Two teams with USA players on their rosters are in to this coming weekend's European Champions Cup semifinals.

Sale Sharks moved into the final eight after thrashing Scarlets 57-14 this past weekend in the first round of the playoffs. USA flyhalf AJ MacGinty had a banner day, setting a club record for points with 32. He was excellent with the boot, converting all six Sale tries and adding five penalty goals. 

MacGinty also scored a try himself, pouncing on a loose Scarlets pass and toeing it ahead before chasing the ball down to gather and score. And that wasn't all. He led the team in tackles with 12 and in try assists. Most of those Sale tries were set up by him in some way, sometimes in a very obvious fashion as when he dummied through the line, weaved around and passed off to lock Josh Beaumont for the fifth Sale try.

Coach Alex Sanderson was pretty happy: "The combination of Faf and AJ has just been gelling really well in the games that they've played together."

If MacGinty can translate this form onto the USA pitch, the Eagles should be pretty happy, too.

Next up is La Rochelle in France on Saturday. Sale wins that one and they're in the semifinals.

Toulouse also is into the quarterfinals after a dramatic 40-33 defeat of Munster in Limerick. USA prop David Ainuu did not play in that game, but is available for this coming weekend's clash with ASM Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel-Michelin.

In the Heineken Challenge Cup, Montpellier beat Glasgow 26-21 to move on to the quarterfinals. Prop Titi Lamositele came on as a sub in the second half and had a nice impact late in the game. Greg Peterson played all 80 minutes and powered through nicely as the Falcons beat the Ospreys to move on.

Paul Lasike got a start for Harlequins against Ulster and while the 'Quins lost, Lasike had an effective game with four tackles and eight carries.