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After a week off the Austin Gilgronis travel to Salt Lake to face the Utah Warriors on Saturday evening. The AG’s are still at the top of the Western Conference but with LA taking on the winless Dallas earlier in the day, they will be well aware that their position is now in peril.
When last we left off Austin’s story, the Giltinis had held on for a narrow victory at the Coliseum. It ended a five-game winning streak and set the stage for a dramatic run-in to the playoffs. Sam Harris made six changes to the starting lineup for what is now a match of vital importance.
Faka’osi Pifeleti returns at loosehead prop and Robbie Coetzee replaces Hugh Roach at hooker. Christian Ostberg comes into the second row with no sign of Sebastian de Chaves, whose departure at season’s end has now been confirmed. In the back row Luke Beauchamp gets his first start since late February at the expense of Locky McCaffrey.
It’s a straight swap at scrumhalf with Pele Cowley, with Will Magie outside him and Mack Mason still on the shelf with injury. For just the second time this season Mark O’Keeffe will not be wearing the No13 shirt. He instead moves to the right wing, with Marcel Brache moving up to the midfield and Chris Mattina coming in at fullback. Dom Akina makes a notable return to the squad after a month’s absence.
The Warriors are second from the bottom in the west but have found some form in the past two matches, upsetting Rugby ATL and running the SaberCats close. There is no route to the postseason at this stage but they can still play a significant role with LA their next opponents in a week’s time.
Squad rotation sees four changes to the run-on side. Paul Mullen swaps jerseys with Angus MacLellan to start at tighthead prop, and Puna Vuli is in at lock with Jurie van Vuuren named on the bench. He is joined by second row David Beach, who has arrived on loan from Old Glory, while Olive Kilifi is fit to resume duty though Emerson Prior retains his spot as starting loosehead.
Niall Saunders and Paul Lasike are back after several weeks out though the duo will settle for reserve roles. Zion Going continues at scrumhalf and Tyler Fisher is named at inside center with Tomasi Tonga sitting out this week. Connor Burns wears the No15 shirt for the first time with Mikey Te’o again on the bench and Cliven Loubser left out entirely.
While soaring heat is engulfing much of the south and eastern states, it will be comparatively cool in Utah at game time. Austin were winners in February and the Warriors have revenge on their minds. The depth of talent on the bench ensures this one will be competitive to the final whistle. Give the favorites tag to the AG’s but this will be much closer than the standings suggest.
Kickoff is set for 8pm local time, 7pm Pacific, 9pm Central, 10pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on KJZZ and KSL Sports online in Utah, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Emerson Prior, 2 Chad Gough, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Saia Uhila, 5 Puna Vuli, 6 Thomas Tu’avao, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Lance Williams, 9 Zion Going, 10 Caleb Makene, 11 Mika Kruse, 12 Tyler Fisher, 13 Calvin Whiting, 14 Joe Mano, 15 Connor Burns
Replacements: 16 Tuvere Vugakoto, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 David Beach, 21 Niall Saunders, 22 Paul Lasike, 23 Mikey Te’o
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 3 Mason Pedersen, 4 Christian Ostberg, 5 Cam Dodson, 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Michael de Waal, 9 Pele Cowley, 10 Will Magie, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Mark O’Keeffe, 15 Chris Mattina
Replacements: 16 Mason Koch, 17 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 18 LaRome White, 19 Isaac Ross, 20 Locky McCaffrey, 21 Ryan Louwrens, 22 Conner Mooneyham, 23 Dom Akina
Date: Saturday, May 21
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 20:00 local (19:00 Pacific, 21:00 Central, 22:00 Eastern)
Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)
Assistants: Mike Lash (New Zealand) & Kage Green (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
Broadcasts: KJZZ, KSL Sports, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-02-19 – Austin Gilgronis 24, Utah Warriors 10 (Bold Stadium)
2021-05-29 – Utah Warriors 45, Austin Gilgronis 24 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2021-03-20 – Austin Gilgronis 28, Utah Warriors 30 (Bold Stadium)
2020-02-22 – Austin Gilgronis 20, Utah Warriors 20 (Bold Stadium)
2019-04-27 – Utah Warriors 35, Austin Elite 19 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2019-02-01 – Austin Elite 9, Utah Warriors 17 (Dell Diamond)
2018-06-01 – Austin Elite 41, Utah Warriors 33 (Round Rock Multipurpose Complex)
2018-05-11 – Utah Warriors 41, Austin Elite 22 (Zions Bank Stadium)
