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Eagles Overseas: Two For Lasike

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Eagles Overseas: Two For Lasike

Pul Lasike should be all smiles. Alex Goff photo.

Pau Lasike had a big day off the bench as USA players continue to try to make a showing in rugby action around the world.

After not getting on the field against Sale, Paul Lasike ran on as a sub for Harlequins against Saracens and promptly scored two tries.

The tries didn’t change the outcome, as Saracens won 38-24. It’s a weird season for Saracens as they have been docked 105 points for the season because of repeated salary cap violations. So Saracens will be relegated to the Rugby Championship next season despite going 10-5 so far.

Harlequins needed this win to move closer to playoff contention.

The first try came three minutes after Lasike took the field and his team down 28-3. Slotting in at inside center, Lasike immediately made an impact. After a period of pressure inside the Saracens 22, Harlequins got a penalty five meters out. They tried to tap quickly and Lasike was there for a pass, but the referee didn’t like the tap.

 

 

So Harlequins took a scrum and Lasike took a flat pass. The former BYU All American was tackled befor ethe tryline, but the tackler rolled him into in-goal and he was able to squirm around to touch it down. 

The second try came with the score 31-17. and again from a scrum in the Saracens 22, and another flat pass straight to the center. This time he broke a tackle, angled away from another and was in from 15 meters.

But hopes for a late comeback died as Saracens scored on a bit of a flukey play to put the game away.

Sale lost 32-22 to league leaders Exeter, dropping to 8-7 and seeing Wasps jump ahead of them thanks to a Wasps win over Worcester.

AJ MacGinty was once again on the bench rather than starting.

In Super Rugby AU, Marcel Brache has had some very good moments this season but hasn't played since he left the Round 5 clash with the Melbourne Rebels on July 31. Not surprisingly, the Western Force have been beaten badly the last two games in his absence.

Tony Lamborn had a superb game for the Blues on August 1 (Round 8) of Super Rugby Aotearoa. He was a beast on defense and in the breakdowns and made a superb play to set up a try in a 32-21 defeat of the Highlanders. But lockdowns in Auckland canceled the Blues' last game, which would have been the league decide against the Crusaders. Instead, with no game, the Crusaders take 1st.