Ireland legend Paul OConnell has backed Englands Maro Itoje to start for the British & Irish Lions against the All Blacks on their 2017 tour.OConnell featured three tours for the Lions, won seven Test caps for and captained them on their 2009 trip to South Africa. With 108 Ireland caps to his name, he is one of the most experienced locks in the world and feels Saracens Itoje is in the box seat to start for the famous tourists.Talking to the Daily Mail, OConnell said of Itoje: Hes phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal.He is the full package; a great player and an amazing athlete. He is already an amazing leader and he is probably playing at the best club in England when it comes to coaching. He has come into the England team at a time when they are going really, really well and being well coached.I hope he remains injury-free, because that is the killer when you are such a good player.They all want you to play as much as possible and when you get injured, they want you back as quick as possible. Injuries can dull your ability, so I hope he can avoid them.And OConnell feels Joe Launchbury is the ideal candidate to partner Itoje, saying the Wasps man is brilliant over the ball, a really good carrier and a good lineout man. Dave Robinson Super Bowl Jersey . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. JK Scott Super Bowl Jersey . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. https://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Reggie-White-Jersey/ . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Elgton Jenkins Super Bowl Jersey . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. Paul Hornung Super Bowl Jersey .C. at the helm of the top team in the Eastern Conference. His tenure as the GM in Vancouver was all too brief. Though he led the Canucks to what was then a franchise record-shattering campaign in just his second season, Nonis was gone and replaced one year later. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee running backs Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara have notable contrasts on and off the field.Kamaras the flashier player, whether hes showing off his fashion sense during the teams pregame walks into Neyland Stadium or showcasing his speed once hes in the game. Hurd comes across as more serious in interviews and more physical with a ball in his hands. Hurd, at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, is 6 inches taller and 25 pounds heavier than Kamara.Those different styles produce similarly productive results. After teaming up to rush for 1,986 yards and 19 touchdowns last year, Hurd and Kamara will try to prove theyre one of college footballs top running back tandems when No. 9 Tennessee opens the season Sept. 1 by hosting Appalachian State.Me and Alvin have always clicked, Hurd said. I wouldnt say we have similar personalities, but kind of opposites attract.Only once in school history have two Tennessee players rushed for 1,000 yards in the same season. Gerald Riggs Jr. ran for 1,107 yards and Cedric Houston ran for 1,005 yards in 2004.Hurd and Kamara have a chance to match that feat. Hurd rushed for 1,288 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Kamara ran for 698 yards and seven scores.Were just as cool as two peas in a pod, I guess, Kamara said.Theyve answered any concerns about how these two former five-star recruits would coexist. Kamara describes a dynamic in which each pushes the other to get better.Running backs coach Robert Gillespie says Hurd improved his pass-catching skills after witnessing the receiving ability of Kamara, who caught 34 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns last season. Kamara says he spent the offseason making himself a better pass protector because he wasnt as effective as Hurd in that aspect of the game.Both of those guys respect each other, Gillespie said. They understand they need each other to be successful. The biggest thing is this. They realize they need each other to win. Winning is the ultimate goal for us. We dont care about accolades, rushing yards and stats.Some individual achievements remain well within reach.For instance, Hurd has 2,187 yards rushing through his first two seasons.ddddddddddddThat puts him 891 yards shy of the school record held by Travis Henry, who played at Tennessee from 1997-2000. Hurd doesnt bother downplaying what it would mean to become the most prolific rusher at a program that has produced the likes of Arian Foster and Jamal Lewis.I know a lot about the history of running backs here, Hurd said. To go after that record and possibly get it is even amazing to think about.For his part, Kamara has emerged as a team leader at Tennessee while making the most of his second chance with a Southeastern Conference program.Kamara began his college career at Alabama and was suspended twice while redshirting his lone season with the Crimson Tide. After spending one year at Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College, Kamara transferred to Tennessee and has made such an impression that he was selected as one of four team captains this year.The Volunteers need big efforts from both Hurd and Kamara as Tennessee pursues its first Southeastern Conference title since its 1998 national championship.They wont be asked to carry Tennessees rushing attack on their own. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs has run for 1,160 yards over the last two seasons. Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord says sophomore John Kelly has performed well in the preseason, which could add some depth to Tennessees backfield.But theyre the main cogs in a rushing attack that must lead an offense that doesnt feature a consistent passing game. Tennessee coach Butch Jones praises the approach Hurd and Kamara have shown in the preseason while reminding them to work on conditioning and finishing runs.The mark of a great back is can you do it over and over and over and over again, Jones said.Theyll try to show they can do just that, with each back benefiting from the others presence.Were real tight, Kamara said. That helps when it comes to game day and it comes to practice. When I look at him, I know hes going to give his all, and he knows Im going to give my all.It all goes hand in hand. ' ' '