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It’s another Texan derby for the SaberCats, and they’ll be hoping this one will go better than the last. Houston are the home side this week, with Dallas their guests at AVEVA Stadium. The Jackals remain winless but their hosts will no doubt recall the dramatic finish of their first meeting in February.
All things considered the trip to Los Angeles was a respectable outcome for Dallas. They never conceded and several players gave a good account of themselves, notably blindside flanker Mike Matarazzo and fullback Eric Naposki. The duo have been bright spots for the franchise in a challenging first season.
It’s Carlo de Nysschen who will captain the side this week, the fifth player to wear the armband with Adriaan Carelse the latest to be sidelined with injury. Alejandro Torres moves to flyhalf with Campbell Johnstone filling the gap in the midfield. Christian Adams is a straight swap for the Jack Webster, another casualty from last weekend.
Asa Carter is set for his Dallas debut on the flank with another new arrival, Aaron Cummings, named on the bench. Conrado Roura has recovered from injury to start at No8, and Carson Shoemaker is preferred to Bronson Teles at lock. Herman Agenbag starts for the first time at tighthead prop and it’s a 6-2 split on the bench with Adriaan Booysen an extra loose forward.
Houston are searching for consistency after what can only be described as a poor performance against Austin. They are four points back of LA for the 3rd playoff spot in the West and can’t take any game for granted. Pote Human has handed club debuts to three starters, with two more new names on the bench.
Alec McDonnell is called up from the academy side to start at loosehead prop, having last played an MLR game in 2020 with New York. Former ATL lock Marno Redelinghuys makes his first SaberCats appearance beside Wynand Grassmann, with Keni Nasoqeqe switching to the flank. Argentina XV hooker Axel Zapata has arrived and will begin his MLR career as a replacement.
The midfield is changed for the first time this season as Louritz van der Schyff wears the No12 shirt having recovered from a long-term injury. Matai Leuta moves to the wing and there is no place for Kisi Unufe. Academy halfback Trace Bolstad could make his first appearance as a professional.
Redelinghuys and Zapata bring physicality to the pack while van der Schyff finally gets a chance to show his class in the midfield. Carter and Roura are welcome additions to the Dallas back row but they do look a bit lightweight at lock. It’s a Jackals lineup that can frustrate their hosts, but the Cats management won’t tolerate another letdown. Look for the home side to take control from the start.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. A delayed broadcast will be available on AT&T SportsNet Southwest, with The Rugby Network streaming live worldwide.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Alec McDonnell, 2 Dean Muir (capt.), 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Wynand Grassmann, 6 Danny Barrett, 7 Keni Nasoqeqe, 8 Jaco Bezuidenhout, 9 Dillon Smit, 10 David Coetzer, 11 Gerrie Labuschagne, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 13 Christian Dyer, 14 Matai Leuta, 15 Robbie Povey
Replacements: 16 Axel Zapata, 17 Frikkie de Beer, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Will Crawford, 20 Emmanuel Albert, 21 Nick Boyer, 22 Zach Pangelinan, 23 Trace Bolstad
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Ryan Bower, 2 Augusto Böhme, 3 Herman Agenbag, 4 Carson Shoemaker, 5 Charlie Hola, 6 Mike Matarazzo, 7 Asa Carter, 8 Conrado Roura, 9 Carlo de Nysschen (capt.), 10 Alejandro Torres, 11 Cael Hodgson, 12 Chad London, 13 Campbell Johnstone, 14 Christian Adams, 15 Eric Naposki
Replacements: 16 Brendan Rams, 17 Liam Murray, 18 Tommy Madaras, 19 Bronson Teles, 20 Tom Brusati, 21 Aaron Cummings, 22 Adriaan Booysen, 23 Aaron Gray
Date: Saturday, April 9
Venue: AVEVA Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Mitch Damm (USA) & Brian Dusablon (USA)
TMO: Kahlil Harrison (USA)
Broadcasts: AT&T SportsNet Southwest (delayed), The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-02-19 – Dallas Jackals 33, Houston SaberCats 38 (Choctaw Stadium)
