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With plenty of Super Rugby action ahead this weekend, we look at some of the stars who could feature against the home nations in the June tours on Sky Sports. Wales head to New Zealand next month to take on world champions New Zealand, while England are in Australia to face the Wallabies in their three-Test tour.Ireland head for South Africa where the Springboks and new coach Allister Coetzee await, while the Boks bogey side from the World Cup, Japan, host Vern Cotters Scotland. With the tours around the corner, we take a look at this weekends Super Rugby action and pick out some stars who could play in June.Ryan Crotty (Crusaders v Waratahs - Friday from 8.30am on Sky Sports 1)After winning the World Cup the All Blacks said goodbye to one of the best midfield pairings of the modern era as Maa Nonu and Conrad Smith headed to France from Twickenham. Crusaders Ryan Crotty score a hat-trick against the Lions Missing out on that tournament was Crotty, edged out of the squad by Sonny Bill Williams and Malakai Fekitoa, who took the remaining centre spots. However, Crotty is now poised to build on his 15 international caps by stepping into the vacant No 12 jersey, after Williams declared himself unavailable for selection with an eye on the Rio Olympics later in the year. With New Zealand at the top of rugbys proverbial tree in both ranking and silverware, the competition for places is typically stiff, and the Chiefs Charlie Ngatai has voiced his international ambitions with some blistering form in this years Super Rugby competition.However, Crotty is seen as the ultimate team man, and his loyalty to club and country should see the 27-year-old start the first Test against Wales, with Fekitoa his likely midfield partner.Akihito Yamada (Reds v Sunwolves - Saturday from 6am on Sky Sports 3)Yamadas first-half hat-trick against the Cheetahs in round three was almost enough to earn the Sunwolves an historic first win in Super Rugby, but the Bloemfontein side fought back for a 32-31 victory in Singapore. Sunwolves Akihito Yamada scores a hat-trick against the Cheetahs The Sunwolves did eventually claim their first win, against the Jaguares in round nine, and it was just reward for a hard-fought maiden campaign for the Japanese side. One of the stars of their show has been Japan wing Yamada, who tops the overall Super Rugby try-scoring charts with eight scores. His closest rivals are the likes of Damian McKenzie, Lionel Mapoe and Israel Folau, who are all in franchises that are winning games.The fact that Yamada is the most prolific scorer in the tournament so far despite playing for a team that has lost all but one match is a testament to his finishing.Damian McKenzie (Chiefs v Rebels - Saturday from 8.30am on Sky Sports 4)McKenzies credentials have been the topic of many debates in the southern hemisphere as he competes with Ben Smith, Israel Dagg and Beauden Barrett for the All Blacks No 15 jersey. Damian McKenzie is nicknamed the smiling assassin for his unique build-up to kicks at goal. New Zealand are not known for rushing a player onto the international scene if hes not ready, but equally are not shy to pick players who are in form ahead of established stars, so McKenzie could well feature against Wales next month.Three years ago McKenzie was playing schoolboy rugby, and now the 21-year-old is among conversations around the future of the All Blacks. The Invercargill-born man is capable of playing fly-half, but with Chiefs team-mate Aaron Cruden likely to take that jersey in the New Zealand team and Barrett next in line for it, McKenzies likely best bet is to stay at full-back.Nicknamed the Smiling Assassin for his unusual pre-kick ritual, his sidestep has been the undoing of seasoned campaigners throughout the year.George Moala (Western Force v Blues - Saturday from 10.30 on Sky Sports 4) George Moala shows the Blues how to tackle hard Moala made a try-scoring debut for the All Blacks against Samoa in Apia last year, but since then has been unable to add to his Test caps. The 25-year-old is able to play on the wing or in the midfield, and though he would have to impress to get the nod ahead of some of the more established All Blacks, there is definite pedigree in his rugby. A loss of form earlier in this years campaign saw him put on the bench, but Blues coach Tana Umaga has brought him back into the mix, and he will be hoping to impress Steve Hansen after the All Black coach paid a visit to the Blues training ground late last month.Lionel Mapoe (Lions v Jaguares - Saturday from 2pm on Sky Sports 1 via the Red Button)Mapoe has played two minutes of international rugby, coming onto the field in the closing stages of the Springboks 27-20 loss to New Zealand in the 2015 Rugby Championship. But after the year hes had, that looks set to change.Mapoe scored a hat-trick in the Lions 43-5 thrashing of the Blues last weekend, and drew praise from Blues boss Tana Umaga. Lions Lionel Mapoe scores a hat-trick against the Blues. Lionel is another thats playing very well on the outside of a backline thats doing well this year, said Umaga after the game.A midfielder as big as he is gets them over the gain line and he runs good lines.Mapoe will be hoping hes caught the eye of new coach Allister Coetzee as well as that of Umaga.Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks v Kings - Saturday from 4.05pm on Sky Sports 1 via the Red Button)Its tough to tell Daniel and Jean-Luc du Preez apart at the best of times, and in rugby terms its no different. The sons of former South Africa international Robert du Preez have made waves in the Sharks pack in their debut season, with strong ball-carrying a key component of their game.The pair were involved in the 2014 Junior World Cup and featured in Craven Week - South Africas premier Under 18 provincial tournament - for an impressive three years. Jean-Luc du Preez powers through the Western Province defence in the Currie Cup. To add to the confusion the pair have an older brother, Robert Jr, who is making a name for himself at the Stormers at fly-half.Still only 20 years old, it may be a season too early for Daniel or Jean-Luc to be included in Allister Coetzees first year in charge, but both stand an outside chance of making an international bow in June.Pieter-Stef du Toit (Bulls v Stormers - Saturday from 6.10pm on Sky Sports 1 via the Red Button)Anyone who celebrated the end of the era in which Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield played second row for club and country for over a decade, look away - there is a new lock pairing in South Africa that is gathering steam.Eben Etzebeth has found that his feet quite comfortably fill the shoes of Bok enforcer Botha, while the man next to him in the engine room, Du Toit, is fast becoming the new Matfield in the way he unlocks and infiltrates opposition lineouts. Pieter-Stef du Toit scores a brace of tries against the Waratahs. Add Cheetahs lock Lood de Jager into the mix and youve got a good stock of second rowers coming through the South African system. At 24, Etzebeth is the oldest of them.Du Toit made a name for himself at the Sharks, graduating from their academy to become an integral part of their grizzly forward unit, before moving to the Stormers where he has established an unwavering partnership with Etzebeth.Though De Jager won plaudits for his performance at last years World Cup, former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer handed Du Toit his international debut, describing him as a future great of the Springboks. Also See: Robshaw relishing summer clashes OBrien out of South Africa tour Follow @SkySportsRugby Rugby on Sky Troy Apke Jersey .Ryan Anderson had 14 points for the Pelicans, who trailed 78-63 after three periods before trimming the deficit to 86-83. Jrue Holiday had 13 points and Eric Gordon added 12 for New Orleans.Mike Scott and Jeff Teague each had 11 points for Atlanta. DaRon Payne Redskins Jersey . With timely hitting and good pitching, the Marlins are one win away from sweeping the slumping Houston Astros. http://www.theredskinsshoponline.com/Youth-Paul-Richardson-Redskins-Jersey/ . On Thursday, they signed former Browns linebacker DQwell Jackson. Terms of the deal were not immediately available. Washington Redskins Jerseys . Phoenix originally signed Barbosa to a 10-day contract on Jan. 8 after Eric Bledsoe injured his knee and then signed him to another 10-day deal. Jonathan Allen Redskins Jersey . CNN and Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Tancredi Palmeri broke the news via Twitter Tuesday afternoon. Italian Football Association President Giancarlo Abete has also resigned, according to Palmeri. SOCHI, Russia -- Canada was a second-half team at the 2010 Winter Olympics. The medal intake in Sochi is forecasted to happen at a more measured pace. Starting with Saturdays mens snowboard slopestyle and womens moguls, Canada has at least one legitimate medal shot, if not more, virtually every day until the closing ceremonies Feb. 23. Chef de mission Steve Podborski and his assistants Jean-Luc Brassard and France St. Louis intend to be present at events where a Canadian is a front-runner for a medal. "I would say were booked every day," Podborski said at a Canadian Olympic Committee news conference Thursday. The host country won 18 of its 26 medals in Vancouver during the back half of the Games. Ten of the 14 gold medals came in the second half, including four on the final weekend. Sports making their Olympic debut helped balance the schedule of Canadas medal prospects in Sochi. Mens and womens snowboard slopestyle, the figure skating team event and the luge relay are among the new events over the first eight days of competition in which Canada has solid medal prospects. Thats in addition to Canadas strength in the entrenched sports of alpine skiing, moguls, short-track speedskating and cross-country skiing. "Sure there are new sports and we happen to be very, very good in the new ones because we are a great sporting nation," Podborski said. "With the support were getting now from corporate Canada, Own The Podium and the Government of Canada, we have an opportunity to be good in the traditional sports as well and thats where well make our great gains in the areas where are athletes are getting better . . . cross-country, alpine skiing." Canadas athletes have been waging fierce foosball tournaments in their village lounge while they await Fridays opening ceremonies, according to Podborski. But Olympic competition started early for some Canadians with Thursdays preliminary rounds. Canada sat in second place, two points behind host Russia, after the first day of the new team figure skating event. Torontos