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The Fire & Ice Cup will be on the line at Silverbacks Park on Sunday afternoon where Rugby ATL play host to the Toronto Arrows. For the latter it’s also last chance saloon with anything less than a win formally ending their playoff hunt.
Even a victory might not be enough for the Arrows, whose destiny is no longer in their hands. Both ATL and New York hold seven-point advantages heading into the weekend and one win from two remaining weeks is all either team needs to clinch their spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
An upset win over the Free Jacks in Toronto gave the Arrows hope last Thursday, but New York’s heavy defeat to the Ratlers on Sunday worked against the Canadian side. There are just personnel changes to the match day 23 this week.
It’s an identical starting pack though loose forward Tomás de la Vega is fit to take up a spot among the reserves. Dennon Robinson-Bartlett has recovered from injury to make just his third appearance of the season and first as a winger, with Matthew Hood moving to fullback and Gastón Mieres missing out.
The Ratlers snapped a three-game losing streak in New Jersey on Sunday and came away with a resounding victory over New York. They show four changes to the starting lineup and further alterations on the bench.
Conor Keys starts in place of Justin Basson on the right side of the engine room, with the latter named among the replacements. Vili Helu is a straight swap for Connor Cook on the blindside flank, and Ross Deacon returns from a four-game absence to take up a spot as a replacement.
Will Leonard has recovered from injury to start at inside center with George Barton dropping to the bench, Ryan Nell a late withdrawal from the squad this week. Harley Davidson comes in on the wing in place of Cole Davis with the rest of the backs selection unchanged.
Though the Arrows are on the road, it’s a return to familiar territory having camped out Atlanta for the entirety of the 2021 season. Warm weather will greet them but the reception will be cooler on the pitch.
ATL were winners on the road in early April in a close and somewhat controversial result. Look for a similarly competitive contest on Saturday. Give the favorites tag to the home side but Toronto are could yet have another surprise left in them this season.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, noon Pacific. Viewers in Canada can watch on TSN 4 and their digital services, with The Rugby Network streaming across the USA and abroad.
RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 4 Conor Keys, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Daemon Torres, 9 Ryan Rees, 10 Kurt Coleman, 11 Harley Davidson, 12 Will Leonard, 13 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 14 Austin White, 15 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Erasmus, 17 Will Burke, 18 John Sullivan, 19 Justin Basson, 20 Ross Deacon, 21 Rowan Gouws, 22 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 23 George Barton
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Cole Keith, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Isaac Salmon, 4 Adrian Wadden, 5 Mike Sheppard (capt.), 6 Kyle Baillie, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Ronan Foley, 9 Ross Braude, 10 Sam Malcolm, 11 Dennon Robinson-Bartlett, 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Ueta Tufuga, 14 Johnny Sheridan, 15 Matthew Hood
Replacements: 16 Jack McRogers, 17 Lolani Faleiva, 18 Tyler Rowland, 19 Paul Ciulini, 20 Tomás de la Vega, 21 Sam Reimer, 22 Will Kelly, 23 Mitch Voralek
Date: Saturday, May 28
Venue: Silverbacks Park, Atlanta
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific)
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Gavin McCandless (USA) & Dave Edwards (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
Broadcasts: The Rugby Network, TSN 4
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-04-02 – Toronto Arrows 14, Rugby ATL 20 (York Lions Stadium)
2021-05-08 – Toronto Arrows 29, Rugby ATL 33 (Lupo Family Field)
2021-03-20 – Rugby ATL 21, Toronto Arrows 14 (Lupo Family Field)
2020-03-01 – Rugby ATL 18, Toronto Arrows 28 (Lupo Family Field)
