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The business end of the European Club season has arrived. This weekend is to see eight clubs competing for the right to play in the Semi Finals of the Champions Cup this season.
Game one is a Good Friday fixture. In West Wales the Scarlets are at home against La Rochelle in a Guinness Pro 14 Championship vs Top 14 clash. Both clubs have had Americas players over the years but at present they do not.
The Second Quarter Final will be played on Saturday. Munster host Toulon in a battle of two former European Champions Cup winners. Starting at flanker for the French club will be Facundo Isa. His return to Los Pumas is all but assured for this year. Out though injury is Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe while USA enforcer Samu Manoa will feature as a replacement.
The third and fourth Quarter Finals are to be played on Easter Sunday. The first will be in France with Clermont at home against Racing 92. Patricio Fernández starts at fly half ahead of Camille Lopez. Patricio Albacete, Manuel Carriza and Juan Imhoff are all absent for Racing 92.
In Ireland Leinster are at home against Saracens. The visitors have named four Americas players in their match day 23, two of whom are starters. Marcelo Bosch will play at outside center while Juan Figallo will start at Tight Head. Both are potential boosts for Los Pumas in 2018. Featuring from the bench is former USA captain, Chris Wyles and the young and outstanding Titi Lamositele.
