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It’s the last home game of the season for the Warriors on Saturday afternoon when they welcome the LA Giltinis to Zions Bank Stadium. There are no playoffs in Utah’s immediate future but they can still have a say in the seedings if they can topple their guests for a second time this season.
Their most recent meeting in March saw the Warriors taking a stunning victory at the Memorial Coliseum. Utah will take confidence not only from that result but also their upswing in form with two wins from their last three, including a dominant win over Austin on last Saturday.
The only change among the forwards sees Jurie van Vuuren return at No8. Thomas Tu’avao is out this week with Taris Schramm called up to make just his second career Major League Rugby appearance as a replacement flanker. Paul Lasike starts at inside center with Tyler Fisher swapping to the bench.
LA enters the weekend with a one-point advantage on the Gilgronis. They have won eight of their last nine games with their only defeat in that time a close result in San Diego. Stephen Hoiles has rotated his lineup after last week’s win over Dallas.
Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin shifts across the front row to loosehead prop, with Charlie Abel coming in at tighthead. Dave Dennis returns from a two-game absence to skipper the side at lock, and Hanco Germishuys is back from suspension to start on the flank in place of Zach Bonte.
Luke Carty is handed his first start of the season at flyhalf, with Harrison Goddard moving back to his preferred scrumhalf role. Ben LeSage resumes his midfield partnership with Billy Meakes, and Cristian Rodriguez replaces John Ryberg on the wing.
Light rain could be present at kickoff time but is unlikely to cause significant disruption. The Giltinis have already booked their spot in the playoffs but now have a chance to secure a ticket straight to the Western Conference Final and home field advantage. Utah are in a spoiling mood, but this is a confident LA side arriving in Salt Lake. Give the favorites tag to the visitors in a close one.
Kickoff is set for 2:30pm local time, 1:30pm Pacific, 4:30pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on KJZZ and KSL Sports online in Utah, and Bally Sports SoCal. Viewers located elsewhere in the USA and abroad can watch on The Rugby Network.
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Emerson Prior, 2 Chad Gough, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Saia Uhila, 5 Puna Vuli, 6 Lance Williams, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Zion Going, 10 Caleb Makene, 11 Mika Kruse, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Calvin Whiting, 14 Joe Mano, 15 Connor Burns
Replacements: 16 Tuvere Vugakoto, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 David Beach, 20 Taris Schramm, 21 Niall Saunders, 22 Tyler Fisher, 23 Mike Te’o
LA GILTINIS
1 Les Leulua’iali’i-Makin, 2 Lindsey Stevens, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 Dave Dennis (capt.), 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 Christian Poidevin, 8 Langilangi Haupeakui, 9 Harrison Goddard, 10 Luke Burton, 11 Cristian Rodriguez, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Will Chambers, 15 Tom Mitchell
Replacements: 16 Andrew Tuala, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Marco Fepulea’i, 19 Cyrille Cama, 20 Zach Bonte, 21 Tas Smith, 22 Ryan James, 23 Luke Burton
Date: Saturday, May 28
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 14:30 local (13:30 Pacific, 16:30 Eastern)
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Brett Johnson (USA)
TMO: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Broadcasts: Bally Sports SoCal, KJZZ, KSL Sports, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-03-13 – LA Giltinis 19, Utah Warriors 28 (Memorial Coliseum)
2021-07-25 – LA Giltinis 17, Utah Warriors 13 (Memorial Coliseum)
2021-07-17 – Utah Warriors 34, LA Giltinis 29 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2021-05-15 – LA Giltinis 38, Utah Warriors 27 (SoFi Stadium)
