Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Fresh off their hard-earned upset win over the previously unbeaten LA Giltinis, Rugby United New York will attempt to make it two cocktails in a row as they face the Gilgronis in Austin. The two sides are separated by only a single point on the overall standings with both in the mix for a playoff spot.
This is the fourth time New York have played Austin in Major League Rugby competition. The East Coasters have won all three to date, including a high-scoring match in Las Vegas last February.
Austin have already eclipsed their franchise high of three wins in a single season but their four-game winning streak came to a halt in New England last weekend. Travel certainly played its part but there were discipline issues as well with three yellow cards conceded.
The entire front row has been rotated with Jamie Mackintosh, Hugh Roach, and Paddy Ryan all starting this week. Dominic Akina is a late scratch with Kyle Breytenbach now added to the bench, one of two flanker reserves alongside Moe Abdelmonem.
Will Magie and Zinzan Elan-Puttick are out this week so there is a backline reshuffle. Ned Hodson moves to the wing with Conner Mooneyham starting at fullback. Kurt Morath fills the vacancy at inside center. US Eagles scrumhalf Ruben de Haas is set to make his MLR bow as a replacement.
New York are flying high from the performance in Jersey City. They have scraped together back-to-back wins after the dismal defeat to the Arrows last month. Marty Veale has opted to keep the faith with the team showing only one enforced change to the starting lineup.
Juan Manuel Leguizamón is out with a knee injury so Evan Mintern returns at the back of the scrum. On the bench there is a conventional 5-3 split in the absence of Kyle Sumsion. Instead it’s the versatile Chris Mattina who adds cover across the backline.
On one hand New York are in slightly better form at the moment with Austin’s absentees more significant. Counting against New York is the short turnaround, the Texas heat, and significant travel. The home side might thus be considered betting favorites but the visitors are very much in the fight.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. A local broadcast will be available on KBVO in Austin, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide. MSG Network will carry a delayed broadcast for viewers in New York.
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Jamie Mackintosh, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Isaac Ross, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Dom Bailey, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Michael de Waal, 9 Pele Cowley, 10 Mack Mason, 11 Ned Hodson, 12 Kurt Morath, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Rodrick Waters, 15 Conner Mooneyham
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Mason Pedersen, 18 LaRome White, 19 Cam Dodson, 20 Moe Abdelmonem, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Kyle Breytenbach, 23 Cole Davis
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford, 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.), 3 Zak Taulafo, 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 Kara Pryor, 8 Evan Mintern, 9 Andy Ellis, 10 Dan Hollinshead, 11 Quinn Ngawati, 12 Will Leonard, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Joel Miranda, 15 Troy Lockyear
Replacements: 16 Wilton Rebolo, 17 Anthony Parry, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Benjamín Bonasso, 21 Conor McManus, 22 Harry Bennett, 23 Chris Mattina
Date: Saturday, May 15
Venue: Bold Stadium, Austin
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee:
Assistants:
Broadcasts: KBVO, MSG Network (delayed), The Rugby Network
Historical Results
2020-02-15 – Rugby United New York 49, Austin Gilgronis 31 (Sam Boyd Stadium)
2019-05-19 – Rugby United New York 27, Austin Elite 7 (MCU Park)
2019-03-30 – Austin Elite 11, Rugby United New York 19 (Toyota Field)
