Joe Schmidts team were he to qualify on residency grounds.dd

DENVER -- Reigning Olympic downhill champion Lindsey Vonn crashed Tuesday while training in Copper Mountain, Colo., ahead of her planned return to racing following major knee surgery. U.S. Ski Team spokesman Tom Kelly said Vonn was taken down the hill on a sled, which he noted was "normal protocol" in such cases. Kelly said he was not sure whether Vonn hurt her surgically repaired right knee in the fall at the teams speed training centre. "We have no reason to believe its anything significant right now," Kelly told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. A spokesman for Vonn, Lewis Kay, issued a statement saying the ski racer was not admitted to a hospital and instead went home to Vail to be evaluated by the doctor who performed her knee surgery. Kay didnt specify the nature of her injuries. "We expect to have clarity on the situation in the next 24 hours," Kay said. Vonn, a four-time overall World Cup champion, tore ligaments in her right knee in a high-speed accident at the world championships in February. She has been aiming to return to World Cup competition next week in Beaver Creek, Colo. The Sochi Games are in February. Tuesdays crash was first reported by Skiracing.com. With Vonn feeling her knee was months ahead of schedule, she thought about pushing up her comeback to the season-opening giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, late last month. But she changed her mind, opting instead to continue to prepare. Vonn recently said her super-G is "some of the best super-G Ive ever skied, but my downhill still needs a little more time." Shes been taking practice runs in Copper Mountain, and posted on her Twitter account Monday: "Catching some air today in Downhill training." She also recently said that shes reluctantly been wearing a protective knee brace under doctors orders. "Its in my best interest to play it safe," Vonn said. "I compromised and said that as long as I dont have to wear (the brace) for the Olympics, Ill be fine." On her Facebook page, three-time Olympic medallist Julia Mancuso posted a picture of the two of them together and a caption that read: "Lets all send Lindsey Vonn our positivity and hope for the best! (after her little crash today)" The 29-year-old Vonn attended the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos on Sunday night, hanging out on the sideline with boyfriend Tiger Woods. Vonn needs just three more wins to match Austrian great Annemarie Moser-Proells record of 62 World Cup race victories. And while Vonn insists her primary focus this season is being fully healthy for Sochi, she acknowledges that World Cup mark would hold special meaning. "There are many Olympic champions, but to be the No. 1 winningest World Cup racer of all time, youre alone on that list. Youre at the top," Vonn said. "That would be more substantial for me and my legacy." Rob Holding Arsenal Jersey . In the last race before the Sochi Olympics, Bjoergen followed up her win in the 10-kilometre classical race on Saturday by beating World Cup sprint leader Denise Herrmann of Germany by 0.43 seconds for her fifth victory of the season. Emiliano Martinez Arsenal Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. http://www.footballarsenalstore.com/Women-Petr-Cech-Arsenal-Fc-Jersey/ . Patty Mills scored 15 points, Tim Duncan had 10 points and 11 rebounds in limited minutes, and San Antonio trailed for only 11 seconds late in the first quarter of a 103-90 victory over Portland on Wednesday night. Petr Cech Jersey . The R&A announced Monday that golfs oldest championship will return to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for the first time since Max Faulkner won in 1951. Sead Kolasinac Jersey . And like the near entirety of last season, Jonathan Bernier and Torontos goaltending tandem is up to the task.Eddie Jones could be deliberating whether to replace Chris Robshaw with Maro Itoje in Englands back row for Saturdays opening Test against Australia, live on Sky Sports 1. Itoje was given Robshaws place at blindside flanker during Mondays training session and could provide an injection of dynamism to the position, with his power, athleticism and ability over the ball all features of a stellar season which saw him win the Aviva Premiership and Champions Cup with Saracens.Joe Launchbury would fill the vacancy at lock after his outstanding shift in the rout of Wales at Twickenham last month, a match World Cup captain Robshaw missed to attend his brothers wedding in Portugal. Itoje has enjoyed a successful season with Saracens Should he be selected, 21-year-old Itoje would encounter the toughest of matches against Wallabies back row masters David Pocock and Michael Hooper in a Test Jones insists England must win if they are to secure an historic series victory.Jones also must decide whether to persevere with the out-of-form George Ford at fly-half or name Owen Farrell as his playmaker, with uncapped rugby league convert Ben Teo favourite to fill the vacancy at inside centre if Farrell is moved.Teo missed a training session on Monday with muscle soreness but is expected to train on Thursday, with the 29-year-old set to join Worcester from Leinster upon his return from the tour. Chris Robshaw may lose his spot in Englands back row against Australia Australia head coach Michael Cheika has revealed he tried to persuade Teo to join a Super Rugby team, thus making him eligible for Wallabies selection, but lacked the financial muscle to compete with the Warriors and insisted he would not have made the World Cup finalists squad so soon anyway.I spoke a fair bit to Ben before he went over to Leinster because its my old club. We talked about footie, Cheika said. He was always going to make it because of his attitude towards the game. He wasnt pressured by a lot of fanfare, either. He just went over there and got things done. We would have been keen to have him back in Australia but clubs over there have too much money. Its hard and shows a bit of the divide around where the money is in rugby when we as a national team cant compete with Worcester for a player.He would have been back in Super Rugby but Im not saying he would have been in this squad. We wanted him back to play Super Rugby, with a view to having that depth with him becoming available for selection. But I wouldnt have said he would have been in this squad, no. Ben Teo (right) looks on with team doctor Nigel Jones, the England team doctor after missing the session due to an injury A photo of Teo wearing an Ireland shirt and wishing the team luck against Scotland before last autumns World Cup was deleted from his Instagram account and he had previously stated he was open to the prospect of playing for Joe Schmidts team were he to qualify on residency grounds.ddddddddddddThe nomadic Auckland-born centre represented the Junior Kiwis, Queensland and Samoa at rugby league before having three options made available to him in international union, with England ultimately securing his allegiance. Englands new coach Glen Ella is impressed with the team as they prepare for the tour of Australia Red Rose defence coach Paul Gustard has no doubt over his loyalty, but has revealed that his new team-mates have joked about the number of options open to him.Hes made the decision to join an English club next season with Worcester, Gustard said. Hes made the decision to come here on the England tour, hes not with Ireland or back with Australia. Eddie Jones is targeting an opening win against Australia He has shown his allegiance by putting his foot in the camp. The boys may mock him, have a bit of fun with him, as they do, but his decision proves where he wants to be. Also See: Teo fitness worry for England Jones will stick with Ford Jones: First Test key to win Cheika: Forget wind-ups, Eddie ' ' '