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The process to determine a new Major League Rugby champion starts on Saturday evening in Marietta where Rugby ATL hosts Rugby United New York in the Eastern Conference Final. ATL are the top seeds, the second overall finishers in the league, and the Ratlers have more than just a spot in the Championship Final in mind.
On three previous occasions the two sides have come to blows, and each time ATL have come up short. New York were convincing winners at The Snake Pit in April – the only home loss of the season for the Ratlers – and again in Queens just over a month ago.
Oddly enough both teams enter the game on the back of a three-point defeats. ATL were off the pace in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Free Jacks in Quincy, mounting a commendable second half comeback but not enough to overcome the sizable halftime deficit.
With the return of Matt Heaton, Kurt Coleman, and Ryan Nell to full fitness there were a number of selection decisions to make in the lineup. Attack coach Stephen Brett said during a media call during the week that the entire squad was available this week. If that is indeed accurate there are some surprise names left in the cold.
The first choice tight five is restored with Marko Janse van Rensburg in at hooker and countrymen Marno Redelinghuys and Johan Momsen packing down in the second row. There are no changes to the back row, with no place for outstanding No8 Jason Damm even among the replacements.
Rowan Gouws is recalled at scrumhalf but it’s not Kurt Coleman or even Adriaan Carelse who runs out at flyhalf. Coleman is one of only two backs on the bench and it’s Bautista Ezcurra who gets the call at No10 with Robbie Petzer at inside center. Carelse is another high profile absentee along with Mark O’Keeffe and Rory van Vugt.
New York slipped up in the final moments of their match against NOLA last Saturday, but had already delivered the bonus point to secure their spot in the postseason. They have largely stuck to the plan though there are three significant changes to the starting lineup.
Kara Pryor’s red card and subsequent suspension sees Hanco Germishuys shifting to No8, with Evan Mintern filling the gap on the blindside flank. Otherwise the forward pack is unchanged. Kyle Sumsion is recalled to the bench to provide back row cover following Mintern’s promotion.
There is another blow at flyhalf where Dan Hollinshead has departed the team early to resume his provincial contract in New Zealand. Harry Bennett steps in as his replacement. Fa’asiu Fuatai is deemed fit to resume at outside center and Quinn Ngawati fills the vacancy on the wing. Chris Mattina has also recovered from injury to take a spot among the reserves.
Weather is not expected to be a factor with a warm but otherwise calm evening on the forecast. Home field advantage goes to the Ratlers. Historical results, however, suggest that New York hold a slight psychological advantage regardless. Also counting against ATL is an extra day’s rest for their guests.
The lineout leans towards the visitors with Nick Civetta holding a significant height advantage over Momsen and Redelinghuys. Defensively both are sound, but the edge in kicking – both tactical and off the tee – goes to the home side with Ezcurra’s left boot sure to make its mark.
Scott Lawrence’s decision to name an extra forward could pay dividends in the final quarter while the Ratler front row substitutes look more menacing than their opposites. Add in the likely impact of Ryan Rees and Coleman from the bench, and there is enough to suggest that ATL have the goods to take a narrow result and end the New York hoodoo hanging over their heads.
Kickoff is set for 8pm local time, 5pm Pacific. CBS Sports Network will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming to viewers in Canada and abroad.
RUGBY ATL
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 3 Wikus Groenewald, 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Connor Cook, 7 Matt Heaton (co-capt.), 8 Ross Deacon, 9 Rowan Gouws, 10 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 12 Robbie Petzer, 13 Ryan Nell (co-capt.), 14 Jeremy Misailegalu, 15 Austin White
Replacements: 16 Neethling Gericke, 17 Alex Maughan, 18 Manasa Saulo, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Vili Helu, 21 Daemon Torres, 22 Ryan Rees, 23 Kurt Coleman
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 Zak Taulafo, 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.), 3 Samu Tawake, 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 Evan Mintern, 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Hanco Germishuys, 9 Andy Ellis, 10 Harry Bennett, 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu, 12 Will Leonard, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Quinn Ngawati, 15 Ben Foden
Replacements: 16 Rob Irimescu, 17 James Rochford, 18 Kirk Hamilton, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Kyle Sumsion, 21 Conor McManus, 22 Chris Mattina, 23 Joel Miranda
Date: Saturday, July 24
Venue: Lupo Family Field, Marietta
Kickoff: 20:00 local (17:00 Pacific)
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistants: Scott Green (USA) & Austin Reed (USA)
Broadcasts: CBS Sports Network, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
2021-06-13 – Rugby United New York 31, Rugby ATL 24 (Belson Stadium)
2021-04-11 – Rugby ATL 17, Rugby United New York 27 (Lupo Family Field)
2020-02-23 – Rugby ATL 19, Rugby United New York 22 (Lupo Family Field)
