Eagles Abroad: Weekend Preview & TV

After the excitement of the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups last week, most of the Americans in Europe return to league play this week. Leading the way is the clash between Chris Wyles’s Saracens and Samu Manoa’s Northampton. Down in France, Taku Ngwenya and Scott LaValla each have big matches that could determine the course of their teams’ respective seasons. Also, down in South Africa, Marcel Brache will play for the Currie Cup this Saturday. Take the jump to see who is playing who this weekend, as well as what’s on television.


British Isles:

Aviva Premiership

Chris Wyles and Samu Manoa are both on the Saracens and Northampton bench as the two teams go head to head this Saturday.

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

RaboDirect Pro12

Tommy Seymour will start on the win for Glasgow against Benetton Treviso on Saturday. Seymour was called into the Scotland team for the autumn internationals, but we will continue to follow him until he officially loses his U.S. eligibility.

Hanno Dirksen will start for the Ospreys as they play Connacht on Saturday.

Callum Black is on the bench for Ulster as they play the Newport-Gwent Dragons today.

Dave Ryan will be on the bench for Zebre as they play Munster today.

Other:

Robbie Shaw and Richmond play Rosslyn Park on Saturday.

Jason Law got the start for Oxford last Monday as they lost to the Northampton 26-0. Law is not in the lineup as Oxford play Henley on Monday.

Nate Brakeley was not in the lineup for Cambridge as the beat Blackheath 41-8 last week. Cambridge will play a Cambridge RFU Development XV on Saturday.

Will Magie and Leeds University lost to Newcastle 36-5 last Wednesday.

Pierce Dargan, Shawn Pittman, and Trinity (Dublin University) will play Ballymena on Saturday.

France:

Top 14

Taku Ngwenya will start for Biarritz against Clermont today.

Scott LaValla is on the bench for Stade Francais as they play Toulouse on Saturday.

Pro D2

Roland Suniula and Auch play Albi on Sunday.

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

Seta Tuilevuka and Beziers play Otusia Tupouata and La Rochelle on Saturday. Tupouata is mostly playing with the La Rochelle reserves.

Federale 1

Mate Moeakiola and L’Uson have the weekend off.

Italy:

Serie A

Lou Stanfill and Vicenza play Valpoliclla this weekend.

South Africa:

Currie Cup

Marcel Brache is on the bench for Western Province as they play the Sharks in the Currie Cup final on Saturday. JJ Gagiano is not in the lineup for Western Province.

Japan:

Top League

Todd Clever is on the bench for the NTT Shining Arcs as they play Toyota Verblitz on Saturday.

Anthony Estrella and Toshiba Fuchu Brave Lupus play the Ricoh Black Rams on Saturday.

TV:

Friday
• Dragons vs. Ulster, 5:00 p.m. et/2:00 a.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)

Saturday
• Bath vs. Exeter, 12:00 p.m. et/9:00 a.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Gloucester vs. Leicester, 2:00 p.m. et/11:00 a.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Leinster vs. Cardiff, 4:00 p.m. et/1:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)

Sunday
• London Irish vs. Harlequins, 3:00 p.m. et/12:00 p.m. pt (delay on Fox Soccer Plus)