Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
It’s a battle of former finalists at Starfire Stadium on Sunday in the final game of the weekend. The fortunes of both the Seattle Seawolves and San Diego Legion have changed dramatically since that memorable day in June of 2019, but there will be no less passion from either.
No two teams have faced each other on more occasions in Major League Rugby competition than the West Coast rivals. It’s an even split in their six matches with San Diego claiming the most recent collision in 2020, but the Seawolves took both post-season meetings.
Seattle are currently stuck at the bottom of the overall table and it would take a record-setting winning margin to jump ahead of Houston this week. They did restore some confidence last Sunday against New York though they were left heartbroken after a late penalty goal put them on the short side of the scale for the 5th time this season.
Two changes are made up front with Tim Metcher recovered from a minor injury to run out at tighthead prop, while Samu Manoa makes his first start of the season at lock in place of injured FP Pelser. A pair of Eagles bolster the bench in loosehead Huluholo Mo’ungaloa and second row Ben Landry, who makes his Seattle debut after 14 months on the sidelines.
Another new arrival, Samoan World Cup select AJ Alatimu, starts at flyhalf with Kieran Joyce and Shalom Suniula each bumping out one spot. Sitiveni Tamaivena is recalled on the wing in place of Aaron Matthews, who settles for a spot among the reserves this week.
Injuries have ravaged San Diego and they did not enjoy their match against New England in LA last weekend. Through seven matches they have just two wins, a far cry from their 5-0 record of last season. The good news is the return of two key players to the lineup this week.
Joshua Furno is back from a loan spell with Biarritz in France to start in the second row alongside Ben Mitchell. There is a change at tighthead prop with Chris Baumann wearing the No3 shirt, and two Canadians come into the back row in flanker Michael Smith and No8 Travis Larsen. It’s a first MLR start for Smith, and the first Legion start for Larsen.
The new halfback combination is Carlo de Nysschen, who makes a welcome return from injury, and former Eagle Tai Enosa. Cameron Clark captains the side from inside center with Bjorn Basson unusually named in the No13 shirt. Ryan Matyas fills the vacancy on the wing. New signing Ethan McVeigh provides specialist scrumhalf backup with Patrick Madden covering flyhalf.
Neither team are in form or at full strength but of the two Seattle are slightly less depleted. They were also the better performing side last weekend. The sheer volume of changes will certainly have an affect on San Diego’s continuity. All things considered it’s reasonable to call the Seawolves favorites for the first time since Week 1.
Kickoff is set for 5pm local time, 8pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on Fox 5 San Diego and Root Sports in Seattle, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 James Malcolm, 3 Tim Metcher, 4 Conor McGill, 5 Samu Manoa, 6 Tommy Clark, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Ross Neal, 12 Kieran Joyce, 13 Shalom Suniula, 14 Sitiveni Tamaivena, 15 Mat Turner
Replacements: 16 Obert Nortjé, 17 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Ben Landry, 20 Eric Duechle 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Seta Tuilevuka, 23 Aaron Mathews
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Cronan Gleeson, 2 Dean Muir, 3 Chris Baumann, 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Joshua Furno, 6 Michael Smith, 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Travis Larsen, 9 Carlo de Nysschen, 10 Tai Enosa, 11 Cole Zarcone, 12 Cameron Clark (capt.), 13 Bjorn Basson, 14 Ryan Matyas, 15 Cecil Afrika
Replacements: 16 Tevita Tameilau, 17 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 18 Aaron Mitchell, 19 Jasa Veremalua, 20 Victor Comptat, 21 Peter Malcolm, 22 Ethan McVeigh, 23 Patrick Madden
Date: Sunday, May 9
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 17:00 local (20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Brett Johnson (USA) & Ryan Curtis (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox 5 San Diego, Root Sports, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
2020-02-09 – San Diego Legion 33, Seattle Seawolves 24 (Torero Stadium)
2019-06-16 – San Diego Legion 23, Seattle Seawolves 26 (Torero Stadium)
2019-03-31 – Seattle Seawolves 22, San Diego Legion 28 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-02-02 – San Diego Legion 17, Seattle Seawolves 13 (Torero Stadium)
2018-06-30 – Seattle Seawolves 38, San Diego Legion 24 (Infinity Park)
2018-04-22 – Seattle Seawolves 39, San Diego Legion 23 (Starfire Stadium)
