Brian ODriscoll believes the reappointment of Andy Farrell to Warren Gatlands British and Irish Lions coaching team would be welcomed by players. Farrell is favourite to reprise the defence role he performed with distinction in 2013 when Australia were beaten 2-1, with Gatland scheduled to announce his assistants in Dublin on December 7. Ireland vs New Zealand November 19, 2016, 5:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass ODriscoll, a veteran of four Lions tours, says the players were inspired by the passion displayed by Farrell three years ago. Farrell is good man manager and motivator and we got excited when he started talking. Kick chase became exciting, ODriscoll said. Six months half price Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch Man Utd v Arsenal on Saturday and get the first six months half price And I would imagine if he is brought in, the players will continue to be excited. He talked about getting off the line, about no logs on the ground, about making sure youre back on your feet.It was all about energy. The way Farrell talks, he really gets into it. And if he was on the coaching ticket I think he would be a really great addition. ODriscoll thinks Farrell should be part of the Lions staff in New Zealand next summer Farrell was Englands defence coach until the hosts demise in last autumns World Cup, but has since been recruited by Ireland.Former Ireland captain ODriscoll believes his imprint was stamped all over the historic 40-29 victory over New Zealand in Chicago on November 6.Andy has been incredibly influential. I have spoken to the boys and the very first session that he took they were incredibly excited about what he was saying, the enthusiasm that he had, ODriscoll added. Ireland celebrate their historic win over New Zealand in Chicago The boys who were on the Lions Tour in 2013 said he has brought his coaching to another level since then.When I was playing, we were all relatively organised defensively as a team, but it was probably one cog that we missed because [head coach] Joe Schmidt was taking it and he had everything to think about.When you give responsibility for defence to one person, I think it only adds value to the team because they are so focused. You have seen it with Wales for many years with Shaun Edwards.Now the players get excited about how their defence goes. Attack for them is an added bonus, but how their defence responds in a game is how they earn their crust. ODriscoll enjoyed the victory at Soldier Field and won some money as well Irelands victory against New Zealand in America was their first taste of success against the world champions in 111 years and on Saturday they face a rematch at the Aviva Stadium, live on Sky Sports.ODriscoll backed Ireland to beat the bookmakers spread of winning by plus 23, winning a couple of quid, nothing life changing but enough to add to a good weekend, and insists they can do it again.Its obviously a bigger challenge because theyve poked the bear. The bear will be not happy about that, ODriscoll said. England vs Fiji November 19, 2016, 2:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass They wont have the unforced error count that they had. They will be raging from their defeat. Its a black mark on (captain) Kieran Read and (coach) Steve Hansen.Theyve got lots of good marks, dont get me wrong, but the first team to lose to Ireland, they wont want to lose back to-back games, thats for certain.Upgrade to Sky Sports now to watch Man Utd v Arsenal this Saturday and get the first six months half price! Also See: Schmidt rules out Lions role Lions news Lions on Sky Sports History Cheap Shoes UK 2020 .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. Wholesale Shoes UK . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. https://www.shoesukonline.com/ . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Wholesale Shoes UK Free Shipping . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Shoes UK Online Cheap .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Oscar Valdez is one of boxings top rising stars. He won a vacant featherweight world title, and accomplished what most expected of the two-time Mexican Olympian, when he knocked out Matias Adrian Rueda in the second round on July 23.Certainly, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who signed Valdez after the 2012 Olympics, expected him to win a world title. But as far as Arum is concerned, it was only the beginning of what he envisions will become a great career.Arum has promoted a whos who of superstars during his 50 years in the boxing business, including many prominent Mexican fighters, and he has helped build them into attractions and champions. He views Valdez -- an enormously talented fighter with a fan-friendly style, outgoing personality and bilingual skills -- as the next one.Were going to make him a huge star in Mexico and in the border cities in the United States, like Tucson, where he grew up, Phoenix and