All Blacks coach Steve Hansen this week did his best to pump up a deflated Wallabies outfit.When announcing his Rugby Championship squad, Hansen emphasised how the Wallabies would have a considerably longer time than New Zealand to prepare for the first Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney on August 20.As four of the five Australian provinces were involved in early exits from the Super Rugby tournament, Hansen said they had four weeks to get ready to play a Test, compared to the All Blacks having just one week by the time we get everyone there.So thats an advantage. Theyve also brought some quality men back from overseas, and a quality coach coming in from New Zealand- Mick Byrne- and he will enhance them as well.There has been a lot of talk about how Australian and South African teams havent been going that good in the Super Rugby. I think it is farcical to think they wont turn up and create a tremendous competition in this Rugby Championship, Hansen said.Coaches love praising their opponents, as it gives them excuses when they lose. They also dont want any of their triumphs cheapened, especially if it is perceived that their rivals are second rate.Still what Hansen uttered were encouraging sentiments, even if nowhere near enough to convince understandably wary Australian rugby fans that the long running period of Bledisloe Cup doom and gloom is suddenly about to end.What brought it all back into perspective was the squad Hansen selected. It wasnt just who was in that emphasised the gap between the All Blacks and the Wallabies remains substantial, but as much who was left out.While Wallabies coach Michael Cheika the previous week named a 36-man train-on squad that included several who were there more on reputation than form, there was absolutely no slack in Hansens contingent. Here was a squad that boasted excellent options and poise in every position.It will also be match hardened, revolving around those who have either been playing semifinal or finals football, which is often a better option than a squad confined to a training paddock for weeks on end.Then there were those who missed the cut. Damian McKenzie, the effervescent Chiefs fullback, was one of the standout players of the Super Rugby tournament. He has for months provided compelling entertainment. You were drawn to that smile which is part of his unusual goal-kicking routine. You were constantly enthused that despite his relatively small frame he fearlessly tried anything and everything in attack, and usually succeeded. His unorthodox approach was a competition highlight.McKenzie is a flourishing talent, but he didnt make the All Blacks cut. Neither did Chiefs centre Seta Tamanivalu, Crusaders flanker Matt Todd and Blues utility forward Steve Luatua- all of whom would cruise into countless other international teams.Depth in numbers and talent has always been the All Blacks strength. Australian rugby has instead constantly had to make do with limited resources.Nonetheless all is not lost for the Wallabies. At least Cheika has been able to bring in the artillery- beckoning back from overseas four important players- Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Will Genia and Drew Mitchell. Ashley-Cooper, Giteau and Genia should cruise straight back into the Test line-up for the first All Blacks encounter, providing much required experience- something clearly missing during the three-Test England whitewash of Australia.Cheika is also using the extended time with his squad wisely, even this week opting for a cross codes opposed training session against the Sydney Roosters NRL side. The short hybrid game had the desired effect- something new revitalised his playing group.And Hansen has a point about his old mate- Mick Byrne. The Australian Rugby Union hasnt excelled itself with great appointments in recent times, but the recruitment of Byrne as their skills coach can only be applauded.Byrne spent a decade deep within the All Blacks environment, and was repeatedly praised for his involvement in keeping the worlds premier rugby team well ahead of their rivals.Australian rugby, which has often struggled due to skill deficiencies at all levels of the game, have for a long time needed someone of the calibre of Byrne to get it back on track.Although Hansen argues that Byrne will not pass on All Blacks secrets to the Wallabies, its doubtful the latest ARU employee will opt for the cone of silence when in the Australian dressing room before any Bledisloe Cup match. Important intelligence is bound to be passed on.In the next week, the Wallabies could also gain inspiration from a once unlikely source- womens rugby.For a long period, the ARU neglected womens rugby. But in recent years, it has been an ARU priority, and with it Australia has developed an exceptional national womens sevens team, now ranked No.1 in the world.Luring players from various