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Saturday evening’s game will see the Dallas Jackals hosting the San Diego Legion at Choctaw Stadium. When the two sides met at the Sports Deck in the second week of the season the newcomers gave their hosts a scare, but it’s fair to say that things have not gone to plan for the Jackals since.
Dallas did not enjoy their trip to Leesburg last weekend, at least on the pitch. The one-sided loss to Old Glory leaves them winless through 11 games, and there are precious few opportunities left to pick up that elusive first-ever victory.
Liam Murray gets the start at loosehead prop with Matt Frings moving from flanker to hooker. Patrick Donovan is the backup to Frings on loan from the SaberCats. Charlie Hola is in at lock with no sign of Mike Matarazzo, one of the team’s most consistent performers. Adriaan Booysen is recalled to the starting No8 shirt with Conrado Roura shifting to the side of the scrum.
New signing Juan Pablo Aguirre jumps straight into the lineup on the left wing, with Eric Naposki returning on the right. Carlo de Nysschen is fit to resume duty at scrumhalf pushing Tom Brusati to the bench, where Strength & Conditioning Coach Matoko Noudéhou is again asked to provide midfield cover.
San Diego were bitterly disappointed with their performance against Rugby ATL last week at home. They are now on the outside looking in at the third playoff spot in the West, and Danny Lee is taking no chances in Arlington with a strong lineup to face the Jackals.
Nathan Sylvia is back in at loosehead prop with Fijian arrival Jale Railala handed his first Major League Rugby start in the second row. Tevita Tameilau is out after hurting an ankle against the Ratlers so Dan Pryor moves to eightman with Chris Robshaw filling the vacancy at blindside flanker. Draft pick Jonah Dietenberger makes his first match day appearance since early March on the bench.
There is greater stability in the backline with only one change. Matías Freyre is a straight replacement at fullback for the injured Bjorn Basson. It’s a more conventional bench with three backs though still no specialist scrumhalf as midfielder Thomas Morani and winger Kainoa Lloyd join flyhalf Joe Pietersen.
The Legion could be accused of complacency in their earlier meeting but they will be forced to deliver this time around or risk slipping further out of the postseason race. Dallas welcome back the ever-dangerous Naposki on the wing but are missing quality up front in Ryan Bower and Augusto Böhme. Expect San Diego to pour it on early to secure a bonus point victory on the road.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. A local broadcast will be available on Fox 5 San Diego with Bally Sports Southwest airing the game on delay. Viewers elsewhere across the USA and abroad can watch on The Rugby Network.
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Liam Murray, 2 Matt Frings, 3 Herman Agenbag, 4 Campbell Robinson, 5 Charlie Hola, 6 Asa Carter, 7 Conrado Roura, 8 Adriaan Booysen, 9 Carlo de Nysschen, 10 Chris Pennell (capt.), 11 Juan Pablo Aguirre, 12 Campbell Johnstone, 13 Cael Hodgson, 14 Eric Naposki, 15 Hayden Hill
Replacements: 16 Timmy Ohlwein, 17 Patrick Donovan, 18 Tommy Madaras, 19 Bronson Teles, 20 Romain Gadeaux, 21 Tom Brusati, 22 Matoko Noudéhou, 23 Kurtis Werner
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia, 2 Peter Malcolm, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Jale Railala, 6 Chris Robshaw, 7 Michael Smith, 8 Dan Pryor, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Will Hooley, 11 Tomas Aoake, 12 Ma’a Nonu (capt.), 13 Tiaan Loots, 14 Ryan Matyas, 15 Matías Freyre
Replacements: 16 Pat Lynott, 17 Joe Walsh, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Jonah Dietenberger, 20 Chris Turori, 21 Joe Pietersen, 22 Thomas Morani, 23 Kainoa Lloyd
Date: Saturday, April 30
Venue: Choctaw Stadium, Arlington
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Moe Chaudhry (Canada)
Assistants: De Wet Roos (USA) & Cole Jones (USA)
TMO: Jack Gohl (Australia)
Broadcasts: Bally Sports Southwest (delayed), Fox 5 San Diego, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-02-12 – San Diego Legion 37, Dallas Jackals 29 (SDSU Sports Deck)
