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Closing out the weekend is a Western Conference clash between the Seattle Seawolves and Utah Warriors at Starfire Stadium. The two sides collided at Herriman in April with the visitors stealing an upset win. The Warriors will be looking to return the favor in Tukwila.
Despite being an even 5-5 on the season thus far, Utah now enjoy a five-point buffer in second spot in the West courtesy of their outstanding win over Austin last weekend. It redeemed a lackluster showing in New Orleans the week before and puts the team in the driver’s seat to make the Semi Final.
Shawn Pittman has responded by making only a single change to the starting side. Paul Mullen switches with Angus MacLellan to start at tighthead prop. The bench features returns for Olive Kilifi as backup loosehead and regular flyhalf Hagen Schulte, with Calvin Whiting retaining the No10 shirt for now.
Seattle had a week off to reflect on their home defeat to Rugby ATL. They return with their third Head Coach of the season as Allen Clarke takes over the job in a permanent capacity. Where the Warriors are settled, the Seawolves show dramatic changes to their lineup.
Djustice Sears-Duru comes in for Huluholo Mo’ungaloa at loosehead prop in the only change to the tight five. There is no sign of Andrew Durutalo in the back row as Naulia Dawai shifts to openside flanker and Brad Tucker starts on the blindside. Les Soloai and Tommy Clark provide cover on a 6-2 bench.
Four backs continue but all are in new positions this week. JP Smith slides out to flyhalf with Devereaux Ferris taking the No9 shirt. AJ Alatimu moves to the midfield to partner Ross Neal, who returns to the centers after a five-game spell on the wing.
Suliasi Tamaivena switches from right to left and there are two entirely new names out wide. Lauina Futi is called up from the Seattle Rugby Club to start on the right wing, while former Japan international Akihito Yamada makes his Major League Rugby debut at fullback.
The Seawolves are well out of the playoff hunt now and Coach Clarke may be considering who to offer contracts for next season. Utah are very much in the mix however and need the points to hold off a surging San Diego side. Light rain should have little effect on the result. With superior form and continuity the Warriors are favorites on the road.
Kickoff is set for 5pm local time, 6pm Mountain, 8pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on the KSL Sports App in Utah and Root Sports in Seattle, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 James Malcolm, 3 Tim Metcher, 4 Ben Landry, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Brad Tucker, 7 Naulia Dawai, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 Devereaux Ferris, 10 JP Smith, 11 Suliasi Tamaivena, 12 AJ Alatimu, 13 Ross Neal, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Akihito Yamada
Replacements: 16 Mike Shepherd, 17 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Conor McGill, 20 Les Soloai, 21 Tommy Clark, 22 George Barton, 23 Kieran Joyce
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg, 2 Veremalua Vugakoto, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Aston Fortuin, 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Lance Williams, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Michael Baska, 10 Calvin Whiting, 11 Josh Whippy, 12 Derek Ellingson, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Mika Kruse, 15 Mike Te’o
Replacements: 16 Chad Gough, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Saia Uhila, 20 Mike Gieselman, 21 Fraser Hurst, 22 Hagen Schulte, 23 James Vaifale
Date: Sunday, June 6
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 17:00 local (18:00 Mountain, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistants: Denny Russell (USA) & Ryan Curtis (USA)
Broadcasts: KSL Sports App, Root Sports, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
2021-04-10 – Utah Warriors 15, Seattle Seawolves 20 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2020-03-07 – Seattle Seawolves 31, Utah Warriors 33 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-05-26 – Seattle Seawolves 27, Utah Warriors 27 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-04-05 – Utah Warriors 36, Seattle Seawolves 48 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2018-05-21 – Seattle Seawolves 41, Utah Warriors 32 (Starfire Stadium)
