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A spot in the Eastern Conference final is potentially at stake in Toronto on Sunday afternoon. While the Arrows will still have work to do should they emerge victorious, a defeat to Rugby New York would all but end hopes of catching the visitors in the final four weeks of the season.
The hugely disappointing loss to the SaberCats in Houston has left the Arrows on the verge of elimination. They have had a week off to review and regroup, and will field a starting lineup that shows seven changes including one debutant.
With Riley DiNardo and Gordon McRorie departing after short-term contracts, the crucial scrumhalf position goes to uncapped 22-year-old Cole Brown. His backup, Sam Reimer, could also make his professional now at the age of just 19. Guiseppe du Toit moves into the midfield with Spencer Jones ruled out, while Matthew Hood and Gastón Mieres are in at wing and fullback respectively. Hood returns after a seven-game absence.
Lolani Faleiva is rewarded for his two-try cameo against Houston with a first start at loosehead prop. Tyler Rowland comes in at tighthead, with Cole Keith and Isaac Salmon dropping to the bench. A change in the back row sees Tomás de la Vega recalled at the expense of James O’Neill.
New York have not been in great form but did just enough to get past NOLA last weekend. Former All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo has not made the trip north, his debut now to come against Seattle, but two starters have returned from head knocks and there are two new names among the reserves.
Chance Wenglewski gets the call at loosehead prop with Charlie Hewitt switching in for Nick Civetta at lock. Will Tucker is back in the squad on the blindside flank in place of Ben Bonasso, with New Zealand 7s international Antonio Kiri Kiri set for his first Major League Rugby appearance after arriving from England. Collegiate Draft pick Peter Reyes could make his pro debut after being called up to provide front row cover in the absence of Kaleb Geiger and Wilton Rebolo.
The only changes in the backs are out wide where Andrew Coe is fit to resume duty on the right wing and Sam Windsor takes over for the injured Troy Lockyear at fullback. There are just two backs in reserve this week, namely scrumhalf Connor Buckley and utility three-quarter Quinn Ngawati.
Toronto pulled off a famous victory when the two sides met in late March, and they will need to produce a similar effort at home on Sunday. New York have named arguably their strongest lineup of the season and with Tucker’s return are certain to target the lineout as a point of difference. The favorites tag goes to the visitors, but this one could go either way with the Arrows fighting to keep their playoff dreams alive.
Kickoff is set for noon local time, 9am Pacific. Canadian viewers can watch on TSN 5 or their digital services, with MSG Network broadcasting in New York. Viewers elsewhere in the USA and abroad can watch a live stream on The Rugby Network.
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Lolani Faleiva, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Tyler Rowland, 4 Mike Sheppard (capt.), 5 Paul Ciulini, 6 Tomás de la Vega, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Ronan Foley, 9 Cole Brown, 10 Sam Malcolm, 11 Mitch Richardson, 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Ueta Tufuga, 14 Matthew Hood, 15 Gastón Mieres
Replacements: 16 Jack McRogers, 17 Cole Keith, 18 Isaac Salmon, 19 Adrian Wadden, 20 Siaki Vikilani, 21 Sam Reimer, 22 Will Kelly, 23 Johnny Sheridan
RUGBY NEW YORK
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Kalolo Tuiloma, 4 Nate Brakeley (capt.), 5 Charlie Hewitt, 6 Will Tucker, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Kara Pryor, 9 Andy Ellis, 10 Jack Heighton, 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Jason Emery, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Sam Windsor
Replacements: 16 Nick Mayhew, 17 Peter Reyes, 18 Sakaria Taulafo, 19 Nick Civetta, 20 Joe Basser, 21 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 22 Connor Buckley, 23 Quinn Ngawati
Date: Sunday, May 8
Venue: York Lions Stadium, Toronto
Kickoff: 12:00 local (09:00 Pacific)
Referee: Marcus Playle (New Zealand)
Assistants: Michael Jones (Canada) & Peter Pender (Canada)
TMO: Andrew Hosie (Canada)
Broadcasts: MSG Network, The Rugby Network, TSN 5
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-03-27 – Rugby New York 10, Toronto Arrows 14 (John F. Kennedy Stadium)
2021-06-26 – Toronto Arrows 24, Rugby United New York 31 (Lupo Family Field)
2021-04-25 – Rugby United New York 12, Toronto Arrows 53 (Cochrane Stadium)
2019-06-02 – Toronto Arrows 22, Rugby United New York 20 (Lamport Stadium)
2019-03-15 – Rugby United New York 24, Toronto Arrows 21 (MCU Park)
