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There are no playoff spots on offer in New Orleans on Saturday evening. Only pride. And glory. Old Glory. The Gold welcome DC to Metairie for a fight that could well determine who finishes in the basement of the Eastern Conference, an unwelcome ribbon both sides would prefer to avoid.
For much of the season Old Glory have held onto that position firmly, but with two wins and three bonus-point defeats in their last five games are suddenly in position to overtake the Gold. They held their ground against the first overall New England Free Jacks a week ago and will fancy their chances against NOLA.
Of course much of the narrative for the match surrounds the return of Nate Osborne, DC’s Interim Head Coach, who was at the helm of the Gold for the first four years of their existence. It was only in December when the call was made to relieve Osborne and promote Kane Thompson.
Osborne may be without star players like Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, Thretton Palamo, and Mike Dabulas, but he has first hand knowledge of what makes many of NOLA’s roster tick. He has also settled on his lineup with only two minor adjustments to the match day 23.
Junior Sa’u moves back out to the wing with Doug Fraser switching to his favored midfield position. The only personnel change is found among the reserves where Jake Ilnicki takes over from Jack Carroll as a prop reserve. Dante Lopresti will cover the loosehead side with Ilnicki a specialist tighthead.
Thompson was recently handed a new two-year contract extension but it card hardly be called a reward given NOLA’s shaky form this season. They have won just three games all season and have now dropped their last five games. Ironically their most recent success was against Old Glory in late March.
The Gold are coming off a bye week and show just two changes to the run-on side from the team that lost to New York. Both come in the front row where Pat O’Toole takes over from the injured Eric Howard at hooker, and Brian Nault again starts at tighthead prop.
Dino Waldren settles for a spot on the bench, where fellow Eagles prop Matt Harmon makes a welcome return from a thumb injury. George Sharpe is the backup hooker, and Osaiasi Tonga’uiha provides extra loose forward cover with Devereaux Ferris and Ross Depperschmidt the only backs in reserve.
Warm but damp conditions are on the menu with light rain expected from late afternoon until kickoff. Old Glory have a superior kicker in Rohan Saifoloi, but the Gold have Cam Dolan’s renowned lineout prowess to lean on. The form guide favors the visitors but NOLA have never lost to DC. Osborne’s intel may be just enough to give the edge to his new charges. Take Old Glory in a razor-thin decision.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on YurView in New Orleans with NBC Sports Washington airing the game on delay. Viewers elsewhere in the USA and abroad can watch on The Rugby Network.
NOLA GOLD
1 Kevin Sullivan, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Brian Nault, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Billy Stewart, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Devin Short, 8 Cam Dolan (capt.), 9 Damian Stevens, 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Nick Feakes, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Harley Wheeler, 15 JP Eloff
Replacements: 16 George Sharpe, 17 Matt Harmon, 18 Dino Waldren, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Maciu Koroi, 21 Osaiasi Tonga’uiha, 22 Devereaux Ferris, 23 Ross Depperschmidt
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Rob Irimescu, 3 Kyle Stewart, 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Stan South, 6 Felix Kalapu, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Luke Campbell, 9 Danny Tusitala (capt.), 10 Rohan Saifoloi, 11 Junior Sa’u, 12 Doug Fraser, 13 William Talataina, 14 Peni Lasaqa, 15 Owen Sheehy
Replacements: 16 Mo Katz, 17 Jake Ilnicki, 18 Dante Lopresti, 19 Api Naikatini, 20 Fintan Coleman, 21 Dom Bailey, 22 Danny Thomas, 23 John Rizzo
Date: Saturday, May 14
Venue: The Gold Mine, New Orleans
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Jack Gohl (Australia)
Assistants: De Wet Roos (USA) & Allen Alongi (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
Broadcasts: NBC Sports Washington (delayed), The Rugby Network, YurView
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-03-26 – Old Glory DC 22, NOLA Gold 31 (Segra Field)
2021-02-12 – Old Glory DC 21, NOLA Gold 25 (Segra Field)
2021-03-21 – NOLA Gold 26, Old Glory DC 26 (The Gold Mine)
2020-02-08 – NOLA Gold 46, Old Glory DC 13 (The Gold Mine)