San Diego. We think theres a big, big upside for him, Arum said.With the 126-pound world title in hand, Valdez will make his first defense against mandatory challenger Hiroshige Osawa in one of four world title fights on Nov. 5 (Top Rank PPV, 9 p.m. ET) on the Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas card at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.Being given a spot on Pacquiaos undercard is a big deal for any young fighter, and the 25-year-old Valdez knows it.It means a lot to me, Valdez said. I get excited when I fight on these big cards. Im very grateful to Bob Arum for putting me on a big show like this. Ive always heard the first title defense is the hardest. Ive heard this from ex-champions like Julio Cesar Chavez [Sr.]. The hard thing is not getting there and winning a title. The hard thing is maintaining your championship. I am motivated, but its even more motivation for me being on great cards like this.I grew up seeing Pacquiao fight. He was in so many great fights. And now I am on his card and I got something to show my people -- that Im on this big card. Everybody gets excited back home. Its nothing but motivation for me.Valdez (20-0, 18 KOs) does not know much about Osawa (30-3-4, 19 KOs) of Japan, who will be facing the first notable opponent of his career. Valdez, however, said that when he knew he would be facing Osawa, 31, he went to YouTube and watched some video of him.I didnt really know much about him so I started looking at him to see what kind of fighter he is, Valdez said. He has a longer reach than me so we are sparring guys taller than me. He comes forward, doesnt go back, and he tries to knock out his opponent. But one thing I know about Japanese fighters is they have heart. Im not trying to think Im knocking this guy out in the first or second round. I will try not to be overconfident. Being smart is important.Arum has huge hopes for Valdez.We think we can make him a bigger star than [Erik] Morales or [Marco Antonio] Barrera, Arum said of the Mexican stars who waged an epic trilogy and had some of their greatest fights at featherrweight.dddddddddddd Our goal is to make him like a successor to Morales and Barrera. We think he has the ability and personality, and he will have somewhat bigger crossover appeal because of the fact that he is fluent in English, where the other two werent.One of the most successful promotional jobs of Arums career in terms of a Mexican fighter was with Morales. Arum was involved in a few Barrera fights over the years, but he promoted Morales for most of his career, including all three fights with Barrera, and helped build Morales into one of the top fighters in boxing. Morales headlined several successful pay-per-view cards, won world titles in four weight divisions, and became a fan favorite. He will be eligible to appear on the International Boxing Hall of Fame ballot for the first time next fall and is a shoe-in to be elected.Arum wants to follow a similar path with Valdez, who was born in Mexico and spent most of his childhood living in Tucson, Arizona, which he considers a second home and where his mother still lives, before moving back to his familys hometown of Nogales, just over the border, where his father, grandmother and other family members live.Arum said he has talked with Tucson city officials and officials from Casino Del Sol, which is in Tucson and has hosted a number of boxing events, about hosting future Valdez fights at the casino and the citys convention center.We also hope to have Oscar fight in Mexico City and hope to have him fight in Tijuana [Morales hometown], Arum said. We know what we are doing. If hes as good as we think, he can fight three or four times a year, and we can build a business around this kid.Its all music to Valdezs ears. When told that Arum wants to handle the young fighters career as he handled Morales, Valdez was in awe, sounding somewhat stunned to hear it. The reason: Morales is Valdezs boxing idol.In fact, the first time Valdez went to Las Vegas to see a fight was as a 13-year-old in 2004. He went to see Morales unify junior lightweight titles in a decision win against Carlos Hernandez at the MGM Grand. In 2008, Valdez, then a top amateur, got a chance to meet Morales at a tournament and tell him that he was his favorite fighter.Now, all these years later, Valdez relishes that Arum is comparing them.My idol has always been Erik Morales, Valdez said. By doing half of what he did would mean a lot of to me. Its an honor that Bob would say a thing like that. He has been in this game for so long and knows his boxing, so it means I am doing something right. Ill do my part and work hard in the gym. I love boxing. And I know Bob Arum and Top Rank will do their job. One thing they know is that I want to be considered one of the best.I want to be known when they mention the great Mexican fighters. I want to be on that list with Chavez, Morales, Barrera and [Juan Manuel] Marquez. ' ' '