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The penultimate week of the Major League Rugby regular season starts at Salt Lake where the Utah Warriors host the New Orleans Gold on Saturday afternoon. With two playoff spots still up for grabs it’s effectively knockout rugby from here on out.
We last saw the Warriors in Texas where the heat was too much to handle in a loss to Austin Elite. After a week off they should be well rested and ready for battle with a new opponent.
Only four changes are made to the run-on side, two up front. Alex Tucci is recalled at loosehead prop with Lote Tu’ipulotu’s hastily returned to his preferred hooker position. David Tameilau returns at the expense of Lance Williams with captain Saia Uhila moving up to lock and John Cullen lining up on the flank.
With regular skipper Paul Lasike away on Eagles duty the midfield will have to work hard to make up the slack. AJ Tu’ineau shifts one spot inside and Iniki Fa’amausili is named at outside center. Don Pati is at fullback in place of Kisa Kalougata.
The Warriors have strangely named only two front row replacements in Ray Forrester and Maka Tameilau. Meanwhile Wineera Elkington returns to the squad having last suited up in Week 3 against Glendale.
While Utah might be able survive a loss thanks to their league-leading bonus points, New Orleans has no such buffer. This is their last game of the regular season and if they don’t get a bonus-point win they will be on the golf course next weekend. It might already be too late as any points from San Diego in the next two weeks will be enough to oust the Gold.
Lining up at last chance saloon is a familiar lineup that shows three changes from the side that lost to the Legion last week. Looking for extra bulk against an intimidating Warriors pack, Matt Wirken is named in the second row and it’s John Sullivan who finds himself on the bench for the first time this season.
The adventures of Moni Tonga’uiha continue as he switches back to the side of the scrum after playing in the midfield last week, and Bobby Johns will get his first run at outside center. A straight swap at fullback sees Michael Baska named to start with Cameron Troxler settling for a spot in the reserves.
Victory for the Gold is plausible but not the odds are not in their favor. The Warriors will miss Lasike’s presence in the midfield but have an abundance of big bodies to carry over the gainline. Perhaps more significant is the loss of flyhalf and goal kicker Kurt Morath, with Jonny Linehan looking rusty in his rugby return two weeks ago.
New Orleans continue to look like a patchwork side with injuries and positional switches a running theme. Their scrum should be a source of strength and their halfbacks are as good as any around the league this weekend, but a lack of strike power should see them outgunned in the end.
Kickoff is set for 2pm local time, 1pm Pacific, 4pm Eastern. Viewers in Canada and the USA can watch on CBS Sports Network. All international viewers will have access to a live stream on the official MLR Facebook page.
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Alex Tucci, 2 Lote Tu’ipulotu, 3 Angus MacLellan, 4 Matt Jensen, 5 Saia Uhila (capt.), 6 John Cullen, 7 Ara Elkington, 8 David Tameilau, 9 Joseph Nicholls, 10 Jonny Linehan, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 12 AJ Tu’ineau, 13 Iniki Fa’amausili, 14 Tonata Lauti, 15 Don Pati
Replacements: 16 Ray Forrester, 17 Maka Tameilau, 18 Les Soloai, 19 Lance Williams, 20 Wineera Elkington, 21 Josh Anderson, 22 Vernon Ale, 23 Ben Nicholls
NEW ORLEANS GOLD
1 Hubert Buydens, 2 Cam Falcon, 3 Ben Tarr, 4 Nikola Bursic, 5 Matt Wirken, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Brennan Falcon, 8 Matt Hughston, 9 Holden Yungert, 10 JP Eloff, 11 Joeli Tikoisuva, 12 Taylor Howden, 13 Bobby Johns, 14 Tim Maupin, 15 Michael Baska
Replacements: 16 Amro Gouda, 17 Anthony Parry, 18 Alec Janotka, 19 Myles McQuone, 20 John Sullivan, 21 Vita Makasini, 22 Peceli Rinakama, 23 Cameron Troxler
Date: Saturday, June 16
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 14:00 local (13:00 Pacific, 16:00 Eastern)
Referee: Derek Summers (USAR)
Assistants: Chris Assmus (RC) & Kage Green (USAR)
Broadcasts: CBS Sports Network, Facebook
