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Written by Pat Clifton
Friday, 20 January 2012 17:32 |
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Eagles Need Wins to Stay Afloat in H-Cup |
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International -
Americans Overseas
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If the Heineken Cup Quarterfinals started today, only one club boasting an American on its roster would be playing: Saracens. However, there’s still one round left, this weekend, and a couple of more clubs are holding on to a slim chance to reach the knockout rounds.
Saracens is not ensured a quarterfinal bid, but a win over Benetton Treviso or a bonus point would put the defending Premiership champs through. Hayden Smith and Chris Wyles will start Sunday’s match on the bench.
If Saracens loses and fails to secure a bonus point, Takudzwa Ngwenya’s Biarritz could catch them with a bonus-point victory over Ospreys. Biarritz would win the tiebreaker, as they have three tries to Saracens’ two in their games against one another.
Saracens vs. Treviso can be seen 1pm ET Sunday on Fox Soccer Plus
Biarritz can also advance as one of the top two second-place teams. However, with four non-first-place teams holding more points than them at the moment, Biarritz does not control its own destiny. Zee is slated to start against Ospreys Sunday in Biarritz.
Samu Manoa’s Northampton Saints also cling to an unlikely shot at the quarterfinals. In order to advance, the Saints, who trail Biarritz in points by one, would have to score a bonus-point win over 5-0 Munster Saturday and have a lot of other teams score none.
Despite having a quarterfinal berth locked up, Munster is starting a strong side against Northampton. Manoa is starting at lock for the Saints. Munster vs. Northampton debuts Sunday at 12am ET on Fox Soccer Plus.
Seta Tuilevuka’s Montpellier and Chris Biller’s Bath are both already out of quarterfinal contention, and both Eagles remain out of their clubs’ match-day rosters.
In the Amlin Challenge Cup, Scott Lavalla’s Stade Francais has already sewn up a quarterfinal berth, and the American has been given the weekend off. Elswhere in ACC play, Kevin Swiryn was asbent in Agen’s 62-7 thrashing of Rugby Club La Vila Friday.
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