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San Francisco will end a two-week break and officially start their account under the ‘Rush’ moniker when they face the San Diego Breakers at Torero Stadium on Saturday. San Francisco ended the first half of their season on a high, earning their first franchise victory over Ohio, and will be looking to get even for the 46-33 loss suffered at the hands of San Diego in Week 4.
The Breakers, meanwhile, will be desperate to rebound from the 55-31 beating at the hands of Ohio a week ago as they play their final home game of the season at Torero Stadium. Inspirational leader Phil Mackenzie returns to captain the side as he runs out in the midfield in place of injured Andrew Suniula.
Three more changes include only one in the forward pack where second row David Dolinar rotates back into the lineup in place of Nikola Bursic. Ben Leatigaga swaps places with Tim Stanfill, and Zach Pangelinan wins his first PRO start at fullback, with Kalei Konrad pushed to the bench. Versatile OMBAC forward Derrick Broussard, who made his XVs test debut for the Philippines earlier this year, is set to make his PRO debut from the bench.
San Francisco have had relatively minimal disruptions from the June internationals with only Pila Iongi and Nick Blevins away with Tonga and Canada respectively. Codi Jones makes his awaited run-on debut, albeit at prop, and Belgian age-grade international Jérémy Lenaerts, formerly of Narbonne, starts at lock in place of David Tameilau. 39-year-old SFGG prop Saimone Laulaupea’alu is called up to the bench nearly eight years to the day since winning his third and final cap for the Eagles.
The backs are virtually the same as those that ran out against Ohio, with the exception of Jake Anderson, who takes the place of Iongi. Devereaux Ferris returns to the bench as scrumhalf cover, and Jack O’Hara takes the place of Pila Huihui as a reserve outside back.
San Diego will need to contain a big and physical San Francisco forward pack who will be fresh from their mid-season break. If the Rush get their heavyweights rumbling with their newly-mastered offloading game, it could spell trouble for the home side. San Diego still look to have the advantage out wide, though the arrival of Mils Muliaina has added a spark to the San Francisco attack.
The match kicks off at 6:30pm local time and will be streamed live by PRO Rugby.
SAN DIEGO BREAKERS
1 Mason Pedersen 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai 3 Epeli Kalemani 4 David Dolinar 5 Tai Tuisamoa 6 Chris Turori 7 Cecil Garber 8 Sione Tu’ihalamaka 9 Charlie Purdon 10 Kurt Morath 11 Ben Leatigaga 12 Phil Mackenzie (capt.) 13 Ryan Matyas 14 Pono Haitsuka 15 Zach Pangelinan
16 Kakalea Pule 17 Brice Schilling 18 Ian Carpenter 19 Nikola Bursic 20 Bruce Thomas 21 Derrick Broussard 22 Kalei Konrad 23 Tim Stanfill
SAN FRANCISCO RUSH
1 Codi Jones 2 Patrick Latu 3 Fancy Namulau’ulu 4 Brendan Daly 5 Jérémy Lenaerts 6 Sam Finau 7 Isaac Helu 8 Bill Fukofuka 9 Michael Reid 10 Volney Rouse (capt.) 11 Jake Anderson 12 Orene Ai’i 13 Mils Muliaina 14 Michael Haley 15 Martini Talapusi
16 Jacob Finau 17 Niko Lolohea 18 Saimone Laulaupea’alu 19 David Tameilau 20 Siupeli Sakalia 21 Devereaux Ferris 22 Junior Helu 23 Jack O’Hara
Date: Saturday, June 18
Venue: Torero Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 18:30 local (19:30 MDT, 21:30 EDT)
Referee: Nick Ricono
Assistants: Leah Berard & Derek Summers
Broadcasts: PRO Rugby (web stream)
Tickets: University of San Diego
