Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
This weekend will see a host of Americas Players involved in Champions Cup Week 6. It is to be the final round of the group stage and for some it is a must-win weekend. For others their fate has already been sealed. Taking to the field from the Americas will be players from Argentina, Uruguay and the USA.
Contrary to prior rounds no matches will be played on Friday. Instead the organizers have arranged for six Saturday and four Sunday matches. Not in all, but in many cases that the two matches from the same group will be played simultaneously.
With the possibility of reaching the final 8 Ulster have a just-win some match against Oyonnax on Saturday. Realistically Ulster must win and do so with a bonus point. The USA eligible Callum Black will start for the home side.
The eliminated Stade Toulousain will play host to Pool A winners Saracens on early Saturday afternoon. Starting in the second-row for the French side will be Patricio Albacete. The veteran of multiple finals and titles in France and Europe will face Rugby World Cup 2011 teammates Juan Figallo and Marcelo Bosch who are to start for the visitors. The now former USA captain Chris Wyles will also start while Hayden Smith will feature from the bench.
Also featuring from the USA on Saturday will be Samu Manoa who makes his return from injury for Toulon. The three-time running European champions must win away against Bath or be eliminated. Former Puma Horacio Agulla will start on the left wing for the home side.
Manoa’s return to the second-row for the Eagles is in doubt due to the genuinely deep resources available. Incoming Head Coach John Mitchell will have his eyes on a third player in the position this weekend. Up in Scotland Greg Peterson will start for the Glasgow Warriors against Racing 92. Mitchell, though, will not be able to pick Tennessee’s Tommy Seymour who will also start. He is capped by Scotland.
Meanwhile in west Wales the bottom of Pool 3 Scarlets will be looking to save face after having been put to the slaughter by Racing 92 last weekend. Starting again is Canadian winger DTH van der Merwe who will be looking to add to his try in Paris.
In Italy on Sunday the weakest team in the competition this season, Benetton Treviso, will host the underperforming Munster in an all-Guinness Pro 12 match-up. Uruguayan front-rower Mario Sagario has been named as Munster’s specialist replacement tighthead prop.
The first of two Sunday games in France will see Stade Français hosting Pool 4 winners, the Leicester Tigers in a must-win fixture. A win should see the Parisians in the Quarter Finals while a win with a bonus point is guarantees to do so. The Top 14 Player of the year, Sergio Parisse will captain the team coached by former Puma Gonzalo Quesada. Marcos Ayerza will start for the Tigers.
The final two matches are to be the most exciting of the weekend as all four teams from 2 remain in contention. In England’s west country the Exeter Chiefs host Welsh region the Ospreys for whom former USA junior Hanno Dirksen will start. Dirksen turned down a call-up to play for the USA at Rugby World Cup 2011 yet has, again, missed out on selection for Wales for the 2016 Six Nations.
Meanwhile in central France Clermont Auvergne will be favorites to win the pool when they host Bordeaux. The young and highly promising Patricio Fernández has been named as Clermont’s reserve fly half Bordeaux have gone for wholesale changes, seemingly gifting Clermont a massive advantage.
