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The next chance to knock off the table-topping LA Giltinis will go to the San Diego Legion. Though they have been tested at times against Toronto and Houston, it’s been largely smooth sailing for the expansion side who are a perfect four-from-four to start their Major League Rugby account.
Oddly enough both teams are currently based in Los Angeles. Saturday’s game will take place at the Memorial Coliseum, only a short drive up Route 110 from Dignity Health Sports Park where the Legion faced Utah last weekend on the Track & Field Pitch adjacent the main stadium.
Utah were worthy opponents who stayed in the game through the end though ultimately San Diego were 31-29 winners. The win came at a cost, however, with utility back and USA international Dylan Audsley suffering a broken ankle that underwent surgical repair on Wednesday.
In better news scrumhalf talisman Nate Augspurger made his return off the bench against the Warriors. He gets the start this week in place of Carlo de Nysschen. A backline reshuffle sees both Cameron Clark and Ryan Matyas bumping in one spot and Save Totovosau recalled on the right wing.
Keni Nasoqeqe has an upper-body injury that will keep him out of the lineup this week so Jasa Veremalua comes in on the blindside flank in the only change to the forwards. It’s a conventional 5-3 split on the bench with Canadian back row Michael Smith still waiting on his pro debut after being an unused replacement against Utah.
LA will be without Matt Giteau entirely for the first time this season. The Australia star made an impact off the bench to help steer the Giltinis past a troublesome SaberCats that were within a single point until the 65th minute. Giteau has a sore back that won’t be risked against the Legion.
Luke Carty starts again at No10 with new signing Serupepeli Vularika providing cover, though it’s more likely he would step in at center with Luke Burton shifting to flyhalf if required. The only other change in the backs has Ryan James dropping to the bench with John Ryberg returning to the run-on side.
Up front there are two alterations. JP Smith is in at loosehead prop with Blake Rogers swapping to the reserves. Adam Ashe was summoned from the bench early against Houston, he will run out in the No8 shirt this week with Langilangi Haupeakui providing backup.
Near-perfect conditions are on the forecast which should make for a high-flying encounter. Home field advantage counts for little but LA’s devastating attacking game suggests that San Diego will have their hands full. Later in the season when the likes of Paddy Ryan and Joshua Furno return to the fold this may require more thought, but at the moment the Giltinis are clear favorites.
Kickoff is set for 6pm local, 9pm Eastern. CBS Sports Network will broadcast in the USA and Canada, with The Rugby Network streaming abroad.
LA GILTINIS
1 Jean-Pierre Smith, 2 Mahe Vailanu, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 Dave Dennis (capt.), 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Angus Cottrell, 7 Christian Poidevin, 8 Adam Ashe, 9 Harrison Goddard, 10 Luke Carty, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Luke Burton, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 John Ryberg, 15 Glenn Bryce
Replacements: 16 Blake Rogers, 17 Sean McNulty, 18 Frikkie de Beer, 19 Corey Thomas, 20 Langilangi Haupeakui, 21 Cristian Rodriguez, 22 Serupepeli Vularika, 23 Ryan James
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia, 2 Peter Malcolm, 3 Chris Baumann, 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Siaosi Mahoni, 6 Jasa Veremalua, 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.), 10 Santiago González Iglesias, 11 Bjorn Basson, 12 Cameron Clark, 13 Ryan Matyas, 14 Save Totovosau, 15 Cecil Afrika
Replacements: 16 Dean Muir, 17 Cronan Gleeson, 18 Aaron Mitchell, 19 Travis Larsen, 20 Michael Smith, 21 Carlo de Nysschen, 22 Cole Zarcone, 23 Patrick Madden
Date: Saturday, April 24
Venue: Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
Kickoff: 18:00 local (21:00 Eastern)
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Andrew Stockton (USA)
Broadcasts: CBS Sports Network, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
n/a
