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A pair of Eastern Conference rivals will go head-to-head at The Gold Mine on Saturday evening where NOLA Gold hosts Rugby ATL. It’s the fourth meeting between the two with the Ratlers taking all three results to date including a one-point win at the same venue in June of last year.
ATL celebrated their first game at their new home of Silverbacks Park with a resounding win over Old Glory DC last weekend. The defending Eastern Conference champions have nonetheless opted for squad rotation with five changes to the starting lineup.
John Sullivan starts against his former teaming wearing the No3 shirt, a somewhat odd configuration given Sullivan has more often played on the loosehead side with Will Burke typically a tighthead prop. Vili Helu makes his first appearance of the new season on the blindside flank and it’s conventional 5-3 split between forwards and backs on the bench.
Both halfbacks are swapped out with Ryan Rees partnering Kurt Coleman this week. Ryan Nell shifts to inside center with Te Rangatira Waikotia outside him and Harley Davidson makes his first MLR appearance since the opening round of the 2021 season. Versatile back Martini Talapusi also returns from long-term injury to take up a spot among the reserves.
NOLA were left disappointed by their efforts against the Free Jacks last weekend and will need a marked improvement to avoid a second straight loss at home. The Gold have made three changes to their run-on side, one enforced.
Second row Taylor Krumrei is set for his first start for NOLA and first in MLR since April 2019. Maciu Koroi takes up the vacancy on the blindside flank with Moni Tonga’uiha unavailable due to family commitments. Chase Schor-Haskin could make his league debut as a replacement after joining up with the squad from the Eagles Sevens camp in Chula Vista.
Carl Meyer is fit to play after coming off early against New England. He drops back to his usual fullback spot with JP du Plessis restored to the No12 shirt. Kyle Rogers is the odd man out and joins JP Eloff as utility backline cover.
The Gold remain without the services of second row pair Billy Stewart and Ignacio Dotti, and with Tonga’uiha also missing this week their pack faces a considerable challenge. ATL have two prior wins in New Orleans and will have no fear of playing on the road. With the momentum behind the Ratlers and greater pressure on NOLA to perform, give the favorites tag to the visitors.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. A local broadcast will be available on YurView in New Orleans, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon, 2 Eric Howard, 3 Dino Waldren, 4 Malcolm May, 5 Taylor Krumrei, 6 Maciu Koroi, 7 Devin Short, 8 Cam Dolan (capt.), 9 Damian Stevens, 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Nick Feakes, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Harley Wheeler, 15 Carl Meyer
Replacements: 16 Pat O’Toole, 17 Kevin Sullivan, 18 Brian Nault, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Chase Schor-Haskin, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 JP Eloff, 23 Kyle Rogers
RUGBY ATL
1 Will Burke, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 3 John Sullivan, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton (co-capt.), 8 Daemon Torres, 9 Ryan Rees, 10 Kurt Coleman, 11 Austin White, 12 Ryan Nell (co-capt.), 13 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 14 Harley Davidson, 15 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía
Replacements: 16 Alex Maughan, 17 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 18 Wikus Groenewald, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Evan Mintern, 21 Rowan Gouws, 22 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 23 Martini Talapusi
Date: Saturday, February 12
Venue: The Gold Mine, New Orleans
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Allen Alongi (USA) & Saade Bou-Mikael (USA)
TMO: Kahlil Harrison (USA)
Broadcasts: The Rugby Network, YurView
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2021-06-05 – NOLA Gold 7, Rugby ATL 8 (The Gold Mine)
2021-04-24 – Rugby ATL 38, NOLA Gold 28 (Lupo Family Field)
2020-02-16 – NOLA Gold 10, Rugby ATL 22 (The Gold Mine)
