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NOLA defeated New York in the final round of the regular season last year. While the Gold took bragging rights for the day, for a second straight season it was New York who went to the playoffs with just two competition points the difference.
This is a new season but the Gold will carry a grudge against their northeastern guests. They also bring a modest two-game winning streak after narrow road wins against Seattle and Dallas. In their return home coach Kane Thompson has opted to freshen up his side with five personnel changes to the run-on side and two positional switches.
JP Eloff gets his first start in a Major League Rugby game since the 2020 season at fullback, with Carl Meyer moving up to the midfield. Surprises out wide see Ross Depperschmidt and JP du Plessis, both normally centers, lining up on the wings. Devereaux Ferris takes over from Damian Stevens at scrumhalf.
There is no sign of Eric Howard this week as Pat O’Toole starts at hooker and George Sharpe joins the bench. Malcolm May replaces the injured Billy Stewart at lock in the only other change to the pack.
Jack Heighton was the hero in Hoboken for New York last weekend. His last-gasp penalty goal saw New York picking up a win over a tough San Diego side as they bounced back from the disappointing home opener loss against New England.
Kaleb Geiger is given his first start as a professional in place of Dylan Fawsitt at hooker. The latter is set to win his 50th MLR cap as a replacement. Will Tucker moves back into the second row with Benjamín Bonasso fit to resume on the flank.
It’s a third starting scrumhalf in three weeks as Conor McManus wears the No9 shirt this week. Andy Ellis is named on the bench, though he is asked to cover flyhalf in the continued absence of Sam Windsor.
New York will be wondering where the wind is after two weeks of wintery conditions at home. Look for Heighton to test NOLA’s makeshift wingers who are not known for their kicking games, and put pressure on Eloff who hasn’t seen much game time since injury wiped out his entire 2021 campaign.
Meanwhile the Gold will target the set piece. Geiger’s lineout throwing faces it’s biggest challenge in the form of Cam Dolan. On paper New York look the stronger of the two and take the favorites tag, but if Dolan denies the visitors vital first phase possession the Gold could prove spoilers.
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.
EDIT: A late change sees Jack Heighton ruled out, with Andy Ellis playing flyhalf for New York and Sam Windsor joining the bench.
NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Brian Nault, 4 Malcolm May, 5 Ignacio Dotti, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Devin Short, 8 Cam Dolan (capt.), 9 Devereaux Ferris, 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Ross Depperschmidt, 12 Carl Meyer, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 JP du Plessis, 15 JP Eloff
Replacements: 16 George Sharpe, 17 Kevin Sullivan, 18 Dino Waldren, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Maciu Koroi, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Nick Feakes, 23 Harley Wheeler
RUGBY NEW YORK
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Kaleb Geiger, 3 Kalolo Tuiloma, 4 Will Tucker, 5 Nate Brakeley (capt.), 6 Benjamín Bonasso, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Kara Pryor, 9 Conor McManus, 10 Andy Ellis, 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Jason Emery, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Troy Lockyear
Replacements: 16 Dylan Fawsitt, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Wilton Rebolo, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Joe Basser, 21 Connor Buckley, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Quinn Ngawati
Date: Saturday, March 19
Venue: The Gold Mine, New Orleans
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Marcus Playle (New Zealand)
Assistants: Rob Halcomb (USA) & Saade Bou-Mikael (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
Broadcasts: The Rugby Network, Yurview
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2021-07-17 – Rugby United New York 32, NOLA Gold 35 (Belson Stadium)
2021-03-27 – NOLA Gold 51, Rugby United New York 28 (The Gold Mine)
2019-05-26 – Rugby United New York 24, NOLA Gold 22 (MCU Park)
2019-02-16 – NOLA Gold 24, Rugby United New York 27 (Archbishop Shaw Stadium)
