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It’s back-to-back Texas derbies for the Dallas Jackals as they host the Austin Gilgronis at Choctaw Stadium on Saturday night. The two sides last met in the opening week of the season when the AG’s welcomed the expansion side to Major League Rugby with a resounding victory at Bold Stadium.
Dallas have been dealt a heavy hand since with numerous injuries and are yet to record a victory through nine weeks of action. The good news is the return of club captain Chris Pennell to the lineup after a three-game absence, one of four personnel changes to the lineup that came up short against Houston.
Pennell slots straight in at fullback though Eric Naposki is ruled out. An extraordinary selection sees the towering Shawn Clark selected on the wing, having previously played second row and flanker for the side. The former collegiate football tight end had a brief cameo in the position against LA two weeks ago. Last week’s captain Carlo de Nysschen is out at scrumhalf with Tom Brusati starting in his place.
Adriaan Booysen returns to the No8 spot with Conrado Roura shifting to openside flanker and Asa Carter starting against his former team on the blindside. Vice-captain Mike Matarazzo moves to lock, while another ex-AG in Campbell Robinson set for his Dallas debut as a replacement.
Three more newcomers to the Jackals roster are on the bench. Former ATL scrumhalf Kurtis Werner is set to play his first MLR game since the 2020 season, while both Matoko Noudéhou and Hayden Hill could see their first pro action. Noudéhou is the club’s Strength & Conditioning Coach who has previously played for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the West Houston Lions.
Austin are back it the swing of things and their second-half blitz against San Diego has put them four points ahead of the pack in the Western Conference. As expected they have opted to rest several leading players with two-thirds of the starting lineup changed and three players in line to make their first professional appearances.
New signings Payton Telea-Ilalio and Ronan Murphy, both USA u20 internationals, jump straight into the run-on side at loosehead prop and blindside flanker respectively. Robbie Coetzee and Namatahi Waa complete the front row, with Sebastian de Chaves in at lock and Locky McCaffrey returning at No8.
Pele Cowley celebrates his 29th birthday with a start at scrumhalf with Will Magie wearing the No10 shirt this week. Dom Akina is at inside center with captain Bryce Campbell rested, and Conner Mooneyham is recalled on the right wing. Collegiate Draft pick Caleb Strum is set to debut from the bench.
Despite the injuries Dallas will field their strongest pack since Round 2, though their backline has more of a makeshift appearance. The AG’s are taking the opportunity to look at some different combinations and a couple youngsters. That suggests a lower scoreline than their previous meeting, but Austin remain firm favorites in Arlington.
Kickoff is set for 8pm local time, 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern. Fox Sports 2 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming for viewers outside the USA.
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Ryan Bower, 2 Augusto Böhme, 3 Herman Agenbag, 4 Mike Matarazzo, 5 Charlie Hola, 6 Asa Carter, 7 Conrado Roura, 8 Adriaan Booysen, 9 Tom Brusati, 10 Alejandro Torres, 11 Cael Hodgson, 12 Chad London, 13 Campbell Johnstone, 14 Shawn Clark, 15 Chris Pennell (capt.)
Replacements: 16 Brendan Rams, 17 Alex Tucci, 18 Tommy Madaras, 19 Bronson Teles, 20 Campbell Robinson, 21 Kurtis Werner, 22 Matoko Noudéhou, 23 Hayden Hill
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 3 Namatahi Waa, 4 Cam Dodson, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 6 Ronan Murphy, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Locky McCaffrey, 9 Pele Cowley, 10 Will Magie, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Dom Akina, 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Chris Mattina
Replacements: 16 Mason Koch, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 LaRome White, 19 Isaac Ross, 20 Casey McDermott Vai, 21 Sidney Shoop, 22 Marcel Brache, 23 Caleb Strum
Date: Saturday, April 16
Venue: Choctaw Stadium, Arlington
Kickoff: 20:00 local (18:00 Pacific, 21:00 Eastern)
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Scott Green (USA) & Andrew Low (USA)
TMO: Davey Ardrey (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-02-05 – Austin Gilgronis 43, Dallas Jackals 7 (Bold Stadium)
