MLR Preview – Colorado Raptors vs NOLA Gold

Colorado will aim for their first win of the season at home on Saturday as they welcome the NOLA Gold to Infinity Park. After two games the Raptors are at the bottom of the Western Conference and need to find something extra against a dangerous Gold side.

Zak Taulafo is recalled at loosehead prop with Kody O’Neil handed his first start of the season at lock. Brendan Daly switches to the blindside flank as Michael Curry drops to the bench. Otherwise it’s the same group of 13 forwards that have appeared in every match thus far.

Two key backs are missing with no sign of Rene Ranger or Mason Emerson. Robbie Petzer comes back into the midfield with fullback Seth Halliman making his first MLR appearance since the 2018 season. Ryan James is set to make his professional debut from the bench.

NOLA have made one two changes to the forward pack. Eric Howard returns at hooker in place of Lindsey Stevens. Kevin O’Connor sits out with suspension so Moni Tonga’uiha moves to openside with Kyle Baillie on the blindside. Billy Stewart fills the vacancy at lock, his first starting role of the campaign.

Holden Yungert makes a timely return from a head knock to start at scrumhalf as Scott Gale is ruled out due to illness. The only other change in the backs sees Tim Maupin moves to the midfield with Shawn Riley starting on the right wing. Ross Depperschmidt drops to the bench.

The Raptors have struggled in the set piece and will be looking for more consistency to give their backline more front-foot ball. Missing their two New Zealand imports takes away some x-factor, however, and of the two sides NOLA look the more convincing. Despite the road trip, the Gold enter as favorites.

Kickoff is set for 4pm local, 3pm Pacific, 5pm Central, 6pm Eastern. A local broadcast will be available in New Orleans on Cox Sports TV with online options on For The Fans (FTF) and the Raptors website. Those outside the USA can access the live stream on the official MLR Facebook page.

EDIT: Late changes for the Gold see Kane Thompson move into the starting lineup for Kyle Baillie with Ignacio Dotti moving to blindsidie flanker. Nikola Bursic withdraws from the bench. Lindsey Stevens and Joeli Tikoisuva are added to the match day roster.

COLORADO RAPTORS
1 Zak Taulafo, 2 Chad Gough, 3 Marco Fepulea’i, 4 Kody O’Neil, 5 Luke White (capt.), 6 Brendan Daly, 7 Mike Stewart, 8 Sam Slade, 9 Nick Boyer, 10 Tomás Quinlan, 11 John Ryberg, 12 Robbie Petzer, 13 Chad London, 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Seth Halliman

Replacements: 16 Jay Finau, 17 Xendy Tatibouët, 18 Kelepi Fifita, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Connor Cook, 21 Ata Malifa, 22 Ryan James, 23 Carlo de Nysschen

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon, 2 Eric Howard, 3 Dino Waldren, 4 Kane Thompson, 5 Billy Stewart, 6 Ignacio Dotti, 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Holden Yungert, 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Con Foley (capt.), 13 Tim Maupin, 14 Shawn Riley, 15 Carl Meyer

Replacements: 16 Cam Falcon, 17 Kevin Sullivan, 18 Ben Tarr, 19 Malcolm May, 20 Lindsey Stevens, 21 Joeli Tikoisuva, 22 Ross Depperschmidt, 23 Trace Bolstsad

Date: Saturday, February 22
Venue: Infinity Park, Glendale
Kickoff: 16:00 local (15:00 Pacific, 17:00 Central, 18:00 Eastern)
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Steve Gore (USA) & Rick Goldammer (USA)
Broadcasts: Cox Sports TV, Facebook, For The Fans, Raptors TV