Patrick Chan was third in the mens short program, then Meagan Duhamel of Lively, Ont., and Eric Radford of Balmertown, Ont., were second in the pairs short to give Canada 17 of a possible 20 points after the first two events. Sebastien Toutant of LAssomption, Que., and Max Parrot of Bromont, Que., advanced to the mens snowboard slopestyle final Saturday, while Charles Reid of Mont-Tremblant, Que., and Reginas Mark McMorris will attempt to join them via the semifinal earlier in the day. The Dufour-Lapointe sisters from Montreal -- Justine, Chloe and Maxime -- all qualified for Saturdays womens moguls finals as did Audrey Robichaud of Quebec City. Reigning world champion Spencer OBrien of Courtney, B.C., qualified for the womens slopestyle final Sunday. Hockey Canada also made the decision to replace injured forward Steven Stamkos with Tampa Bay teammate Martin St. Louis. No competition is scheduled Friday because of the opening ceremonies. In addition to slopestyle and womens moguls on opening weekend, skiers Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., Calgarys Jan Hudec and Manny Osborne-Paradis of Invermere, B.C., are medal prospects in Sundays downhill. Canadas figure skaters are favoured to win a medal in the team event, which ends Sunday. Canadas objective in 2010 was to top the overall medal count and the target remains the same in Sochi. The host team was third in total medals, but won the gold-medal race four years ago. Because of the new sports, there are 36 more medals to be won in 2014 than in 2010. That will help fill Canadas coffers, but also those of top rivals Germany, Norway, the United States and host Russia. "Canada is here to compete and win," COC president Marcel Aubut said. "Our aim is to contend for the number one spot in medals won.dddddddddddd." "This is an ambitious goal, but we Canadians like it this way. Our athletes expect nothing less of themselves but the highest achievements." Added Podborski: "You dont try to come "somewhere up there." We expect great things in Canada now. Its an ideal approach. "We may not win the medal count this time. We may not win it the next time but one day we will because we are striving to be number one in the world in the medal count." While Canadas preparation for 2010 seems a successful model to copy for Sochi, the Canadian Olympic Committee took a different approach. The 2008 Summer Games in Beijing posed similar challenges to Sochi in terms of distance to travel, time-zone difference and unfamiliar language, food and culture. Virtually all of Canadas Olympians competed, trained or at least visited Beijing in the year prior to those Games to get comfortable with the place. The same practice was done for Sochi. There was less emphasis on pre-Games visits for the 2012 Summer Games in London. "If we look at the Beijing experience and we look at the Sochi experience, its actually very similar," COC chief sport officer Caroline Assalian says. "New and unfamiliar environment for most countries. "We ensured that the athletes and support teams as much as possible are familiar with this environment." The COC has conducted exit interviews with athletes, their coaches and support teams following Olympic Games since 2006 to better plan for the next. The athletes were asked "what made the difference in your performance?" "Their number one factor? Feeling part of a larger unified team, more than anything," Assalian said. "Thats what made the difference for them. Coaches and support team? Familiarity with the Olympic environment." And where Beijing was also a benchmark for Sochi was in Canadas conversion rate, which the number of athletes ranked in the top five at their most recent world championships make it onto the podium at the subsequent Olympic Games. The COC employs conversion rates to compare how Canadas athletes are performing compared to other countries. Even though Canada won just 18 medals in Beijing, the conversion rate there was 67 per cent compared to 59 per cent at the Winter Games of both 2010 and 2006, according to Assalian. The Canadian team needs at least match Beijings conversion rate to be in the hunt for the overall title in Sochi. "Our bar now is Beijing," Assalian says. "We know we need to convert better than we ever have at any Winter Olympic Games." The Canadian team will attempt this without the advantage it had in Vancouver and Whistler of home ice and home snow. Own The Podium chief executive officer Anne Merklinger says many winter sport teams have stronger leadership and better coaches since 2010. Both areas were priorities coming out of Vancouver and Whistler and she hopes improvements there compensate for the additional challenges of Sochi. "Weve come a long way in that regard," she says. "Without coaches, were behind the 8-ball. Its the most important success factor. "I think there are a number of examples where weve brought in great coaches, but weve lost some too. We need to find a way to continue to retain the good ones we have and attract new ones." "Were investing in that. Thats what it takes. Its a competitive industry." OTP oversees athletes competitive lives between Olympic Games and allocates about $62 million a year in federal government funding between summer and winter sports. The COC prepares athletes for the Games environment and looks after their needs and wants on the ground in Sochi. ' ' '