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The Utah Warriors travel to Austin on Saturday for an intriguing West Conference match-up. Riding high on their one-game winning streak are the Gilgronis. It should be noted that their stirring Texas Cup win over Houston a year ago broke a 22-game winless run that dated back to June 1, 2018. Their opponents that day? None other than the Warriors.
Utah took both of their meetings in 2019 but settled for a draw against the re-branded Gilgronis in their Week 3 meeting last season. It was a very different Austin team then, and this iteration looks ready to take another big step up.
US Eagles center Bryce Campbell is the newly-minted skipper for Austin, while former Leicester and London Irish lock is the pack leader. Both were added in a busy off-season, as were Australian trio Hugh Roach, Maclean Jones, and Mack Mason.
Three players fresh out of college rugby are in the team in English-born lock Cam Dodson, versatile back Conner Mooneyham, and hooker Mason Koch. Among other young North American products are the supremely athletic Hawaiian loose forward Dominic Akina and imposing Canadian winger Cole Davis.
Davis will not be accompanied by fellow Canuck Jeff Hassler in the lineup with the latter missing due to injury. Mooneyham is preferred to Rodrick Waters on the right wing. A shortage of locks sees back row Michael de Waal, another debutant, providing emergency cover from the bench. Moe Abdelmonem wears the No6 shirt with Jones lining up in his preferred No7.
The Warriors have welcomed two World Cup Eagles in the form of tighthead prop Paul Mullen and fullback Mike Te’o. Second row Aston Fortuin arrives from South Africa and back row Lance Williams feels like a new signing after missing all of 2020 with a knee injury.
Bailey Wilson is Utah’s own new inspirational leader at the ripe old age of 21. His supporting case includes a trio of South Africa u20 reps in loosehead prop Franco van den Berg, eightman Jurie van Vuuren, and outside center Tyler Fisher.
Mullen in fact will miss the first game though last year’s starter Angus MacLellan simply slides back in with another Eagles prop, Olive Kilifi, named on the bench. Joseph Mano wins his first MLR cap on the left wing and there are three more newcomers on the bench in second row James Mocke, flanker Mike Gieselman, and three-quarter Logan Tago.
The historical record suggests Utah have the advantage, but Austin are a vastly improved entity who very nearly knocked off their vaunted cousins LA during the preseason. Add in home field advantage and it’s not hard to say that the Gilgronis are at last favorites to start with a win.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. Live broadcasts will be available on KBVO in Austin, KSL Sports in Utah, and The Rugby Network worldwide.
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Jamie Mackintosh, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Mason Pedersen, 4 Sebastian de Chaves, 5 Cam Dodson, 6 Moe Abdelmonem, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Dominic Akina, 9 Pele Cowley, 10 Will Magie, 11 Cole Davis, 12 Mack Mason, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Zinzan Elan-Puttick
Replacements: 16 Mason Koch, 17 LaRome White, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Michael de Waal, 20 Dom Bailey, 21 Marcelo Torrealba, 22 Kurt Morath, 23 Rodrick Waters
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg, 2 Sama Malolo, 3 Angus MacLellan, 4 Aston Fortuin, 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Lance Williams, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Michael Baska, 10 Hagen Schulte, 11 Joseph Mano, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Josh Whippy, 15 Mike Te’o
Replacements: 16 Veremalua Vugakoto, 17 Alex Tucci, 18 Olive Kilifi, 19 James Mocke, 20 Thomas Tu’avao, 21 Mike Gieselman, 22 Fraser Hurst, 23 Logan Tago
Date: Saturday, March 20
Venue: Bold Stadium, Austin
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: KBVO, KSL Sports, The Rugby Network
Historical Results:
2020-02-22 – Austin 20, Utah 20 (Bold Stadium)
2019-04-27 – Utah 35, Austin 19 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2019-02-01 – Austin 9, Utah 17 (Dell Diamond)
2018-06-01 – Austin 41, Utah 33 (Round Rock Multipurpose Complex)
2018-05-11 – Utah 41, Austin 22 (Zions Bank Stadium)
