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The first high stakes match of the season between the Glendale Raptors and the Houston SaberCats takes place at Infinity Park on Saturday evening. It’s not the first time the two sides have met this year, however, as the Raptors took a convincing win in the preseason at Constellation Field.
Glendale were on the smart end of an thrilling contest against New Orleans a week ago and showed signs that they have some life in them yet. It should be noted that a week before the very opposite was being thrown around after a disappointing loss in New York.
A win over the struggling SaberCats is requisite if the Raptors are to continue their push for playoff contention and the selection from Dave Williams suggests they are not taking the match lightly. There are five changes in all to the run-on side, three among the forwards.
Noah Barker took a knock against the Gold and misses out, so it’s Blake Rogers who starts at loosehead with Marco Fepulea’i fit enough to take up a spot among the reserves. Vice-captain Luke White is recalled at the expense of Kody O’Neil in the second row and newcomer Murphy Taramai is slotted straight into a starting role at the back of the scrum.
Two veterans returns in the backs. Chad London starts at outside center in place of Mika Kruse, and Maximo de Achaval dusts off his boots for the second time this year to get his first start of the season at fullback. Dylan Taikato-Simpson is named among the replacements for the first time.
The SaberCats have opted for continuity in the pack after defeating Utah in the last match in Sugar Land. Only one personnel change comes in the backs as Osea Kolinisau returns from suspension to start at outside center and Max Tacket slides in one to inside center.
Conor Mills is the one to miss out, the regular starter dropped to the bench. There is he joined by new signing Deion Mikesell who awaits his Major League Rugby debut as a replacement. Of note is the absence of a reserve halfback with Santiago Arata unfit for duty and Chris Saint left out.
Based on their respective spots in the standings this is a relatively easy match to call with Glendale considerable favorites. They do have a significant weakness in the scrum, however, which happens to be an area of strength for Houston. If the SaberCats are to cause an upset they will need to starve the Raptors of possession at the set piece.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern. A local broadcast will be available in Houston in KUBE57, with a live stream available to others on the 9News website.
GLENDALE RAPTORS
1 Blake Rogers, 2 Chad Gough, 3 Kelepi Fifita, 4 Will Munro, 5 Luke White, 6 Brendan Daly, 7 Hanco Germishuys, 8 Murphy Taramai, 9 Shaun Davies (capt.), 10 Will Magie, 11 Harley Davidson, 12 Robbie Petzer, 13 Chad London, 14 John Ryberg, 15 Maximo de Achaval
Replacements: 16 Zach Fenoglio, 17 Max Lum, 18 Marco Fepulea’i, 19 Peter Dahl, 20 Malon Al-Jiboori, 21 Carlo de Nysschen, 22 Ata Malifa, 23 Dylan Taikato-Simpson
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Charlie Connolly, 4 Diego Magno, 5 Matt Trouville (capt.), 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Alejandro Nieto, 9 Connor Murphy, 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Malacchi Esdale, 12 Max Tacket, 13 Osea Kolinisau, 14 Kelly Kolberg, 15 Zach Pangelinan
Replacements: 16 Amro Gouda, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Jamie Dever, 19 Victor Comptat, 20 Chris Parker, 21 Chris Coyle, 22 Conor Mills, 23 Deion Mikesell
Date: Saturday, April 6
Venue: Infinity Park, Glendale
Kickoff: 19:00 local (18:00 Pacific, 21:00 Eastern)
Referee: Elgan Williams (WRU)
Assistants: Luke Rogan (USAR) & Steve Gore (USAR)
Broadcasts: KUBE57, 9News