sports, including basketball, touch football, hockey and athletics, the Australian team, renowned for its pace and verve, is favoured to win Olympic gold, ahead of New Zealand.If that is achieved, it will provide Australian rugby with its best feel good story in many months, as well as being a morale boost at a time when the local game is going through a serious slump. The Wallabies are bound to use any Rio success, particularly over their trans-Tasman rivals, as a motivational spur.Longer Test preparation, prime overseas players returning, cross code training sessions, Mick Byrne and anticipated womens rugby success... none of these suddenly transform the Wallabies into Bledisloe Cup favourites. Far from it.But it will at least remind them that there is always an abundance of good reasons to turn up. Custom Evan Longoria Jersey .com) - Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roger Federer were easy first-round winners Tuesday at the Australian Open. Rays Jerseys China . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.customraysjersey.com/ .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Custom Rays T-shirts . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league. Custom Rays Jersey China . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. SEATTLE -- A poor outing from Wade Miley in his return from the disabled list was only the start of a bad night for the Seattle Mariners.Miley lasted just four innings, getting knocked around for five runs in Seattles 8-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates to close out the brief two-game interleague series. But Seattles issues went well beyond Mileys problem with leaving pitches up and over the plate.Seattle will lose backup catcher Steve Clevenger for an extended period with a broken right hand after he took a foul ball square on the exposed hand off the bat of Andrew McCutchen. And that came before the Mariners committed three errors and had reliever Donn Roach give up a three-run double to Sean Rodriguez in the fifth inning that broke the game open.Not our finest performance, obviously, Seattle manager Scott Servais said.Rodriguez finished with four RBI and David Freese added a solo home run on the first pitch of the second inning as Mileys return unraveled quickly. Miley (6-4) had not pitched since June 12 after a brief stint on the disabled list due to an impingement in his left shoulder. He was lucky to make it through the fourth, leaving pitches up in the strike zone and watching them get hit hard.Command is the biggest thing. Im throwing strikes, just not commanding the ball, because everything is middle, Miley said. Not being able to get the breaking balls down. I had a couple counts where I was 1-2, tried to bounce a breaking ball and I left them over the plate, and it they hammered them. Thats on me. That entire game, thats on me. Not a good tempo and just let it get away.Roach struggled when he took over in the fifth, giving up two hits and a walk before Rodriguezs double into the left-field corner to clear the bases and give Pittsburgh an 8-0 lead. That inning also included the first of Kyle Seagers two errors. Robbinson Cano also had an error losing the grip transferring the ball from his glove to his hand.ddddddddddddWeve played sloppy, quite frankly, at times. The amount of errors weve made is concerning, especially in the last month, Servais said. We got to tighten it up. Those arent difficult plays. They are plays are guys know should be made.The offensive support was more than enough for Pittsburgh rookie Jameson Taillon. Making his fifth career start, Taillon (2-1) overcame a shaky first inning and retired 10 straight at one point. He struck out six and didnt allow a walk.Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle thought Taillons best pitches were his final ones to get Nelson Cruz and Seager to finish off the sixth.Even though the game is 8-1, I dont want to give up those runs, Taillon said. I wanted to really put the foot on the gas there and set the tone still. I knew I was close to being done so I let them eat and was aggressive with them.BROKEN HANDClevenger fractured the third metacarpal, and Seattle will require a roster move to fill the backup catcher role. Clevenger is scheduled to see a hand specialist on Thursday.It hit me pretty square, he said. I was on the ground because I couldnt move my arm too much. It hurt. Like I said, its pretty frustrating.TRAINERS ROOMMariners: Seattle placed reliever Nick Vincent on the 15-day disabled list with a back strain to clear a spot for Miley. Vincent said hes been dealing with the discomfort for about two weeks and finally decided rest was the best course. Vincent has made a team-high 35 appearances.UP NEXTMariners: Seattle opens a four-game series with Baltimore on Thursday and Taijuan Walker (3-6) on the mound after missing his last start due to a sore ankle. ' ' '