Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The Houston SaberCats will make a slight detour on Sunday as they move shop to Dyer Stadium to play the San Diego Legion. Their new digs at AVEVA Stadium were proven not quite ready when Seattle came to town, so it’s back to an old stomping ground until mid-May.
Dreams of the post-season are long gone for Houston, having won only two of 10 matches thus far. They’ll have their work cut out for them against a Legion side that is near the top of the table and on a four-game winning streak.
There are three changes to the side that lost in Toronto, all up front. Mateo Sanguinetti returns at loosehead prop with Matt Trouville restored to the second row and captaincy. Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz switches from flanker to his preferred No8 position and Cecil Garber comes in at openside.
San Diego welcome back Keni Nasoqeqe from suspension and he immediately slots in at lock. Jasa Veremalua moves to the flank and it’s Devin Short who is the odd man out and left on the bench.
Paddy Ryan returns to the starting role at tighthead prop with Aaron Mitchell rolled back to a reserve roll. Injuries to both Dean Muir and Kapeli Pifeleti mean that Pat Blair deputises at hooker leaving no specialist cover on the bench.
One personnel change in the backs sees JP du Plessis starting at inside center. Dylan Audsley bumps out one spot and Ryan Matyas switches to the left wing. Nick Boyer retains his spot on the right wing after his strong showing against Glendale.
There’s only one way to call this given the respective records of the two sides. The Legion are clear favorites, that said things did not go smoothly for them in San Diego where the SaberCats nearly took an upset win. Barring a dramatic turn in form, however, this time there should be no doubting who is the superior side.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on CW San Diego and KUBE57 in Houston. Those located elsewhere can access the live stream on the official Major League Rugby Facebook page.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Diego Magno, 5 Matt Trouville (capt.), 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Connor Murphy, 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Malacchi Esdale, 12 Thretton Palamo, 13 Osea Kolinisau, 14 Deion Mikesell, 15 Zach Pangelinan
Replacements: 16 Amro Gouda, 17 Jamie Dever, 18 Charlie Connolly, 19 Victor Comptat, 20 Chris Coyle, 21 Alejandro Nieto, 22 Max Tacket, 23 Joe Kelly
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Pat Blair, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Louis Stanfill, 5 Keni Nasoqeqe, 6 Jasa Veremalua, 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Jordan Manihera, 9 Nate Augspurger, 10 Joe Pietersen (capt.), 11 Ryan Matyas, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Dylan Audsley, 14 Nick Boyer, 15 Mike Te’o
Replacements: 16 Sione Tu’ihalamaka, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Aaron Mitchell, 19 Devin Short, 20 Drew Gaffney, 21 Tai Enosa, 22 Nick Lupian, 23 Kyle Rogers
Date: Sunday, April 27
Venue: Dyer Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Luke Rogan (USAR)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USAR) & Butch Neuenschwander (USAR)
Broadcasts: CW San Diego, Facebook, KUBE57
