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The highly anticipated home debut of Old Glory DC looks to be a sellout as they host the Seattle Seawolves at Cardinal Stadium on Sunday. Both teams are looking to bounce back from losses as DC were swamped by NOLA and the Seawolves came up short in San Diego.
There’s no question that the biggest talking point during the week is the arrival of a certain World Cup champion in DC. Tendai Mtawarira jumps straight into the Old Glory front row, one of only two changes to the starting lineup. Dante Lopresti is given the honor of lining up alongside The Beast at hooker with Max Lum and Jake Turnbull dropping to the bench.
Kees Lensing has made three changes to his Seawolves lineup, two coming in the forwards. Jake Ilnicki rotates in for Tim Metcher at tighthead prop with Andrew Durutalo making his Major League Rugby debut on the flank in place of Vili Toluta’u. The latter is named on the bench as hooker backup.
The only change in the backs is enforced as injury to Ross Neal sees George Barton starting in the midfield. Joey Iosefa takes up a spot in the reserves with Suli Tamaivena left out. Barton and Ilnicki make it five Canadian internationals in the run-on side with only injured Jeff Hassler missing from Seattle’s Canuck contingent.
As two-time defending champions the Seawolves arrive as favorites but not everything is in their favor. Seattle have not historically traveled well, and a taxing flight to the East Coast is certain to take its toll in the final quarter. Old Glory’s scrum was decimated by NOLA, how much influence will Mtawarira have just days off the plane?
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, noon Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on Root Sports in Seattle and NBC Sports Washington. ESPN+ will air the game nationwide. Those located elsewhere can access a live stream on the official MLR Facebook page.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Dante Lopresti, 3 Gordon Fullerton, 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Apisai Naikatini, 6 Travis Larsen, 7 Mungo Mason (co-capt.), 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Jason Robertson, 11 Renata Roberts-Te Nana, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 13 Thretton Palamo (co-capt.), 14 Doug Fraser, 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson
Replacements: 16 Max Lum, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Will Vakalahi, 19 Dylan Pieterse, 20 Matt Hughston, 21 Nic Mirhashem, 22 Michael Reid, 23 Mike Dabulas
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Mike Shepherd, 3 Jake Ilnicki, 4 Brad Tucker, 5 FP Pelser, 6 Andrew Durutalo, 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Scott Dean, 11 Brock Staller, 12 George Barton, 13 Shalom Suniula, 14 David Busby, 15 Mat Turner
Replacements: 16 Vili Toluta’u, 17 Kellen Gordon, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Jérémy Lenaerts, 20 Eric Duechle, 21 Jope Motokana, 22 Joey Iosefa, 23 Siti Tamaivena
Date: Sunday, February 16
Venue: Cardinal Stadium, Washington
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific)
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Mike O’Brien (USA) & Stu Geiger (USA)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Facebook, NBC Sports Washington, Root Sports
