Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Another old rivalry will be rekindled on Saturday evening when NOLA Gold host the Utah Warriors at The Gold Mine. The two founding members have met on three previous occasions but it’s now pushed beyond two years since their most recent encounter.
NOLA have won all three games though two were within three points. The memorable 2018 encounter saw JP Eloff recording MLR’s only full house to date – one of each possible score – while a Nick Feakes hat trick in a snowstorm was the story in the first of two games in 2019.
Eloff and Feakes would be welcomed in the lineup today but both are recovering from long-term knee injuries. The Gold are looking to bounce back from their disappointing road loss to the Legion at Chula Vista and show five changes to the run-on side.
Pat O’Toole rotates in for Eric Howard at hooker, with Billy Stewart swapping jerseys with Ignacio Dotti to start at lock. Cam Dolan is recalled at No8 with Moni Tonga’uiha shifting to the blindside flank and Nikola Bursic missing out altogether.
In the backs it’s Juan Cappiello and Tim Maupin who come in at outside center and right wing respectively with Lockie Kratz and Hanno Dirksen dropping to the bench. It’s a conventional 5-3 split this week with James Irey the backup tighthead prop and Malcolm May providing loose forward cover.
Utah are also looking to bounce back from defeat but will have taken many more positives from their outing against LA at SoFi Stadium. With Austin falling to the Giltinis on Wednesday there is a chance for the Warriors to jump ahead in the West Conference standings.
There are only two personnel changes to the lineup. Angus MacLellan starts at No3 with Paul Mullen moving back to the replacements. Collegiate draft pick Derek Ellingson makes his first professional start in the midfield with Mika Kruse bumping to the wing and Josh Whippy missing out.
Travel is always a factor but Utah have competed well in each of their road games this far. Of the two sides the Warriors are in better form, with the Gold’s offense failing to impress against the Legion. The heat and humidity may trouble the visitors but otherwise this is as good a chance as any for Utah to get a first ever win against an old foe.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on Cox Sports TV in New Orleans and the KSL Sports App in Utah, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Dino Waldren, 4 Kyle Baillie (capt.), 5 Billy Stewart, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Andrew Guerra, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Holden Yungert, 10 Timothée Guillimin, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Tim Maupin, 15 Kyle Rogers
Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Kevin Sullivan, 18 James Irey, 19 Ignacio Dotti, 20 Malcolm May, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Lockie Kratz, 23 Hanno Dirksen
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg, 2 Sama Malolo, 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 James Vaifale, 12 Derek Ellingson, 13 Calvin Whiting, 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Mike Te’o
Replacements: 16 Veremalua Vugakoto, 17 Alex Tucci, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 Saia Uhila, 20 Mike Gieselman, 21 Fraser Hurst, 22 Tyler Fisher, 23 Chad Gough
Date: Saturday, May 22
Venue: The Gold Mine, New Orleans
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Rob Halcomb (USA) & Saade Bou-Mikael (USA)
Broadcasts: Cox Sports TV, KSL Sports App, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
2019-04-13 – NOLA Gold 28, Utah Warriors 19 (Archbishop Shaw Stadium)
2019-03-02 – Utah Warriors 19, NOLA Gold 21 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2018-06-16 – Utah Warriors 43, NOLA Gold 46 (Zions Bank Stadium)
