Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall believes Maro Itoje has his sights set on a place in Warren Gatlands British & Irish Lions touring squad to New Zealand next summer.Itoje was absent from Englands recent Tests against Australia, South Africa, Fiji and Argentina with a broken hand, but is likely to be involved in Englands defence of their 6 Nations Grand Slam crown in early next year.?That, and should Saracens as expected reach the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup, will provide Itoje the perfect chance to impress Gatland ahead of his squad selection.If he is picked for the tour of New Zealand, he will emulate Saracens teammate Owen Farrell who went on the 2013 tour of Australia at the age of 22.?Owen Farrell at the same age had the same drive and the same single-mindedness and the same focus, McCall told the Telegraph.?[Farrell and Itoje play in] different positions but are similar kinds of characters in that respect - different in other respects so there are people who have been like him but it has happened really fast for him and everyone thinks the improvement will stop but he doesnt look like he is going to stop.I dont see him stopping. He also has goals of his own - the Lions tour at the end of the summer, I am sure he wont talk about that, he will want to get back in the England squad because he missed the autumn internationals.That is going to be his drive but all of those goals, Maro is a very ambitious young man and his drive will be to get on that Lions tour. Fjällräven Mini Kånken Rea . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. Fjällräven Kånken Rosa Stor . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. http://www.fjallravenkankensverige.com/kanken-no-2-ryggsack.html . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Kånken Ryggsäck No 2 . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Fjällräven Kånken Rea . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. LOS ANGELES -- The NBAs top-rated defense and an unblemished road record have the Los Angeles Clippers sitting pretty and fashioning the leagues best record.The Clippers (9-1) will go for their seventh win in a row Monday night when they host the Brooklyn Nets.Over the weekend, Los Angeles capped a two-game trip with back-to-back wins at the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday and at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. By beating the Thunder, the Clippers avenged their lone loss, an 85-83 decision at home on Nov. 2.Although the Thunder snapped the Clippers string of holding seven consecutive opponents less than 100 points in a 110-108 setback Saturday, Los Angeles wouldnt be deterred en route to its fifth straight decision away from home in a 119-105 romp over the Timberwolves.The Clippers are off to a franchise-best start and lead the league in several defensive categories, including points allowed (91.5 per game), defensive efficiency (92.7) and opponents shooting percentage (40.6 percent).Offensively, they are averaging 107 points, a differential of 15.1, which also is tops in the NBA.I knew wed be one of the top offenses in the league. We have so many scorers, said Clippers reserve guard Austin Rivers, according to the Orange County Register. The combination of us fits perfectly. On defense, I didnt know how we were going to be. I thought we would maybe struggle.Brooklyn (4-5) has struggled defensively. The Nets are ranked 22nd in opponents points (107.6) while scoring 106.3 per game.The Nets have been careless with the basketball, too, committing an aaverage of 17.dddddddddddd1 turnovers. They will attempt to limit those mistakes against a Clippers unit tied with Dallas at third for the least miscues at 11.3 per outing entering Sunday.The Nets kicked off their three-game swing with a 122-104 rout of the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the Nets with 20 points and a career-best 13 rebounds in the victory.Its been getting better for me, said Hollis-Jefferson, who is averaging 13 points per game in his last four contests since a scoreless outing against the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 2. Finding a peace. Im playing in a happiness out there. Its really helped me to contribute to the team like I know how to. My teammates are encouraging me to be aggressive.The Nets stopover at Staples features back-to-back games against the Clippers and the Lakers on Tuesday before they wrap up their journey at Oklahoma City on Friday.The Nets will be without guards Jeremy Lin (hamstring) and Isaiah Whitehead (concussion). In their absences, Brooklyn has gotten a boost from guard Sean Kilpatrick, who started for the second time this season and produced 19 points and nine boards against the Suns.Kilpatrick is averaging 15.8 points, second on the team behind center Brook Lopez (19.4 points).Blake Griffin leads the Clippers at 20.2 points, while Chris Paul is averaging 19 points and a league-high 2.7 steals. Center DeAndre Jordan averages 10.8 points and 12.2 rebounds (sixth best). ' ' '