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The first ever meeting between the Houston SaberCats and Old Glory DC will take place at AVEVA Stadium on Saturday evening. This past weekend saw the on opposite sides of narrow results. Houston came up just short against Toronto in Las Vegas while DC earned their first Major League Rugby win in their home opener against Seattle.
Paul Healy has looked to freshen up his side after the hard-fought battle at Sam Boyd Stadium. The entire front row is rotated with Nicolás Solveyra handed his first start for Houston, and Robert Meeson tags in for Victor Comptat in the second row. Adriaan Booysen gets a rest with Cecil Garber recalled on the flank and Diego Magno switching to the back of the scrum.
There are three changes in the backs. Osea Kolinisau makes a timely return from a knock with Matías Freyre ruled out. New Argentine arrival Thomas Morani debuts at outside center, and there is a first MLR start for Kieran Farmer albeit on the wing rather than his preferred flyhalf spot.
Old Glory meanwhile change just three of the run-on side. Dylan Pieterse starts at lock in the absence of Api Naikatini, and Matt Hughston gets the call on the flank in place of Travis Larsen. Spring captain Josh Brown is fit to take up a spot on the bench in what will be his MLR debut though there is no specialist second row cover available.
The backs show only one change as former New Zealand Sevens star Declan O’Donnell arrives to take his place on the right wing. Doug Fraser settles for a spot on the bench, and it’s a conventional 5-3 split this time with Michael Reid and Mike Dabulas again covering the halfbacks.
DC impressed mightily against the defending champions last weekend but stepping into the SaberCats lair will be no walk in the park. The scrum has been a real concern for Old Glory while Healy has selected his best set piece front row. Jason Robertson’s running game was key to DC’s win over Seattle. If Houston can keep him from creating space for his outside backs it may be enough to get a result at home.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. A local broadcast will be available on NBC Sports Washington. ESPN+ will carry the game nationwide. Those located outside the USA can access the live stream on the official MLR Facebook page.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Nicolás Solveyra, 2 Diego Fortuny, 3 Charlie Connolly, 4 Kyle Breytenbach, 5 Robert Meeson, 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Diego Magno, 9 De Wet Roos (capt.), 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Malacchi Esdale, 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Thomas Morani, 14 Kieran Farmer, 15 Osea Kolinisau
Replacements: 16 Tim Cadwallader, 17 Valdemar Lee-Lo, 18 Boyd Wiggins, 19 Victor Comptat, 20 Adriaan Booysen, 21 Zachary Short, 22 Taylor Howden, 23 Tim Stanfill
OLD GLORY DC
1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Dante Lopresti, 3 Gordon Fullerton, 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Dylan Pieterse, 6 Matt Hughston, 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 Declan O’Donnell, 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson
Replacements: 16 Max Lum, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Will Vakalahi, 19 Travis Larsen, 20 Josh Brown, 21 Michael Reid, 22 Mike Dabulas, 23 Doug Fraser
Date: Saturday, February 22
Venue: AVEVA Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Joe Burpoe (USA) & Greg Varnell (USA)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Facebook, NBC Sports Washington
