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San Diego are ready to show their wares as they make their PRO Rugby debut at Torero Stadium on Saturday in Week 2 of the new American professional competition. They will face a confident Sacramento team who surprised San Francisco at Bonney Field with an impressive 37-25 victory in the first television match in PRO history.
Nine capped internationals adorn the San Diego lineup, with another two on the bench. Canadian stalwart Hubert Buydens leads the way in a strong front row despite the absence of fellow Canuck Jake Ilnicki and Eagles hooker Joe Taufete’e. Not to worry, another Eagles hooker, Mike Sosene-Feagai, is ready to step in while Sam Taungakava starts at tighthead. David Dolinar gets the first chance to partner ‘the Spartan’, Brian Doyle, at lock.
All eyes will be on 270-pound (122kg) football convert Sione Tu’ihalamaka, who makes his senior rugby debut at no8 in a powerful back row. Only slightly lighter on the scales is Chilean battering ram Nikola Bursic who packs down on the blindside. Seattle’s Cecil Garber gets the nod at openside with Tim Barford asked to cover hooker from the bench.
Charlie Purdon is a surprise choice at scrumhalf, starting ahead of new Eagles cap Tom Bliss to partner Tonga’s Kurt Morath at the halfbacks. Andrew Suniula is another notable absentee, and with Taku Ngwenya still a few weeks from arriving it’s Pono Haitsuka who starts on the wing with Canadian three-quarter Phil Mackenzie set to skipper the side from inside center.
The bench has a few more surprises. Tempe prop Kakalia Pule is a new name, while clarity on former USA lock Tai Tuisamoa’s availability has finally arrived as he wears the no19 shirt. Eagles 7s squad members Chris Turori and Ben Leatigaga have been released from the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista to take part having been spotted in training pictures during the week.
Sacramento have retained a near identical roster to the one that defeated San Francisco with only two changes to the run-on side and one further on the bench. Chris Saint rotates with Jope Motokana to start at scrumhalf, while 20-year-old speedster Joeli Tikoisuva takes Rashad Harbor’s spot on the right wing. Josh Inong drops out of the reserves and is replaced by Blackhawks prop Estephan Tuamasaga.
The match will be broadcast live on cable by ONE World Sport and streamed online by AOL.com.
SAN DIEGO
1 Hubert Buydens 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai 3 Sam Taungavaka 4 David Dolinar 5 Brian Doyle 6 Nikola Bursic 7 Cecil Garber 8 Sione Tu’ihalamaka 9 Charlie Purdon 10 Kurt Morath 11 Tim Stanfill 12 Phil Mackenzie (capt.) 13 Ryan Matyas 14 Pono Haitsuka 15 Mike Te’o
16 Tim Barford 17 Epeli Kalemani 18 Kakalia Pule 19 Tai Tuisamoa 20 Chris Turori 21 Tom Bliss 22 Kalei Konrad 23 Ben Leatigaga
SACRAMENTO
1 Valdemar Lee-Lo 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Olive Kilifi 4 Robert Meeson 5 Sione Sina 6 Kyle Sumsion 7 John Quill (capt.) 8 Sione Latu 9 Chris Saint 10 Harry Bennett 11 Ryan Thompson 12 Pate Takiveikata 13 Mirco Bergamasco 14 Joeli Tikoisuva 15 Garrett Brewer
16 Kali Tavake 17 Toke Kefu 18 Estephan Tuamasaga 19 Rich Knight 20 Langi Haupeakui 21 Jope Motokana 22 Nemia Qoro 23 Ryan Koewler
Date: Saturday, April 23
Venue: Torero Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 15:00 local (16:00 MDT, 18:00 EDT)
Referee: Scott Green
Assistants: Nick Ricono & Marc Nelson
Broadcasts: AOL.com (web stream) & ONE World Sport (cable)
Tickets: University of San Diego
