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Saturday evening promises to be a memorable occasion for the Austin Gilgronis as they host the Toronto Arrows at Bold Stadium. It’s both the last home game of the regular season for the AG’s and the last road game for the Arrows. Victory is essential for Austin if they hope to stay in the race for a Semi Final spot.
This will be the first meeting between the two in 2021 but the fourth time they have met in Major League Rugby, with the Arrows claiming all three. The two sides have shared historic moments – last February was Austin’s first regular season game sporting a new brand in a new stadium, while the Arrows secured their first ever MLR victory against the then-Elite almost exactly one year prior.
The AG’s were convincing winners over Houston to keep their hold on the Texas Cup but still have ground to make up on Utah after their loss to the Warriors two weeks ago. With four road games in their future the clear objective is to take maximum points at home.
There are three changes in the tight five to freshen up the pack. Jamie Mackintosh and Paddy Ryan are the starting props with LaRome White covering tighthead on the bench and Jake Turnbull coming in as loosehead backup. Isaac Ross takes over from Sebastian de Chaves at lock.
Mack Mason starts at fullback for the first time this season in the only personnel change in the backs. Zinzan Elan-Puttick switches to the wing with Cole Davis the odd man out. Hugh Roach, Michael de Waal, and Ned Hodson return from injury to take up spots on the bench and newcomer David Still is set to make his professional rugby debut as a replacement.
Toronto’s frustrations continued as they came up short against San Diego in Marietta last weekend. That makes it back-to-back defeats and the team is keen to avoid losing three straight for the first time. They’ll have to front up on the road without some key figures.
Cole Keith and Tyler Rowland both came off in the first half against the Legion and are replaced by Pat Lynott and Gastón Cortes respectively, with Jack McRogers getting the nod over Andrew Quattrin in an entirely new front row. Tomás de la Vega returns on the flank with Mason Flesch moving up to the lock, and 20-year-old Siaki Vikilani makes his first professional start at No8 with Manuel Diana settling for a spot on the bench.
Missing from the backs are Tayler Adams, Manuel Montero, and Leandro Leivas. Ross Braude and Will Kelly partner in the halfbacks and Johnny Sheridan joins the group for his first appearance of the 2021 season. For the second time this season a loan player is required to help cover prop with Rugby ATL’s Luke Schlotman answering the SOS.
Searing hot temperatures are expected in Central Texas tomorrow which should mean that replacements are busy. That’s uncomfortable news for Toronto given the sub-optimal front row stocks. The form guide leans towards Austin, who also have more to play for at this stage of the season. Take the home side as favorites to claim a first ever win over the Arrows.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. Fox Soccer Plus will broadcast in the USA with TSN 2 available for viewers in Canada. All those abroad can watch a live stream on The Rugby Network.
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Jamie Mackintosh, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Isaac Ross, 5 Cam Dodson, 6 Kyle Breytenbach, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Dominic Akina, 9 Pele Cowley, 10 Kurt Morath, 11 Conner Mooneyham, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 13 Frank Halai, 14 Zinzan Elan-Puttick, 15 Mack Mason
Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 LaRome White, 19 Reegan O’Gorman, 20 Michael de Waal, 21 Sidney Shoop, 22 Ned Hodson, 23 David Still
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Pat Lynott, 2 Jack McRogers, 3 Gastón Cortes, 4 Mason Flesch, 5 Mike Sheppard, 6 Tomás de la Vega, 7 Lucas Rumball (co-capt.), 8 Siaki Vikilani, 9 Ross Braude, 10 Will Kelly, 11 Gastón Mieres, 12 Spencer Jones, 13 Ben LeSage (co-capt.), 14 Johnny Sheridan, 15 Joaquín Tuculet
Replacements: 16 Andrew Quattrin, 17 Luke Schlotman, 18 Marc-Antoine Ouellet, 19 Adrian Wadden, 20 Manuel Diana, 21 Jason Higgins, 22 Mitch Richardson, 23 Patrick Parfrey
Date: Saturday, June 12
Venue: Bold Stadium, Austin
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USA) & Butch Neuenschwander (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox Soccer Plus, The Rugby Network, TSN 2
Historical Results
2020-02-09 – Austin Gilgronis 10, Toronto Arrows 38 (Bold Stadium)
2019-05-09 – Toronto Arrows 24, Austin Elite 13 (York Alumni Field)
2019-02-08 – Austin Elite 19, Toronto Arrows 23 (Dell Diamond)
