o Rakell, who alertly shot the puck through the legs of two K

Faf du Plessis has distanced the South Africa team from former captain Graeme Smiths warning that Australia is on the wane following a string of defeats. Smith listed loss of confidence, the rotation policy, a packed schedule and the struggles of Steven Smith to assert himself as a leader as heaping pressure on the hosts, but du Plessis would not be drawn into the war of words.I dont know too much about it. I just read something about the culture and Im always of the position if you dont know exactly whats going on, you cant comment on that, du Plessis said. I dont know enough about the Australian culture, so I cant comment on it. From the outside, it seems the same as always.Steven Smith echoed that opinion and insisted his team remained unaffected by the issues Graeme Smith mentioned. Im not sure what Graeme Smith knows about Australian cricket, Smith said. He obviously wasnt involved in it. I think the teams in a good place at the moment, weve got a good culture, built on constant improvement and getting better. The guys are in a good place, were a tight-knit group and were ready to hopefully turn this around this week.On Wednesday evening, when Graeme Smith was inducted as a Bradman Honouree at the SCG - alongside Bill Lawry, who was the last Australia captain to lead the side to a home series win after losing the first Test in 1968 - he seemed to sympathise with Steven Smiths attempts to forge his own captaincy style. I look at him and you kind of think hes trying to figure a lot of stuff out at the moment, Graeme Smith said. But as a leader, I think you need to understand that for yourself about who you are and thats the only time you can really get your team to play with that personality. I think hes trying to figure that all out at the moment. It certainly looks that way and he looks a bit lost.Steven Smith admitted he expected to come under criticism, given the teams performance and hopes. Ive seen a lot of the criticism and I guess when youre losing cricket games that sort of criticism is warranted so weve got to try and turn it around and play the way that Australia does best and thats by winning games of cricket in Australia, he said. Some of the naysaying has come from within. Shane Warne has been among those who have questioned Smiths tactics, particularly on the third morning of the Perth Test when Nathan Lyon was not used at all. South Africa added 118 runs in that session and lost just one wicket to bat Australia out of the match and Warne believes Smith could have done more to make inroads in that period.Smith stuck to his guns and maintained that he was hoping to make use of reverse swing. Warneys entitled to his opinion, but I stand by the way I did things, he said. We saw in that game that the reverse swing was the biggest player in the game and it was the decision to be made whether the quicks were going to do the job and get the ball reversing.Despite that, Australias captain conceded his team had underperformed but said they had done enough work to be ready for a better show in Hobart. Weve not been good enough and I guess for me its about making sure that the guys are upbeat and ready for the challenge out there in the middle, he said. Weve prepared very well like we have for every Test match. The guys feel like they are in a good place so its about going out there and making sure that we get the job done. Cheap New York Giants Jerseys China . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost . Authentic New York Giants Jerseys . 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LOS ANGELES -- After an offseason cluttered by contract negotiations and surgery, Rickard Rakell returned to the Anaheim Ducks lineup just in time for a rivalry game.The Swedish forward hit the ice in full stride.Rakell had a goal and two assists in his season debut, and John Gibson stopped 30 shots to earn his seventh career shutout in the Ducks 4-0 victory over the Kings on Tuesday night.After he scored a career-high 43 points last season, Rakell missed training camp and the first nine regular-season games while holding out for a new contract and recovering from surgery related to appendicitis. Rakell agreed to a six-year, $22.8 million deal on Oct. 14 -- and a few days after securing his U.S. visa, he posted his first three-point game since Jan. 11, 2015.Im just trying to find the timing and everything, said Rakell, who scored more points than he managed in his first 10 games combined last season. I think I just was in the right place at the right time today. Of course, it gives you confidence to be able to build off this.Coach Randy Carlyle, who left the organization before Rakells rise, is counting on the wing to be a consistent scorer this season.You saw his hands and his vision tonight, Carlyle said. Were fortunate to have a player like that on our side.Antoine Vermette and Ryan Kesler scored power-play goals 31 seconds apart in the second period before Joseph Cramarossa scored his first NHL goal for the Ducks, who emphatically won the first Freeway Faceoff rivalry game of the season.Cramarossa scored on a wraparound that deflected off two Kings midway through the period. The 24-year-old former third-round pick got his first goal in his fifth NHL game.I got a lucky bounce there, but it feels good, Cramarossa said. I dont even know what I did after. I think I put my hands up? I saw it cross the line. It was just amazing. I wont forget today.Vermette and Kesler scored two points apiece, while Corey Perry added two assists for the Ducks, who have earned points in five of six after an 0--3-1 start.dddddddddddd.The Kings have been shut out in three straight games for the first time since 1968-69, their second NHL season. Los Angeles is on its second three-game skid of the season, with a four-game winning streak sandwiched between them.When asked how to turn around the losing streak, coach Darryl Sutter replied: Score a goal.Peter Budaj made 12 saves in his seventh straight start for Los Angeles before Jack Campbell replaced him in the third period.He wasnt very good, Sutter said of Budaj. I mean, did you look at the shots and scoring chances? He wasnt very good. Thats clear. I dont pull goalies very often, but theyre expected to make some saves.Anaheim went ahead late in the first period when Ryan Kesler won a faceoff to Rakell, who alertly shot the puck through the legs of two Kings.The Ducks added two more shortly after Jake Muzzin took a double minor for high-sticking. Vermette got his first goal for his new team on a setup from Rakell, and Kesler tipped home a pass from captain Ryan Getzlaf.The rivals had a prolonged brawl midway through the third after Getzlaf held the stick of Jordan Nolan, who responded with a punch. Three players from each team got major penalties for fighting.Game notes Campbell made five saves in his second career NHL appearance. He was the No. 11 pick in the 2010 draft by Dallas. ... Kings D Drew Doughty doesnt turn 27 until next month, but the Norris Trophy winner pulled even with Mark Hardy for the 10th-most games played in Los Angeles franchise history with his 616th appearance. ... Anaheim LW Nick Ritchie went to the dressing room in the second period after a big hit from Los Angeles D Tom Gilbert. Ritchie spent the third being evaluated for an undisclosed injury. Carlyle had no update of his condition.UP NEXTDucks: Host Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.Kings: Host the Penguins on Thursday night. ' ' '