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The penultimate match of Major League Rugby’s opening weekend is unquestionably the biggest ticket in Week 1. It’s a rematch of the 2019 Championship Final as the San Diego Legion look to exact their revenge on the two-time defending champion Seattle Seawolves.
San Diego will start their season without Joe Pietersen, one of the league’s best in 2019. Nate Augspurger captains in his absence with two backs set to make their highly anticipated MLR debuts in flyhalf Luke Burton and All Blacks centurion Ma’a Nonu. JP du Plessis bumps out a spot and Dylan Audsley is named in the unusual wing position.
The forward pack is absent Eagles tighthead prop Paul Mullen with Aaron Mitchell starting and new signing Jamie Dever providing cover. Siaosi Mahoni and Joshua Furno form a towering second row pairing and Tevita Tameilau is nominated as pack leader in his first appearance for the Legion.
A formidable reserves group includes four Eagles internationals. Peter Malcolm, Louis Stanfill, and returnee Malon Al-Jiboori are part of a 6-2 forwards split. One-cap scrumhalf Devereaux Ferris and Fijian winger Tira Patterson are the only extra backs named.
Seattle enter the game minus a number of injured players including hooker Stephan Coetzee and flyhalf Ben Cima. Mike Shepherd fills in for Coetzee with Scott Dean continuing in the No10 shirt after his impressive cameo against the Tasman Mako.
It’s an MLR debut for FP Pelser at lock and Vili Toluta’u starts on the flank while also providing cover for Shepherd. Only four forwards are named on the bench though George Barton has previous experience in the back row if needed.
European imports David Busby and Ross Neal start their MLR careers at left wing and outside center respectively. Goal kicker Brock Staller has shaken off a minor leg injury suffered against Tasman to take his place on the right wing. Jope Motokana and the Tamaivena twins – Siti and Suli – await their first MLR action from the bench.
These two sides look destined to collide in the West Conference final and their two regular season tilts should decide which gets a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Questions to be answered are how San Diego’s scrum holds up without Mullen and the departed Paddy Ryan, while much rests on the shoulders of Dean if Seattle are to come away with the win.
The Legion look to have an advantage at the lineout with Furno and Jasa Veremalua also disruptive on the opposition throw-in, though the Seawolves counter with dual opensides to disrupt at the breakdown. It’s a fascinating contest and a coin toss decision. Give San Diego a slight edge with home field advantage and the extra forwards in reserve.
Kickoff is set for 2pm local time, 5pm Eastern. CBS Sports Network will air the match nationwide. Those located outside the USA can access the live stream on the official MLR Facebook page.
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Dean Muir, 3 Aaron Mitchell, 4 Siaosi Mahoni, 5 Joshua Furno, 6 Jasa Veremalua, 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.), 10 Luke Burton, 11 Dylan Audsley, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Save Totovosau, 15 Mike Te’o
Replacements: 16 Peter Malcolm, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Jamie Dever, 19 Louis Stanfill, 20 Malon Al-Jiboori, 21 Devin Short, 22 Devereaux Ferris, 23 Tira Patterson
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Mike Shepherd, 3 Tim Metcher, 4 Brad Tucker, 5 FP Pelser, 6 Vili Toluta’u, 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Scott Dean, 11 David Busby, 12 Shalom Suniula, 13 Ross Neal, 14 Brock Staller, 15 Mat Turner
Replacements: 16 Kellen Gordon, 17 Jake Ilnicki, 18 Jérémy Lenaerts, 19 Eric Duechle, 20 Jope Motokana, 21 George Barton, 22 Siti Tamaivena, 23 Suli Tamaivena
Date: Sunday, February 9
Venue: Torero Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 14:00 local (17:00 Eastern)
Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
Assistants: Paul-Henri Courbier (USA) & Marquise Goodwin (USA)
Broadcasts: CBS Sports Network, Facebook
