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The next stop for the LA Giltinis on their cross-country tour is Houston, where a SaberCats revival is taking place at AVEVA Stadium on Saturday evening. Both West Conference teams are coming off wins though in very different circumstances.
LA’s first three matches in Major League Rugby have gone swimmingly with three convincing wins. Their high powered offense is generating an average of nearly 50 points a game. Against Toronto they found a challenging opponent but once an opening appeared they put the Arrows to the sword.
Matt Giteau has been left on the bench this week after taking a battering against the Canadian side. He makes way for Luke Carty at flyhalf, while Ryan James spells John Ryberg on the right wing. Watson Filikitonga is named as a backs reserve with his pro debut set to come as a replacement.
Up front there’s a straight swap at second row with Nathan Den Hoedt restored to the run-on side. Two more changes are in the back row where Christian Poidevin is recalled and Pago Haini starts at No8. Lindsey Stevens steps in as backup hooker, and new prop signing Ma’aki Muti could make his first MLR appearance as a replacement.
The SaberCats were looking down and out after two consecutive shutout defeats but bounced back with an inspired performance to beat San Diego. Despite the reversal in fortunes they will be under no illusions of the challenge that awaits on Saturday.
Paul Healy has stuck to the side that did the business last weekend with two enforced exceptions. A thumb injury has sidelined Diego Fortuny so Tiaan Erasmus moves up to the starting spot at hooker. Veramu Dikidikilati is given the week off to rest an ankle with Taylor Howden summoned to fill the outside center spot.
It’s not clear who will cover hooker in an emergency with three props named on the bench. Liam Murray could make his club debut after winning his first MLR cap on loan with the Arrows, while fellow Canadian Nik Hildebrand has yet to see his first pro action. Bronson Teles is fit to add extra back cover on a bench that show a 6-2 split.
Houston are in a much better spot this week but the loss of both Fortuny and Dikidikilati is a heavy price to pay. Even with Giteau on the bench this is a formidable Giltinis lineup who showed little concern with playing on the road in New Orleans. The SaberCats earned their upset last weekend but LA looks too steep a hill to climb. Take the Giltinis to stay undefeated.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. Live broadcasts will be available on Bally Sports SoCal and The Rugby Network will stream the match worldwide. A delayed broadcast will be featured on AT&T SportsNet.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 3 Charlie Connolly, 4 Kody O’Neil, 5 Lucas Albornoz, 6 Luke Beauchamp (capt.), 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Diego Magno, 9 Nick Boyer, 10 Robbie Povey, 11 Zach Pangelinan, 12 Sam Windsor, 13 Taylor Howden, 14 Paula Balekana, 15 Matías Freyre
Replacements: 16 Liam Murray, 17 Nicolás Solveyra, 18 Nik Hildebrand, 19 Van Stewart, 20 Adriaan Booysen, 21 Zack Godfrey, 22 Bronson Teles, 23 Zachary Short
LA GILTINIS
1 Blake Rogers, 2 Mahe Vailanu, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 Dave Dennis (capt.), 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Angus Cottrell, 7 Christian Poidevin, 8 Pago Haini, 9 Harrison Goddard, 10 Luke Carty, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Luke Burton, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Ryan James, 15 Glenn Bryce
Replacements: 16 Lindsey Stevens, 17 Frikkie de Beer, 18 Ma’ake Muti, 19 Corey Thomas, 20 Adam Ashe, 21 Cristian Rodriguez, 22 Matt Giteau, 23 Watson Filikitonga
Date: Saturday, April 17
Venue: AVEVA Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Jarrod Ford (USA) & Mitch Damm (HSA)
Broadcasts: AT&T SportsNet (24hr delay), Bally Sports SoCal, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
n/a
