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A cross-conference meeting between two sides sporting identical 1-1 records takes place at ‘The Snake Pit’ on Saturday evening. Rugby ATL will host the San Diego Legion in what will be the first ever meeting between the two sides, with their scheduled April 2020 meeting cancelled due to the pandemic.
While their records are the same, the two trajectories are opposite. San Diego dropped their season opener against New York but rebounded with a win over Austin. It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, however, as they required a late try against the run of play to escape Texas with the victory.
ATL upset their temporary ‘roommates’ Toronto in the first round but slipped up against Old Glory in Leesburg. They will be particularly disappointed with that result after pushing out to a 10-point lead at halftime, though a late score at least salvaged a losing bonus point.
Scott Lawrence has rung the changes in response with seven alterations to the run-on side. New arrival Marko Janse van Rensburg debuts at hooker with Jonas Petrakopoulos at tighthead prop. Marno Redelinghuys is recalled at lock and there is an unusual choice at No8 with Daemon Torres, normally a blindside flanker, handed a first MLR start.
There are more surprises in the backs. Rowan Gouws and Duncan van Schalkwyk both drop out and there is a new halfback pairing in Ryan Rees and Bautista Ezcurra. Te Rangatira Waikotia returns from injury to start at outside center, with Mark O’Keeffe named on the left wing.
On the bench it’s a 6-2 split with both Vili Helu and Jason Damm covering the back row. Again there are two tightheads in Will Burke and Manasa Saulo, and Eamonn Matthews could make his MLR debut as a replacement scrumhalf.
San Diego have made two changes to the starting lineup. Dean Muir returns at hooker as Peter Malcolm drops out, with Ryan Matyas tagging in for Cameron Clark at outside center. There has been no clarification offered but it seems both Malcolm and Clark are unavailable.
Chris Schade is also absent leaving Chris Baumann to act as emergency hooker cover from the bench. Cronan Gleeson joins Nathan Sylvia as prop replacements. Cole Zarcone is called up for his first professional appearance to fill the space left by the promotion of Matyas.
It’s fair to say that neither side has looked their best in their two games to date. The Legion have drifted in and out of the action with only short bursts of the dominance we’ve seen from them in the past. For the Ratlers it’s been a similar story with flashes of inspiration mixed in with long stretches of indifference.
An immediate advantage goes to ATL as the home side, who also look to be the more cohesive of the two on defense. In terms of potential, however, it’s the Legion who stand tall and at some point the stars will begin to align for them. Give the favorites tag to the visitors.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 4pm Pacific. Live broadcasts will be available on Fox Sports 2 nationwide, and The Rugby Network for those located abroad.
RUGBY ATL
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 3 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Connor Cook, 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Daemon Torres, 9 Ryan Rees, 10 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Mark O’Keeffe, 12 Robbie Petzer, 13 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 14 Jeremy Misailegalu, 15 Rory van Vugt
Replacements: 16 Alex Maughan, 17 Manasa Saulo, 18 Will Burke, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Jason Damm, 21 Vili Helu, 22 Eamonn Matthews, 23 Martini Talapusi
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Dean Muir, 3 Aaron Mitchell, 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Siaosi Mahoni, 6 Jasa Veremalua, 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Keni Nasoqeqe, 9 Carlo de Nysschen, 10 Joe Pietersen (capt.), 11 Bjorn Basson, 12 Santiago González Iglesias, 13 Ryan Matyas, 14 Save Totovosau, 15 Dylan Audsley
Replacements: 16 Tevita Tameilau, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Travis Larsen, 20 Cronan Gleeson, 21 Patrick Madden, 22 Cole Zarcone, 23 Cecil Afrika
Date: Saturday, April 3
Venue: Lupo Family Field, Marietta
Kickoff: 19:00 local (16:00 Pacific)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
Historical Results:
n/a
