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A full day of Major League Rugby action on Saturday ends in San Diego where the Legion take on the Austin Gilgronis at Torero Stadium. The two sides squared off in a low-scoring but thoroughly entertaining match back in Week 2 that saw San Diego taking the spoils in Texas.
It’s Austin who have their eyes on redemption but also on a spot in the Semi Final. Three wins in a row including a bonus point result in Seattle last weekend have them just five points short of Utah. With LA on the immediate horizon, the AG’s will be gunning for maximum points in California.
There are four changes to the starting side, three coming up front. Jamie Mackintosh returns to the No1 shirt but fellow All Black Isaac Ross sits this one out, replaced by Cam Dodson in the second row. Michael de Waal comes into the back row with no sign of Maclean Jones.
Zinzan Elan-Puttick is another conspicuous absentee with Nick Johnson handed his first start in an AG jersey, wearing No14 but lining up on the left wing. The bench gets a boost with the return of Will Magie from a hamstring problem, with both Robbie Coetzee and LaRome White ready to roll as replacements.
San Diego might have been playing for something more but they let golden opportunities go by the wayside first in Utah and then last week against LA. Their late season surge has come to an end and with no hope of making the postseason the goal is now to finish a frustrating year on a high.
Peter Malcolm rotates in for Dean Muir at hooker in one of three changes to freshen up the pack. Keni Nasoqeqe and Jasa Veremalua come in on the flank with Psalm Wooching on the bench and Chris Robshaw injured. Michael Smith has joined up with the Canada squad so Chris Turori takes up the other forward reserve spot.
Cecil Afrika starts at fullback with Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias moving up to the midfield in place of another casualty in Tiaan Loots. Ethan McVeigh replaces Carlo de Nysschen at scrumhalf and his backup will be Nate Augspurger, who has recovered earlier than expected from a broken ankle. Save Totovosau also returns to the bench after a prolonged absence.
Perfect weather conditions are on the forecast which should make for an entertaining match. San Diego are on a short turnaround while also dealing with the disappointment of defeat, but will be inspired by the return of Augspurger. Whether that will be enough to beat a motivated AG side is another question. Take the visitors but don’t bet the house on it.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 9pm Central, 10pm Eastern. Fox Sports 1 will broadcast in Canada and the USA, with The Rugby Network streaming to viewers abroad.
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Peter Malcolm, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Tom Franklin, 5 Siaosi Mahoni, 6 Keni Nasoqeqe, 7 Jasa Veremalua, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Ethan McVeigh, 10 Joe Pietersen, 11 Bjorn Basson, 12 Santiago González Iglesias, 13 Thomas Morani, 14 Cameron Clark (capt.), 15 Cecil Afrika
Replacements: 16 Dean Muir, 17 Cronan Gleeson, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Chris Turori, 20 Psalm Wooching, 21 Nate Augspurger, 22 Ryan Matyas, 23 Save Totovosau
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Jamie Mackintosh, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Mason Pedersen, 4 Cam Dodson, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Dominic Akina, 7 Michael de Waal, 8 Locky McCaffrey, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Kurt Morath, 11 Conner Mooneyham, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 13 Frank Halai, 14 Nick Johnson, 15 Mack Mason
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 LaRome White, 19 Kyle Breytenbach, 20 Dom Bailey, 21 Pele Cowley, 22 Will Magie, 23 David Still
Date: Saturday, June 26
Venue: Torero Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 19:00 local (21:00 Central, 22:00 Eastern)
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistants: Austin Reed (USA) & Jacob Gonzalez (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 1, The Rugby Network
Historical Results:
2021-03-28 – Austin Gilgronis 11, San Diego Legion 14 (Bold Stadium)
2019-04-07 – San Diego Legion 45, Austin Elite 15 (Torero Stadium)
2019-02-22 – Austin Elite 17, San Diego Legion 45 (Dell Diamond)
2018-06-17 – San Diego Legion 31, Austin Elite 17 (Torero Stadium)
2018-05-25 – Austin Elite 31, San Diego Legion 5 (Round Rock Multipurpose Complex)
