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The main event of the July 4 weekend sees the LA Giltinis hosting the NOLA Gold at the Memorial Coliseum. It’s the first time the two sides have faced each other and there are postseason implications with the visitors seeking to close the gap behind New York in the East and the home side just a single point away from clinching their spot in the Western Conference final.
NOLA have done well to stay within touching distance of a playoff spot despite their tricky schedule. They have scraped together three wins in a row though none have been entirely convincing. It took a second half surge to salvage the win against New England last weekend.
International call-ups have decimated the Gold’s roster with four starting forwards on Eagles duty. Matt Harmon, Dino Waldren, Andrew Guerra, and Cam Dolan are out. In their place are Kevin Sullivan, Brian Nault, Kane Thompson, and Giovanni Lapp. It’s a first start for Nault and an MLR debut for Lapp.
The backs are more settled with only one tactical change as Damian Stevens tags in for Holden Yungert at scrumhalf. Another potential debutante is on the bench as loose forward Osaiasi Tonga’uiha joins older brother Moni in the match day squad as Devin Short misses due to suspension.
LA have overcome a spate of injuries to claim their own three-game win streak since the tough loss to Rugby ATL. In the past week they have sent Corey Thomas, Luke Carty, and Ryan James overseas but welcome three key players back to the lineup.
Blake Rogers comes in for JP Smith at loosehead prop in the only change to the starting forward pack. There is a notable return for dynamic hooker Mahe Vailanu, though he settles for a spot among the reserves after five games out with a broken thumb.
The backs get a big boost in the form of ex-Wallaby stars Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper. Giteau slots back in at flyhalf with Ashley-Cooper making his first appearance of the season as a winger. First choice scrumhalf Harrison Goddard also returns but will play backup to Cristian Rodriguez.
Both teams enter with momentum but other factors are not so even. LA have home field advantage and the Gold are forced to field a severely depleted scrum. Perfect weather is on the horizon which suggests the Giltinis will take the opportunity to stretch their legs. It will take something special from NOLA to come away from the Coliseum with a win.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 9pm Central, 10pm Eastern. Fox Sports 1 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming to viewers located abroad.
LA GILTINIS
1 Blake Rogers, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Marco Fepulea’i, 4 Dave Dennis (capt.), 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Angus Cottrell, 7 Pago Haini, 8 Adam Ashe, 9 Cristian Rodriguez, 10 Matt Giteau, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Serupepeli Vularika, 13 Bill Meakes, 14 John Ryberg, 15 Glenn Bryce
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Jean-Pierre Smith, 18 Ma’ake Muti, 19 Sean O’Brien, 20 Ben Weischedel, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jonetani Vasurakuta, 23 Adam Channel
NOLA GOLD
1 Kevin Sullivan, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Brian Nault, 4 Kane Thompson, 5 Billy Stewart, 6 Malcolm May, 7 Giovanni Lapp, 8 Moni Tonga’uiha, 9 Damian Stevens, 10 Timothée Guillimin, 11 Joeli Tikoisuva, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 15 Carl Meyer
Replacements: 16 Kevin O’Connor, 17 John Sullivan, 18 James Irey, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Osaiasi Tonga’uiha, 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Ross Depperschmidt, 23 Kyle Rogers
Date: Sunday, July 4
Venue: Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
Kickoff: 19:00 local (21:00 Central, 22:00 Eastern)
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Jack Gohl (Australia)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 1, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
n/a
