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San Francisco are back in action after a week’s rest and will play hosts to the San Diego Breakers at Boxer Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Rush are on a two-game slide suffering heavy defeats to Ohio and then Sacramento, and will be looking to get their second straight win over a slipping San Diego side that has now dropped four straight after a promising start to the season.
The Breakers have lost their second skipper in as many weeks with Kurt Morath joining Phil Mackenzie on the sidelines and Canadian prop Jake Ilnicki stepping up to lead. Top carrier Sione Tu’ihalamaka is also out with Ian Carpenter in the second row, and Bruce Thomas replaces Nikola Bursic on the flank. Belmont Shore lock Sam Lilley is drafted into the side for the first time on the bench where he is joined by Derrick Broussard of OMBAC.
Kalei Konrad starts where he finished against Denver replacing Morath at flyhalf, and with Tom Bliss missing once again it will be Zach Pangelinan and Mike Te’o who will provide cover at the halfbacks if necessary. There is a boost out wide with Taku Ngwenya fit to resume duties after suffering concussion against Italy, and Tim Stanfill is available to make an impact as a reserve winger.
Mils Muliaina is out for the Rush but Nick Blevins is back after missing the last four matches on Canada duty. Michael Haley replaces Jake Anderson on the wing, and there are recalls for Junior Helu and Pila Huihui on the bench. Huihui still has yet to make his first PRO start.
Also missing out is David Tameilau. The big Eagles loose forward is replaced by Brendan Daly on the blindside with Nick Grass starting in the second row. Patrick Latu moves to tighthead prop with Jacob Finau in at hooker and Codi Jones making his second start of the season at loosehead.
With no form to speak of this could be anyone’s game. San Diego still sport the better record thanks to a better opening to the season, but San Francisco came out on top 24-19 in their most recent meeting in Week 10. The return of Ngwenya is a big psychological boost for San Diego, conversely Tameilau and Muliaina are losses for San Francisco. A slight edge might go to the Rush for home field advantage, but it’s a coin toss at best.
SAN FRANCISCO RUSH
1 Codi Jones 2 Jacob Finau 3 Patrick Latu 4 Nick Grass 5 Jérémy Lenaerts 6 Brendan Daly 7 Sam Finau 8 Bill Fukofuka 9 Devereaux Ferris 10 Volney Rouse (capt.) 11 Pila Iongi 12 Orene Ai’i 13 Nick Blevins 14 Michael Haley 15 Martini Talapusi
16 Saimone Laulaupea’alu 17 Niko Lolohea 18 Fancy Namulau’ulu 19 Siupeli Sakalia 20 Jack O’Hara 21 Michael Reid 22 Junior Helu 23 Pila Huihui
SAN DIEGO BREAKERS
1 Mason Pedersen 2 Joe Taufete’e 3 Jake Ilnicki (capt.) 4 Ian Carpenter 5 Tai Tuisamoa 6 Bruce Thomas 7 Cecil Garber 8 Chris Turori 9 Charlie Purdon 10 Kalei Konrad 11 Pono Haitsuka 12 Andrew Suniula 13 Ryan Matyas 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya 15 Mike Te’o
16 Mike Sosene-Feagai 17 Kakalea Pule 18 Epeli Kalemani 19 Sam Lilley 20 Derrick Broussard 21 Zach Pangelinan 22 Ben Leatigaga 23 Tim Stanfill
Date: Saturday, July 16
Venue: Boxer Stadium, San Francisco
Kickoff: 15:00 local (16:00 MDT, 18:00 EDT)
Referee: Scott Green
Assistants: Nick Ricono & George O’Neil
Broadcasts: PRO Rugby (web stream)
Tickets: TicketsWest
