Darius Boyd has hailed Brisbane centre Tom Opacics defensive impact and says the rkies stunning breakout NRL season has taken him by surprise.Opacic, 21, is coming off arguably the best game of his seven-match career, in which he scored two tries in the Broncos 26-16 win over Melbourne.But it was more his work in defence - and in his victorious one-on-one battle with Marns and Kangars star Will Chambers - that caught the eye of Boyd and his teammates.I didnt know a lot about Tommy when he first came into the team, Boyd said.I played a bit with him in the Nines over in New Zealand at the start of the year and he did a gd job there.Hes really calm for his age and I think his defence speaks for itself, some of the decisions hes made there next to Milf (Anthony Milford) and Oatesy (Corey Oates).I notice it at training myself. Hes really gd at reading (the opposition).There were a couple of times on the weekend he came in when he really needed to and solved it for us. As a young kid, its all you can ask for.Opacics form has caught the attention of rival clubs, but the Broncos have extended his contract at Red Hill to keep him until at least the end of 2017.Brisbane face the Sydney Rsters on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium, and need a win to keep their chances of a top-four finish alive. Wholesale Nike Dunk . Traditional contenders Brazil, Greece and Turkey drew the other three spots to complete the 24-team field for this summers tournament in Spain, basketball governing body FIBA announced Saturday at its meeting in Barcelona. Wholesale Nike Dunk China . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints lked like a team playing out the string. http://www.cheapnikedunk.net/ . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Cheap Nike Dunk Free Shipping . -- Al Jefferson found a grve just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Nike Shoes Dunk . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year.Canada takes the first steps to the 2015 Rugby World Cup on Saturday, a qualifying journey that can be short or long. Standing in its way is a longtime rival in the form of the U.S. Eagles. The two-match total points series opens at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C., before wrapping up Aug. 24 at Torontos BMO Field. Canada is ranked 15th in the world by the International Rugby Board, compared to No. 18 for the U.S. Four years ago, the Eagles defeated Canada 12-6 in South Carolina, only to lose 41-18 in the finale in Edmonton. The U.S. went on to beat Uruguay 27-22 and 27-6 to join the Canadian men at the World Cup in New Zealand. The Canada-U.S. winner will play in Pl D at the World Cup alongside No. 5 France, No. 8 Ireland, No. 12 Italy and Europe 2. The loser moves on to play Uruguay in another qualifying series, whose winner will play in Pl B with No. 2 Africa, No. 7 Samoa, No. 9 Scotland and Asia 1, likely No. 14 Japan. The team beaten by Uruguay has one last chance to bk its ticket to the World Cup via a repechage tournament. No. 10 Argentina is an automatic qualifier from the Americas. Canada has most of its arsenal available for the U.S. series. Missing are prop Hubert Buydens, who is playing professionally in New Zealand, and injured back Trainor. But back in action are hard-nosed lock forward Jamie Cudmore and winger DTH van der Merwe. In-form flanker John Mnlight retains his place in a back row that also features captain Aaron Carpenter and Tyler Ardron, who has signed a pro deal with the Ospreys in Wales. Cudmore partners Jebb Sinclair of London Irish in the second row behind props Andrew Tiedemann and Jason Marshall and hker Ryan Hamilton. Mobile scrum half Phil Mack earns the No. 9 shirt with Harry Jones winning the battle at fly half. Nick Blevins and Ciaran Hearn pair up in the centre with van der Merwe and Matt Evans on the wing. Dependable kicker James Pritchard starts at fullback. The Canadian starting 15 features eight who play professionally overseas.dddddddddddd Saturdays game marks the 50th meeting between the North American rivals. Canada leads the series 36-12-1. The U.S. has lost its last five matches in 2013 including a 16-9 defeat at the hands of Canada in Edmonton in May. Under coach Kieran Crowley, Canada is coming off losses to Japan and Ireland but impressed earlier in the summer with wins over Fiji and Tonga. NOTES -- Jeff Hassler has been replaced by Sean Duke on the Canadian roster due to illness ... The Canadians are slated to leave Oakville, Ont., on Thursday for South Carolina ... Canada captain Aaron Carpenter threw out the opening pitch before the Blue Jays game Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox. --- Canada Andrew Tiedemann, Castaway Wanderers, St. Albert, Alta.; Ryan Hamilton, Capilano RFC, Vancouver; Jason Marshall, Atlantique Stade Rochelais (France), Vancouver; Jebb Sinclair, London Irish (England), Fredericton; Jamie Cudmore, ASM Clermont Auvergne (France), Squamish, B.C.; Tyler Ardron, Ospreys (Wales), Lakefield, Ont.; John Mnlight, James Bay AA, Pickering, Ont.; Aaron Carpenter (capt.), Cornish Pirates (England), Brantford, Ont.; Phil Mack, Uvic Vikes, Victoria; Harry Jones, Capilano RFC, West Vancouver; DTH van der Merwe, Glasgow Warriors (Scotland), Regina; Nick Blevins, Calgary Hornets, Calgary; Ciaran Hearn, Castaway Wanderers, Conception Bay, N.L.; Matt Evans, Cornish Pirates (England), Maple Bay, B.C.; James Pritchard, Bedford Blues (England), Parkes, Australia. Reserves Ray Barkwill, Niagara Wasps RFC, Niagara Falls, Ont.; Tom Dolezel, London St. Georges, London, Ont.; Doug Wldridge, Lindsay RFC, Lindsay, Ont.; Tyler Hotson, London Scottish (England), Vancouver; Nanyak Dala, Castaway Wanderers RFC, Saskatn; Sean White, James Bay AA, Victoria; Nathan Hirayama, UVIC Vikes, Richmond, B.C.; Phil Mackenzie, Sale Sharks (England), Oakville, Ont. ' ' '