rowers have to have the ability to play all three of the positions, you dont want to be one-dimensional in the way you play the game.You dont want a number eight just to have the specific skills for that position, he has to have the ability to switch between six and seven as well. Wasps forward James Haskell thinks their European Champions Cup semi final against Saracens will be more like a Test match Fiji-born Hughes will qualify for England on residency terms in June, but too late to be eligible for the three-Test tour of Australia this summer.Smith expects his Wasps team-mate to be pushing hard for Test honours by the time the autumn internationals swing around, however.Before all that, though, Smith believes Billy Vunipola and Hughes will relish their head-to-head confrontation this Saturday in the Champions Cup semi-final, live on Sky Sports 1.Nathans an exceptional player and people have seen him display his abilities over the past couple of seasons, said Smith. Saracens Billy Vunipola will be hoping he can help guide his side to the Champions Cup final this weekend I knew of Nathan last season and to see how he has developed and taken to his work has been fantastic. Knowing him and knowing how he works, I believe hes a very dangerous player out there.Everyone sees that Nathan is Test calibre, he dominates when he carries the ball. Theres no doubt he has the ability to play at that level. Give him the opportunity and hell take it. Also See: Wade faces Olympic headache Haskell: Euro semi like a Test match Cockerill: Carter not the key Goode: Pain inspiring English sides Bouteille S well Bois . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. S Well Bouteille Paris . Neymar curled home a free kick from just outside the area to put the 2014 World Cup host ahead in the 44th minute. Three minutes after the break, a simple through pass from Paulinho freed Oscar and the Chelsea star rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong to extend Brazils lead. http://www.swellbouteille.fr/ . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. Bouteille swell La Baie . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. swell Gourde .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. SEATTLE -- Even in an alternate reality, the results Chris Petersen has gotten from his team would likely be the same.Except it might not be Washington that Petersen has ranked No. 4 in the country and positioned for a run at a Pac-12 championship and the College Football Playoff. If the decisions made in late 2013 played out differently, Petersen could just as easily be having this much success at USC.But its the Huskies (9-0, 6-0 Pac-12, No. 4 CFP) that Petersen has on the verge of a special season with Saturdays game against USC as one of the biggest remaining obstacles on Washingtons schedule.You put the tape on and youre like `OK, first of all its USC. Then you put it on and its like, `Oh, OK. I get it. I know why there winning now, Petersen said. Theyre playing really good and they have that talent theyve always had.Petersen is correct that the Trojans are surging. After the shaky beginning to the season and the switch to redshirt freshman Sam Darnold at quarterback, the Trojans have looked the part for more than a month of being arguably the most talented team in the Pac-12. USC (6-3, 5-2) is not ranked in the Top 25 but did find its way into the CFP rankings this week at No. 20. The five-game win streak is the longest of any team in the Pac-12 outside the state of Washington.You earn respect by winning ballgames, thats just a fact, USC coach Clay Helton said. The reason that we are where we are is we have had a good run, and now weve got to keep that run going if we want to climb further.While Oregon and Washington State are the true rivals for the Huskies, there is a lengthy history of important benchmark wins against USC. One of those came last year . Even in a season where Washington finished with just seven wins, a 17-12 victory over the Trojans in Los Angeles was important in helping validate what Petersen was trying to build.Saturday could be another one of those moments, even though Washington is the favorite. No team in the Pac-12 South is hotter than the Trojans and a win would certainly boost Washingtons resume in the opinion of the College Football Playoff committee.I think our guys know. You know how big a game this is; its USC, all those type of things, Petersen said. Everybody. I certainly wouldnt do it thinking I need to get these guys more motivated and fired up.dddddddddddderes what else to watch as Washington goes for two straight over the Trojans:YOUNG GUNS: Washington QB Jake Browning continues to put up record-setting numbers that have put him into the Heisman Trophy discussion. Browning has already set a single-season school record with 34 touchdown passes after throwing for six TDs last week against California.Not to be outdone is how well Darnold has played during USCs streak. In six games as the starter, Darnold has thrown 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His pass efficiency rating of 168.1 ranks seventh nationally -- but still lags far behind Browning and his national-leading mark of 202.8.TAILBACK U: Over the past three games, Ronald Jones II has been responsible for the rediscovery of the Trojans run game. Jones rushed for 223 yards two weeks ago against California and followed up with 171 yards and four touchdowns last week against Oregon. The growth of the run game is part of the reason USC has scored 40 or more points in four of the past five games.SPEED VS. SPEED: There might not be a more entertaining individual matchup than Washington wide receiver John Ross against USC cornerback Adoree Jackson. The duo is among the two fastest players in the Pac-12 and each among the elite at their positions. Jackson will be trying to slow down Ross march toward at school record in touchdown receptions. After a career-high 208 yards receiving and three touchdowns last week against California, Ross is just four TD receptions shy of the single-season school mark of 18 held by Mario Bailey.MAKING STOPS: USCs defense held Oregon to 288 total yards last week, the fewest yards by the Ducks since 2009. The task against Washington will be more difficult. The Huskies have the No. 2 scoring offense in the country averaging 48.3 points per game and last week against California had 31 first downs, rolled up 704 total yards and scored on 10 drives.---More AP college football at http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '