Eagles Abroad: Weekend Preview and TV

It’s crunch time for Americans overseas as the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup enter their second round, and the Currie Cup enters its playoffs. At least six Americans are ste to start or be on the bench for European teams this weekend and could play a big role for their teams as they try to get a top their groups. Down in South Africa, Marcel Brache will seek to knock off the Lions. Also of note this week, Chris Wyles will make his 100th appearance for the Saracens. Congrats to Chris! It’s also a big weekend for rugby on television with at least 10 matches available. Take the jump to read more.



British Isles:

Heineken Cup

Chris Wyles will make his 100th appearance for the Saracens as they play Racing Metro in Brussels on Saturday.

Samu Manoa will start at lock for Northampton play as they take on Castres later today.

Callum Black is on the bench for Ulster as they play Glasgow later today. Tommy Seymour is suspended for Glasgow after tip-tackling Vasily Artemyev last weekend.

Hanno Dirksen will start for the Ospreys as they play Leicester on Sunday.

Amlin Challenge Cup

Paul Emerick is not in the lineup for London Wasps as they play Mogliano on Sunday.

Other:

Robbie Shaw and Richmond play Coventry on Saturday.

Jason Law was not in the lineup as Oxford lost to Richmond 21-5 last Monday. Oxford will play the Northampton Wanderers next Monday.

Nate Brakeley and Cambridge beat Ealing Trailfinders 13-8. Cambridge will play Blackheath next Wednesday.

Will Magie and Leeds University play Newcastle next Wednesday.

Pierce Dargan, Shawn Pittman, and Trinity (Dublin University) will play St. Mary’s today. Pittman is training with the team and can only appear in selected matches.

France:

Heineken Cup

Taku Ngwenya will start for Biarritz against Zebre on Saturday. Dave Ryan is not in the Zebre lineup.

Amlin Challenge Cup

Scott LaValla will start at flanker for Stade Francais in their Amlin Challenge Cup match against Grenoble on Saturday.

Pro D2

Roland Suniula will be on the bench as Auch play Lyon on Sunday.

Inaki Basauri will start at flanker for Tarbes as they play Brive on Saturday.

Seta Tuilevuka and Beziers play Albi on Saturday.

Otusia Tupouata and La Rochelle play Aurillac on Saturday. Tupouata is mostly playing with the La Rochelle reserves.

Federale 1

Mate Moeakiola and L’Uson play Limoges on Sunday.

Italy:

Serie A

Lou Stanfill and Vicenza play Colorno on Sunday.

South Africa:

Currie Cup

Marcel Brache will start at #12 while JJ Gagiano is not in the lineup for Western Province as they play the Lions in the Currie Cup semi-finals.

Japan:

Top League

Todd Clever will start for the NTT Shining Arcs as they play the Fukuoka Sanix Blues on Saturday.

Anthony Estrella and Toshiba play the NEC Green Rockets on Saturday.

TV:

Friday
• Castres vs. Northampton, 2:55 p.m. et/11:55 a.m. pt (live on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Gloucester vs. Bordeaux, 5:00 p.m. et/2:00 a.m. pt (replay on Fox Soccer Plus)

Saturday
• Australia vs. New Zealand, 6:00 a.m. et/3:00 a.m. pt
• Saracens vs. Racing Metro, 6:00 p.m. et/3:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Exeter vs. Clermont, 8:00 p.m. et/5:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Scarlets vs. Leinster, 10:00 p.m. et/7:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Eagles Selects vs. Uruguay, 8:30 p.m. et/5:30 p.m. pt (SportsCanada.tv webstream)
• Canada Maple Leafs vs. Argentina Jaguars, 10:30 p.m. et/7:30 p.m. pt pt (SportsCanada.tv webstream)

Sunday
• Dragons vs. Bayonne, 1:00 a.m. et/10:00 p.m. pt (Saturday) (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Leicester vs. Ospreys, 9:55 a.m. et/6:66 a.m. pt (live on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Munster vs. Edinburgh, 10:00 a.m. et/7:00 a.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)