Written by RUGBYMag Staff    Sunday, 20 February 2011 13:45    PDF Print Write e-mail
Concentration of Eagles in Games Overseas
International - Americans Overseas

Two games in the UK saw seven USA players involved this weekend.

 Chris Wyles scores v Leeds
 Liam Murphy making a tackle for Young Munster
Saracens defeated Leeds in an Aviva Premiership match. Chris Wyles started at wing and Hayden Smith at lock for Sarries, with Wyles dummying through a gap and carrying two defenders with him over the line for a try.

Mike MacDonald started at loosehead prop for Leeds, which "parted company" with Director of Rugby Andy Key this week.

The win keeps Saracens in 2nd place in the Premiership, although they have played two more games than the teams ranked 3rd and 4th. Leeds is last at 1-12, but could bounce out of the relegation spot with a couple of good results.

Bath, meanwhile, lost 38-8 to Northampton. John van der Giessen did not play.

In the other Eagle-crowded match, Tim Usasz started at scrumhalf and Junior Sifa started at center for Nottingham as they edged London Welsh 22-13 despite the best efforts of Shawn Pittman and Will Johnson. Johnson is getting back to fitness and playing more regularly. Pittman, meanwhile, has been a one-man wrecking crew for a London Welsh club that has hit the doldrums somewhat.


In Ireland, Young Munster beat Blackrock College 13-11 in the Ulster Bank League. Gareth Jones had been injured in his team's win last week, but Liam Murphy (pictured, making tackle) has been a fixture at blindside flank.

Sean Treacy has been a regular at halfback for Blackrock.

Dublin University, captained by Scott LaValla, lost 26-19 to Old Belvedere in the Ulster Bank DII.

In Italy, clubs had the weekend off, except for special club Aironi, which lost 18-3 to the Newport Gwent Dragons (Mike Petri on the bench).

Also in England, Robbie Shaw started at scrumhalf for Bristol in a 22-21 loss to Rotherham.

In France, Montpellier and Seta Tuilevuka lost 29-43 to Castres. Biarritz and Takudzwa Ngwenya lost 19-23 to Toulouse. Meanwhile Agen upset Toulon 23-13 with Kevin Swiryn starting in the backline.