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Two sophomore sides take the field on Saturday afternoon to welcome a new venue to Major League Rugby. Segra Field will host Old Glory DC for the first time, and it’s Rugby ATL who have the honor of playing the spoiler role.
Though a little more than a year since their first meeting, the two sides are just one regular season match removed from that thrilling day in Washington. A 16-point performance from Jason Robertson put them in the lead and Kurt Coleman couldn’t make a game-tying conversion from wide out as Old Glory won by two in the week before the COVID-19 suspension.
Neither player will suit up in the rematch with both recently undergoing surgical repair. Robertson is to sit out at least the next three matches after suffering a broken thumb against NOLA in the season opener. It will be much longer before Coleman returns after breaking his leg during a preseason intra-squad match.
ATL have already made adjustments with Duncan van Schalkwyk playing flyhalf in the win over the Arrows. Robbie Petzer is another in the frame to fill the gap. Both will be needed to kick-start an offense that struggled to get out of first gear in Marietta last weekend.
Petzer is one of just two alterations to the run-on side for ATL. He comes in at outside center with Jeremy Misailegalu sliding to the wing in place of the concussed Harley Davidson. Marno Redelinghuys misses out at lock but Canadian international Conor Keys makes a timely return from injury in his place.
On the bench there are three players set to make their MLR debuts. Fiji World Cup starter Manasa Saulo takes up a spot as reserve tighthead, with flanker Daemon Torres and scrumhalf Ryan Rees also included. Former New York winger Mark O’Keeffe makes a first appearance with his new club.
The loss of Robertson is a crushing blow to Old Glory, with Mike Dabulas the only alternative with any MLR appearances at all to his name. It was Robertson’s all-star partnership with Danny Tusitala that inspired DC to a draw against the heavily-favored Gold.
DC have sprung a surprise, however, by opting to move Tusitala to flyhalf with Sean Hartig handed his first professional start at scrumhalf. Dabulas settles for a spot on the bench as D’Montae Noble is handed a start on the wing. Ciaran Hearn is absent but co-captain Thretton Palamo is fit to return in the midfield.
There is no change in the forwards and again Old Glory opt for a 6-2 split with both Luke Campbell and Josh Brown named as back row cover. A new arrival is Stan South, the former England u20 and Harlequins lock, who will debut from the bench as he gets settled in a new environment.
Both sides spent much of their opening match defending and while they impressed in that department, it will be offense that wins the day in Leesburg. The pressure is on Old Glory in their home opener and with points off the tee likely to be a significant factor, Robertson’s absence is too much to overcome against the determined Ratlers.
Kickoff is set for 5pm local time, 3pm Pacific. Live broadcasts will be available on 11 Alive in Atlanta, NBC Sports Washington in DC, and worldwide on The Rugby Network.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jamie Dever, 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 3 Steven Longwell, 4 Apisai Naikatini, 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Callum Gibbins, 7 Mungo Mason (co-capt.), 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Sean Hartig, 10 Danny Tusitala, 11 D’Montae Noble, 12 Doug Fraser, 13 Thretton Palamo (co-capt.), 14 Sam Cusano, 15 Renata Roberts-Te Nana
Replacements: 16 James King, 17 Jack Iscaro, 18 Jack Carroll, 19 Stan South, 20 Luke Campbell, 21 Danny Thomas, 22 Mike Dabulas, 23 Josh Brown
RUGBY ATL
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Neethling Gericke, 3 Alex Maughan, 4 Conor Keys, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Connor Cook, 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Jason Damm, 9 Rowan Gouws, 10 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 11 Rory van Vugt, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 13 Robbie Petzer, 14 Jeremy Misailegalu, 15 Martini Talapusi
Replacements: 16 Jonas Petrakopoulous, 17 Will Burke, 18 Manasa Saulo, 19 Vili Helu, 20 Daemon Torres, 21 Mark O’Keeffe, 22 Zander van Schalkwyk, 23 Ryan Rees
Date: Saturday, March 27
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg
Kickoff: 17:00 local (14:00 Pacific)
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Broadcast: 11 Alive, NBC Sports Washington, The Rugby Network
Historical Results:
2020-03-08 – Old Glory DC 31, Rugby ATL 29 (Cardinal Stadium)
