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Rugby United New York suffered just their second loss of the season and first ever at MCU Park last weekend. They’ll be looking to redeem themselves in front of the home faithful on Saturday evening when they host the Utah Warriors. Of note is that the evening is being dubbed ‘Pride Night‘, with a curtain-raiser featuring International Gay Rugby teams Gotham Knights and the DC Scandals.
It will be more than just pride that RUNY is playing for. They are in the thick of a playoff race and the demoralising defeat to San Diego has pushed them just out of the top four. They’ll be confident of a win against an underwhelming Utah side but cannot take results for granted with so much at stake.
The scrum had largely been a source of strength thus far but struggled against San Diego. This week will see James Rochford moving across the front row to tighthead prop, with Anthony Parry getting his first start at loosehead. Callum Mackintosh runs out at hooker as Dylan Fawsitt makes an interesting switch to the back of the scrum. James Denise misses out with injury so John Quill switches to openside flanker and Kyle Sumsion starts on the blindside.
Eagles stepper Luke Hume returns after a couple weeks of rest to start on the right wing. The backs are otherwise unchanged with the exception of the outside back cover on the bench which is taken by Mike St. Claire. Kirk Hamilton covers loosehead with second row Matt Wirken also added to the reserves list.
Utah have dropped six straight and haven’t tasted victory since their first match of the season against Austin. They scored three tries against the table-topping Gold in New Orleans but didn’t manage even a losing bonus point thanks to some porous defense.
There are four changes all told to the starting side, two of them in the forwards. Franco van den Berg is recalled to start at loosehead prop and Arthur Bergo is handed his first Major League Rugby start on the blindside flank, with Lance Williams shifting to No8. Bergo’s inclusion means that two Brazil internationals will start together for the first time in league history.
Despite a strong showing last week, Josh Whippy is forced to settle for a spot on the bench. Gannon Moore replaces him at outside center and Don Pati returns but plays on the wing for the first time having played all of his regular season rugby for the Warriors at fullback.
The backs reserves are changed completely as Joseph Nicholls, Jeremy Misailegalu, and Nolan Tuamoheloa are replaced by Ian Luciano, Whippy, and Fetu’u Vainikolo respectively. A game-day decision will be made on a third front row sub who will wear No18.
[EDIT: South African prop Frikkie de Beer has now joined the Warriors.]
While the Warriors have looked dangerous in spurts, they have yet to put together a complete performance and to do so in Brooklyn is a big ask. The first game between the two teams was dominated by RUNY in a Salt Lake snowstorm. A dash of rain may slow the game somewhat but not enough to phase a New York pack ready to reassert themselves.
Kickoff is set for 7:30pm local, 5:30pm Mountain time. CBS Sports Network will broadcast the game with a Facebook stream available for Canadian and international viewers.
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 Anthony Parry, 2 Callum Mackintosh, 3 James Rochford, 4 Alex MacDonald, 5 Nate Brakeley, 6 Kyle Sumsion, 7 John Quill, 8 Dylan Fawsitt, 9 Mike Petri (capt.), 10 Cathal Marsh, 11 Connor Wallace-Sims, 12 Chris Mattina, 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Luke Hume, 15 Ben Foden
Replacements: 16 Mike Brown, 17 Kirk Hamilton, 18 Chris Sullivan, 19 Matt Wirken, 20 Matt Hughston, 21 Marcus Walsh, 22 Harry Bennett, 23 Mike St. Claire
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg, 2 Jeremy Leber, 3 Angus MacLellan, 4 Saia Uhila, 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Arthur Bergo, 7 Ara Elkington, 8 Lance Williams, 9 Johnny Ika, 10 Josh Reeves, 11 Tonata Lauti, 12 Tim O’Malley (capt.), 13 Gannon Moore, 14 Don Pati, 15 James Semple
Replacements: 16 Metai Tu’imoala, 17 Tom Kacor, 18 Frikkie de Beer, 19 Kenny Scott, 20 Alex Tucci, 21 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 22 Josh Whippy, 23 Ian Luciano
Date: Saturday, April 20
Venue: MCU Park, Brooklyn
Kickoff: 19:30 local (16:30 Pacific, 17:30 Mountain)
Referee: Luke Rogan (USAR)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USAR) & Amelia Luciano (USAR)
Broadcasts: CBS Sports Network, Facebook
