Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The two teams who contested the 2021 Major League Rugby Championship Final will meet again on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. On that day the LA Giltinis proved superior, but Rugby ATL were the winners on Georgian soil during the regular season and will lean on that experience for inspiration.
It’s the Ratlers who enter with the better record on this occasion. At 8-2 they are in second spot in the Eastern Conference and look certain to feature in the post-season. Since their defeat to top dogs New England they have won three in a row, all on the road, including last week’s impressive effort in San Diego.
A notable absentee is Marko Janse van Rensburg, the star hooker left out this week with Tiaan Erasmus making his first start of the season and just his third appearance. Daemon Torres gets the start at revolving No8 spot with Evan Mintern joining Connor Cook on a bench that includes six forwards.
The multi-talented Martini Talapusi will start on the wing for the first time, with Lui Sitama dropping out of the side. Will Leonard moves back to his favored inside center spot with co-captain Ryan Nell returning at outside center. Eamonn Matthews and Harley Davidson are the backs reserves.
After a slow start to the campaign, the defending champions are back in business. They have now won five in a row though notably four of those results have come at home, and the only road game a West Coast clash against Seattle. The Giltinis are coming off a bye week and will be well rested.
There are two changes to the pack that ran out against Houston. Marco Fepulea’i rotates in at tighthead prop with Charlie Abel among the reserves alongside Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin. Skipper Dave Dennis is fit to resume duties at lock, and Nathan Den Hoedt draws bench duty for the first time this season.
Suspension to golden oldie Orene Ai’i sees Luke Burton returning to the No10 shirt. The only other change to the starting backline is on the wing where Tom Mitchell is handed his first MLR start in place of Ryan James. Will Chambers and Cristian Rodriguez return to the squad as replacements.
Erasmus is an experienced and capable hooker though his relative lack of activity this season is somewhat concerning. It’s a similar situation to Burton, who has played his best rugby for LA at inside center. Both changes are significant for their respective sides.
Warm and mainly sunny conditions are expected at game time which will be welcome news for the Giltinis. They bring considerable momentum but so do ATL, whose most recent success has come on the road. This is LA’s first and only trip to the East Coast this season, and their hosts play a style similar to the one that Houston employed to frustrate the Giltinis pack. Take the Ratlers as narrow favorites.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, noon Pacific. A local broadcast will be available on Bally Sports SoCal with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
RUGBY ATL
1 Will Burke, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton (co-capt.), 8 Daemon Torres, 9 Rowan Gouws, 10 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 11 Martini Talapusi, 12 Will Leonard, 13 Ryan Nell (co-capt.), 14 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 15 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía
Replacements: 16 Alex Maughan, 17 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 18 John Sullivan, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Evan Mintern, 21 Connor Cook, 22 Eamonn Matthews, 23 Harley Davidson
LA GILTINIS
1 Andrew Tuala, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 3 Marco Fepulea’i, 4 Luke White, 5 Dave Dennis (capt.), 6 Corey Thomas, 7 Christian Poidevin, 8 Hanco Germishuys, 9 Harrison Goddard, 10 Luke Burton, 11 Tom Mitchell, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 John Ryberg, 15 Jordan Trainor
Replacements: 16 Lindsey Stevens, 17 Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 18 Charlie Abel, 19 Nathan Den Hoedt, 20 Cyrille Cama, 21 Tas Smith, 22 Cristian Rodriguez, 23 Will Chambers
Date: Saturday, April 30
Venue: Silverbacks Park, Atlanta
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific)
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Henrique Platais (Brazil) & Dave Edwards (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
Broadcasts: Bally Sports SoCal, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2021-08-01 – LA Giltinis 31, Rugby ATL 17 (Memorial Coliseum)
2021-05-29 – Rugby ATL 17, LA Giltinis 12 (Lupo Family Field)
