Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Closing out Saturday’s four-game schedule is a cross-conference match that will serve as the home opener for the Utah Warriors. It’s the Toronto Arrows who provide opposition, the Canadian side making the long trip west to Salt Lake from their temporary home in Atlanta.
The two sides did not meet during the 2020 regular season though they did face off in a preseason scrimmage in Las Vegas. Toronto won both matches during the 2019 campaign including a lopsided result at Zions Bank Stadium that saw the Arrows scoring an MLR record 64 points.
They also notably faced off in April 2018, Utah losing 24-20 in front of nearly 5,000 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium. On that occasion the Arrows were still an exhibition side flying under the Ontario banner, with the Warriors using it as a tune-up for the inaugural Major League Rugby season.
Utah enter on a high having beaten the AG’s in Austin this past weekend. It was a gutsy performance from the Warriors, who have in the past been criticised for their conditioning, or lack thereof. The 80 minute effort saw them taking the road win despite discipline problems that saw three players dispatched to the sin bin at different points in the match.
There is just one change to the run-on side for Utah though it is notable. Namibia flyhalf Cliven Loubser comes into the lineup albeit at fullback, with Mike Te’o switching to the wing.
Dropping to the bench as a result is Joseph Mano, and there is one new name in three quarter Sione Tau’ataina. He takes the place of Mike Gieselman as the reserves take a more conventional 5-3 split.
It was a near polar opposite outing for the Arrows in Marietta. After a strong start it appeared the fatigue from travel was too much as they failed to score any points at all in the final hour of the match. They also had card problems of their own, with tighthead prop Gastón Cortes shown red and subsequently suspended for the next two games.
The Arrows will not be intimidated by the surroundings thanks to their previous success, and they will be determined to put the disappointment of the ATL match behind them as quickly as possible. While Cortes misses out they will welcome two high-profile Pumas signings to the fold in winger Manuel Montero and fullback Joaquín Tuculet.
There are six personnel changes to the starting lineup. Tuculet comes straight in at fullback as Montero settles for a spot on the bench. Gastón Mieres instead gets the start on the wing in an all-South American back three. Jason Higgins is the new scrumhalf.
Mike Sheppard comes in at lock for Paul Ciulini. Cole Keith reverts to tighthead prop with Andrew Quattrin and Pat Lynott at hooker and loosehead prop respectively. Chris Atkinson could make his pro debut as a replacement prop with Kolby Francis recalled to the reserves.
For Utah the task is to maintain momentum and improve on the standard set in Texas. Reducing their penalty count and avoiding sanctions will be critical to success, while their scrum will also be under pressure from an Arrows pack who remain formidable even without Cortes.
The Warriors have shown straight away they have no intention of being considered also-rans this season, and now have a golden opportunity to potentially upset another playoff contender. Toronto will feel slightly more settled than a week ago and the Argentine influx could inspire their attack. The Arrows enter as favorites based on historical precedent but this should look closer to their Rio Tinto battle than the blowout at Zions Bank.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern. Live broadcasts will be available on Fox Sports 2 nationwide, the TSN App in Canada, and on The Rugby Network for those located abroad.
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 Josh Whippy, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Mike Te’o, 15 Cliven Loubser
Replacements: 16 Veremalua Vugakoto, 17 Alex Tucci, 18 Olive Kilifi, 19 James Mocke, 20 Thomas Tu’avao, 21 Fraser Hurst, 22 Sione Tau’ataina, 23 Joseph Mano
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Pat Lynott, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Adrian Wadden, 5 Mike Sheppard, 6 Tomás de la Vega, 7 Lucas Rumball (co-capt.), 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Tayler Adams, 11 Gastón Mieres, 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Ben LeSage (co-capt.), 14 Leandro Leivas, 15 Joaquín Tuculet
Replacements: 16 Jack McRogers, 17 Chris Atkinson, 18 Tyler Rowland, 19 Kolby Francis, 20 Marcello Wainwright, 21 Andrew Ferguson, 23 Manuel Montero, 22 Patrick Parfrey
Date: Saturday, March 27
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 19:00 local (18:00 Pacific, 21:00 Eastern)
Referee: Jack Gohl (Australia)
Broadcast: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network, TSN App
Historical Results:
2019-05-12 – Toronto Arrows 28, Utah Warriors 21 (Lamport Stadium)
2019-03-30 – Utah Warriors 31, Toronto Arrows 64 (Zions Bank Stadium)
