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History will be made on Saturday evening when Major League Rugby finally arrives in Dallas (technically Arlington, but close enough). The Jackals play their first home game and take to their spectacular new pitch at Choctaw Stadium in a Texas Cup clash against the Houston SaberCats.
As expected it’s been a challenging start to the campaign for MLR’s newest team, though they gave a much better account of themselves against San Diego last weekend. Elaine Vassie & Co. will be hoping for similar improvements against the SaberCats and it’s largely the same side that takes the field.
The only personnel changes to the starting lineup come in the front row where Canadian international Liam Murray is handed his first appearance in Dallas colors at loosehead prop against the team he arrived from. Todd Gleave is a late withdrawal meaning Matt Frings makes his first pro start at hooker.
In the backs there is just one slight shuffle with Eric Naposki and Campbell Johnstone switching positions in the outside backs, the former now lining up at fullback. New signings Luke Rizzo and Adriaan Booysen take up spots on the bench along with Collegiate Draft pick Calvin Gentry. Booysen is set to play against his former team while Rizzo and Gentry are making their pro debuts.
Despite a close loss to New York at home last weekend, the SaberCats look a much-improved side already in 2022. They couldn’t quite follow up the opening round upset win over LA and will be keen to grab their second win of the season, which would incredibly match their output for the whole of 2021.
There are two changes to the run-on side for Houston. Juan Pablo Zeiss is out, replaced by Aaron Mitchell at No3. Pono Davis is set to make his MLR debut as a tighthead prop replacement. In the backs Marcos Moroni comes in on the left wing with no sign of Nick Boyer in the match day squad.
This won’t be Houston’s first time at Choctaw Stadium as the two sides came together for two preseason training sessions. It was the SaberCats who came out on top in the dress rehearsal, though both sides feature different lineups this time around.
There are no weather anomalies expected so the recipe is there for running rugby if Dallas can win enough ball to feed their outside backs. It’s up front, however, where the SaberCats should find superiority. Houston are clear favorites, but the result seems secondary for what should be a celebration of rugby for a club just taking their first steps of an exciting journey.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. A live stream will be available worldwide on The Rugby Network, with a delayed broadcast on AT&T SportsNet Southwest.
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Liam Murray, 2 Matt Frings, 3 Alex Tucci, 4 Jérémy Lenaerts, 5 Bronson Teles, 6 Mike Matarazzo, 7 Moe Abdelmonem (capt.), 8 Conrado Roura, 9 Carlo de Nysschen, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 11 Aaron Gray, 12 Chad London, 13 Henry Trinder, 14 Campbell Johnstone, 15 Eric Naposki
Replacements: 16 Luke Rizzo, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Tommy Madaras, 19 Adriaan Booysen, 20 Calvin Gentry, 21 Tom Brusati, 22 Ned Hodson, 23 Dylan James
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Nicolás Solveyra, 2 Dean Muir (capt.), 3 Aaron Mitchell, 4 Keni Nasoqeqe, 5 Will Crawford, 6 Danny Barrett, 7 Willie Britz, 8 Jaco Bezuidenhout, 9 Dillon Smit, 10 David Coetzer, 11 Marcos Moroni, 12 Matai Leuta, 13 Christian Dyer, 14 Kisi Unufe, 15 Gerrie Labuschagne
Replacements: 16 Patrick Donovan, 17 Frikkie de Beer, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Wynand Grassmann, 20 Gideon van Wyk, 21 Zachary Short, 22 Robbie Povey, 23 Jax Hidalgo
Date: Saturday, February 19
Venue: Choctaw Stadium, Arlington
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Derek Summers (USA) & Cole Jones (USA)
TMO: Kahlil Harrison (USA)
Broadcasts: AT&T SportsNet Southwest (delayed), The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
n/a
