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Saturday’s late game will be played at Zions Bank Stadium where the Utah Warriors host Old Glory DC. It’s another first for Major League Rugby and again comes almost one year to the day that the two sides were originally scheduled to meet before the 2020 season came to a premature conclusion.
Old Glory have been on the road for over a week, opting to make the road trip from LA to Las Vegas to Salt Lake City. Their match against the league-leading Giltinis went about as expected and though their pride may have taken a dent, thankfully there were no serious injuries.
Tevita Naqali is the lone casualty with a calf strain but Stan South makes a timely return from his one-week suspension to partner Api Naikatini in the second row. One other change up front sees Dante Lopresti, a hooker in 2020, starting at tighthead prop with Steven Longwell among the reserves. Canadian international Luke Campbell returns from injury to act as extra loose forward cover.
There are two changes to the backline. Doug Fraser is fit to resume duties and lines up on the right wing with Osea Kolinisau’s contract now expired. Dylan Taikato-Simpson jumps straight back in at fullback with Mike Dabulas resting a sore hamstring. Tongan midfielder Simi Moala and halfback Danny Thomas are the lone back reserves on the bench.
EDIT: A late change sees Mike Dabulas replacing Josh Brown on the Old Glory bench.
Utah enjoyed a bye week following their 50-43 win over the SaberCats. The result snapped a three-game losing streak and gives the team an even 3-3 record, their 19 points good enough for third place in the West Conference and just two behind Austin.
Lance Williams returns in the back row with Jurie van Vuuren pushing up to lock in place of Matt Jensen. There is no sign of Tyler Fisher as Mika Kruse starts at outside center with Josh Whippy recalled on the wing. Fraser Hurst takes over from Danny Christensen as backup scrumhalf.
DC will be lifted by the return of Taikato-Simpson while also wary of his opposite, the ever-dangerous Mike Te’o. Lopresti is in for a stern test in the scrum opposite Olive Kilifi, while Aston Fortuin competes with South for lineout superiority. Though the caravan will help mitigate the travel somewhat, this is still Utah’s turf and at home they should be considered favorites.
Kickoff is set for 8pm local time, 7pm Pacific, 10pm Eastern. Fox Sports 2 will broadcast in the USA and Canada with The Rugby Network streaming for viewers abroad.
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi, 2 Veremalua Vugakoto, 3 Angus MacLellan, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 5 Aston Fortuin, 6 Thomas Tu’avao, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Lance Williams, 9 Michael Baska, 10 Hagen Schulte, 11 Joseph Mano, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Josh Whippy, 15 Mike Te’o
Replacements: 16 Chad Gough, 17 Alex Tucci, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 Mike Gieselman, 20 Saia Uhila, 21 Fraser Hurst, 22 Derek Ellingson, 23 James Vaifale
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jamie Dever, 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 3 Dante Lopresti, 4 Api Naikatini, 5 Stan South, 6 Callum Gibbins, 7 Mungo Mason (co-capt.), 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Jason Robertson, 11 Renata Roberts-Te Nana, 12 Thretton Palamo (co-capt.), 13 Thomas Morani, 14 Doug Fraser, 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson
Replacements: 16 Max Lum, 17 Jack Iscaro, 18 Steven Longwell, 19 Casey Renaud, 20 Luke Campbell, 21 Danny Thomas, 22 Simi Moala, 23 Mike Dabulas
Date: Saturday, May 8
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 20:00 local (19:00 Pacific, 22:00 Eastern)
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Niku Kruger (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
n/a
