Saturday, kick-off 14:00 Stadio Artemio FranchiTwo teams in wretched runs of poor form will meet in Florence on Saturday. Italy and the visiting South Africa have just a win apiece between them from their last six fixtures, with the Springboks only managing a draw against the Barbarians a fortnight ago. After heavy defeats by New Zealand and England respectively, both teams will be desperate for a win to reset their autumn campaigns. Lovers of beautiful rugby might want to look away though -- its unlikely to be anything other than a blood and thunder Test match.Team newsHead coach Conor OShea has made four changes from the side that lost 68-10 to the All Blacks last weekend. Giovanbattista Venditti starts on the left wing while Sami Panico and Omel Gega will line up in the front row. Francesco Minto comes in alongside evergreen captain Sergio Parisse in the back-row.OSheas counterpart Allister Coetzee has restored Bryan Habana to the wing in one of two changes to the Springboks unit in Florence. The record try-scorer comes into the starting XV along with Nizaam Carr, who makes his first start in the famous green jersey in place of the concussed Eben Etzebeth.Italy: Padovani, Bisegni, Benvenuti, McLean, Venditti, Canna, Bronzini; Panico, Gega, Cittadini, Fuser, Van Schalkwyk, Minto, Favaro, Parisse (c). Replacements: DApice, Quaglio, Ferrari, Fabio Biagi, Steyn, Gori, Allan, Boni.South Africa: Le Roux, Combrinck, Venter, De Allende, Habana, Lambie, Paige; Mtawarira, Strauss (c), Koch, Du Toit, de Jager, Carr, Alberts, Whiteley. Replacements: Mbonambi, Kitshoff, Nyakane, Mostert, Mohoje, De Klerk, Jantjies, GoosenKey head-to-headThere is rarely a more important head-to-head battle than Italys talisman Sergio Parisse against whoever is lining up at No. 8 opposite him. On Saturday that man will be Warren Whiteley, the South African giant who took a beating from Englands Billy Vunipola a week ago. Whiteley will be out to stamp his authority on a game for a change and should benefit if the game loosens up in the second half. While Parisse isnt the same wrecking ball player as Vunipola, hell be as full of running as the England unit. His hands on the ball will be key to Italy keeping the scoreboard moving.Key stats*South Africa have won all 12 of their Test matches against Italy.*However, both are in need of a win after only one victory in each of their last six matches. Saturday could easily be described as the most important Test for each side this November.WeatherWho knows what will happen with the weather on Saturday? The forecast predicts sunshine and heavy showers, which could make for treacherous rugby conditions at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Handling in the wet could be tricky for two sides struggling with their attacking games. Temperatures should hit around 16 degrees celsius.PredictionSouth Africa have the form in this fixture, undefeated in a dozen Tests against the Azzurri. However, Coetzees men have been in abysmal form and should have suffered a heavier defeat against England last weekend. Italy were never likely to run New Zealand close a week ago but could push the Springboks deeper into the match. Expect the visitors to win, but it wont be a cricket score. South Africa by 15. Ryan Yarbrough Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Brent Honeywell Jersey . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/646i-don-zimmer-jersey-rays.html . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Hoby Milner Jersey . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. Chaz Roe Rays Jersey . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. DALLAS -- Baker Mayfield first donned the giant gold cowboy hat -- awarded to the winner of the Red River rivalry -- then ran around the field with the Oklahoma Sooners flag.The Oklahoma quarterback who grew up in the Austin area also made three long sprints down the field during the game. Those were to the end zone to celebrate touchdown passes to Dede Westbrook as the 20th-ranked Sooners held on to win 45-40 over the beleaguered Texas Longhorns on Saturday in the annual game Mayfield knows so much about.Its special to me. Very special, Mayfield said. Ive been waiting a long time to actually come away with a win against these guys.Westbrook set a single-game Sooners record with 232 yards receiving on 10 catches, including three TDs longer than 40 yards .Hes got track-type speed, Mayfield said.After their 71-yard scoring hookup in the second quarter, the longest TD pass ever by the Sooners (3-2, 2-0 Big 12) against Texas, Mayfield sprinted along the Oklahoma sideline, then toward the middle of the field to acknowledge crimson-clad fans on the opposite side of the stadium before going to the end zone to meet up with Westbrook. They celebrated again after TDs of 47 and 42 yards in the third quarter.You just look at the plays we gave up, Charlie Strong said, the embattled third-year Texas coach who has taken over calling the defensive plays. You cant give up home runs thrown over your head.Mayfield lost to Texas as a freshman at Texas Tech in 2013 before transferring to Oklahoma, where he sat out a year before losing as the Sooners starter last October. This time, he completed 22 of 31 passes for 390 yards and overcame two interceptions in the first quarter, and a fumble in the final minute that his big right tackle Bobby Evans recovered.Samaje Perine added 214 yards and two touchdowns rushing on 35 carries as Oklahoma piled up 672 total yards in the highest-scoring game in the history of the rivalry.Texas (2-3, 0-2) led after two long TD passes by freshman quarterback Shane Buechele in the first 4 1/2 minutes after halftime. But Oklahoma went ahead for good when a Mayfield 4-yard TD run made it 28-27.While Oklahoma had four turnovers, Texas only turned those into three points.Very fortunate to lose the turnover battle the way we did and still win, Sooners coach Bob Stoops said.TAKEAWAYSOklahoma: While far from perfect, the Sooners aare off to a good start in their pursuit of a 10th Big 12 title.dddddddddddd The Sooners are also on the way to overcoming the disappointment of those two early non-conference losses that quickly eliminated any realistic chance of returning to the College Football Playoff for the second year in a row. Mayfield and Westbrook have developed quite a connection (five TDs, all of at least 40 yards, in two Big 12 games).Texas: A loss increases the heat on Strong after the Longhorns gave up more than 40 points for the fourth time this season, and more than 500 yards for the third consecutive game. But the Longhorns need to keep taking shots down the field with Buechele, who had TD passes of 63 yards (to Devin Duvernay) and 45 yards (to Dorian Leonard ) in the second half.WILD ENDINGAfter Donta Foremans 22-yard TD run for the Longhorns with 1:45 left, they almost got a huge break when Mayfield fumbled while being sacked on third down, but Oklahoma recovered and punted. Texas had a final wild play, completing several laterals and going forward at least 20 yards before eventually losing 9 -- after a final declined penalty for an illegal forward pass. Foreman finished with 159 yards rushing and two touchdowns.POLL IMPLICATIONSA more lopsided score for Oklahoma probably would have caught the attention of more voters , especially those who might not have tuned into for the less than must-see Red River game matching 2-2 teams. If not for all the miscues, the Sooners likely would have had a bigger margin. They may jump a spot or two, but are still a long way from the No. 3 spot they had to start the season.FIRST PICKSThe Texas defense had its first two interceptions of the season, both by Dylan Haines in the first quarter. One was on a ball through the arms of receiver Mark Andrews; the other came when Haines was the only player in the vicinity of the pass after the intended receiver got knocked down in the middle of the field without a penalty being called.UP NEXTOklahoma: The Sooners are home next Saturday for another 11 a.m. kickoff, against Kansas State.Texas: The Longhorns are home for the first time since Sept. 10 when they host Iowa State next Saturday.---APs college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '