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The first of six games this weekend is an Eastern Conference match-up between Old Glory DC and NOLA Gold. For both it could be a last-gasp chance to stay alive in the playoff race, though NOLA’s outlook looks decidedly better than that of their hosts at the moment.
It was back in Week 1 when they last took the field together in what finished as a 26-all deadlock. Since then both have lost key figures to injury and each lineup for Saturday shows significant changes even from last weekend..
Old Glory have dropped back-to-back games against New York and New England, the former a blowout and the latter a near-miss that came right down to the wire. The good news is that co-captains Mungo Mason and Thretton Palamo are deemed fit for duty though three other starters are missing.
Concussion has ruled out Mikey Sosene-Feagai and Doug Fraser, while Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz serves the last of his three-game suspension. James King steps in at hooker with Josh Brown deputising at No8. Tevita Naqali moves to his more accustomed lock position with Cory Daniel dropping to the bench to make room for Mason at flanker.
Fraser’s midfield spot goes to Palamo and there is an interesting reshuffle of the backline. Mike Dabulas moves from wing to flyhalf with Jason Robertson starting at inside center for the first time. Ciaran Hearn makes way to accommodate, with Sam Cusano summoned on the right wing.
The Gold fell just short to Rugby ATL in their final home game of the year last weekend. They now begin a six-week road trip with four points separating them from current East runners-up New York, who also have six games remaining.
There is rotation in the tight five as Kevin Sullivan tags in for Matt Harmon at loosehead prop and Billy Stewart swaps out for Nikola Bursic at lock. Cam Dolan continues to lead in the absence of Kyle Baillie, and Devin Short starts at openside flanker with Eagles select Andrew Guerra ruled out.
Holden Yungert is recalled at scrumhalf in a backs division that shows four personnel changes. Lockie Kratz comes into the midfield for JP du Plessis, with Ross Depperschmidt starting on the wing and Hanno Dirksen nominated at fullback. Kyle Rogers moves to the bench and Carl Meyer remains unavailable due to his concussion suffered against the Arrows in early May.
This is a difficult match to call with so many changes to each side. NOLA have not traveled well this season but have potentially more at stake. DC are holding on to faint hopes of the postseason and at the very least can embrace a spoiler role. Desperation suggests the Gold should be favorites by a razor-thin margin, but the return of Mason and Palamo makes this a compelling matchup.
Kickoff is set for 5pm local time, 2pm Pacific, 4pm Central. Local broadcasts will be available on NBC Sports Washington and Cox Sports TV in New Orleans, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jamie Dever, 2 James King, 3 Steven Longwell, 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Stan South, 6 Callum Gibbins, 7 Mungo Mason (co-capt.), 8 Josh Brown, 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Mike Dabulas, 11 Renata Roberts-Te Nana, 12 Jason Robertson, 13 Thretton Palamo (co-capt.), 14 Sam Cusano, 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson
Replacements: 16 Dante Lopresti, 17 Jack Iscaro, 18 Jack Carroll, 19 Casey Renaud, 20 Cory Daniel, 21 Danny Thomas, 22 Ciaran Hearn, 23 D’Montae Noble
NOLA GOLD
1 Kevin Sullivan, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Dino Waldren, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Nikola Bursic, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Devin Short, 8 Cam Dolan (capt.), 9 Holden Yungert, 10 Timothée Guillimin, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Juan Cappiello, 13 Lockie Kratz, 14 Ross Depperschmidt, 15 Hanno Dirksen
Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Matt Harmon, 18 Brian Nault, 19 Billy Stewart, 20 Malcolm May, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 JP du Plessis, 23 Kyle Rogers
Date: Saturday, June 12
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg
Kickoff: 17:00 local (14:00 Pacific, 16:00 Central)
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Mike O’Brien (USA) & Gavin McCandless (USA)
Broadcasts: Cox Sports TV, NBC Sports Washington, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
2021-03-21 – NOLA Gold 26, Old Glory DC 26 (The Gold Mine)
2020-02-08 – NOLA Gold 46, Old Glory DC 13 (The Gold Mine)
