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The late game on Saturday is a Western Conference clash between the Utah Warriors and Seattle Seawolves at Zions Bank Stadium. When they last met in February it was the Seawolves who took a narrow win at home. Now the Warriors will be looking to return to the favor.
A playoff spot is still mathematically possible for Utah but realistically is now out of reach following their loss to the previously-winless Old Glory last week. The spoiler role is one to be embraced, however, and there are a handful of players still vying for a spot in the Eagles squad.
Chad Gough returns from a three-game absence to start at hooker in place of Tuvere Vugakoto. It’s the only personnel change to the starting lineup. The bench welcomes Saia Uhila back from injury along with Cliven Loubser and Joe Mano, the latter making his first appearance of the season.
Seattle are right in the thick of the playoff race after their impressive win over San Diego on Saturday. They are just one point back of the Legion and one above the Houston SaberCats, with all three vying for the West’s third and final postseason slot.
The Seawolves will have to make do without AJ Alatimu this week as JP Smith is pressed into the starting flyhalf role. Reid Watkins gets his first Major League Rugby start at scrumhalf, and Ross Neal comes in for Martin Iosefo on the left wing. Midfielder Lopeti Aisea and winger Jeremiah Sio are called up to the bench, the latter handed his regular season debut.
Sam Matenga gets his first shot at the No3 shirt after three sub appearances. Brad Tucker is in for Samu Manoa at lock, and Tommy Clark makes it two loose forward reserves along with Travis Larsen. Former Giltinis hooker Sean McNulty comes into the match day squad after being acquired in a trade last week.
Cool conditions are on the forecast and the turf could still be damp with rain expected until mid-afternoon. That shouldn’t bother Seattle at all, and in fact they have won both previous trips to Salt Lake. Utah are on a slide having lost four in a row and are still without key players Jamie Lane and Paul Lasike. Take the visitors who have more to play for.
Kickoff is set for 8pm local time, 7pm Pacific, 10pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on Fox 13+ in Seattle and the KSL Sports website in Utah, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg, 2 Chad Gough, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 5 Thomas Tu’avao, 6 Mike Gieselman, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Lance Williams, 9 Danny Christensen, 10 Caleb Makene, 11 Mika Kruse, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Connor Burns, 15 Mike Te’o
Replacements: 16 Joey Backe, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Saia Uhila, 20 Puna Vuli, 21 Zion Going, 22 Cliven Loubser, 23 Joe Mano
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola, 2 James Malcolm, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Brad Tucker, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Ben Landry, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 Reid Watkins, 10 JP Smith, 11 Ross Neal, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Dan Kriel, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Duncan Matthews
Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Kellen Gordon, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Travis Larsen, 20 Tommy Clark, 21 David Busby, 22 Lopeti Aisea, 23 Jeremiah Sio
Date: Saturday, April 23
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 20:00 local (19:00 Pacific, 22:00 Eastern)
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: George Selwood (England) & Paulo Duarte (Portugal)
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Broadcasts: Fox 13+, KSL Sports, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-02-10 – Seattle Seawolves 20, Utah Warriors 17 (Starfire Stadium)
2021-06-06 – Seattle Seawolves 28, Utah Warriors 29 (Starfire Stadium)
2021-04-10 – Utah Warriors 15, Seattle Seawolves 20 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2020-03-07 – Seattle Seawolves 31, Utah Warriors 33 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-05-26 – Seattle Seawolves 27, Utah Warriors 27 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-04-05 – Utah Warriors 36, Seattle Seawolves 48 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2018-05-21 – Seattle Seawolves 41, Utah Warriors 32 (Starfire Stadium)
