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The Texas Cup is up for grabs on Friday but a dramatic turn of events means there is nothing else on the table for either team. Austin have been abruptly and shockingly disqualified from the playoffs for reasons yet to be fully disclosed by Major League Rugby. It hands the SaberCats a home game in the Western Conference Playoff against a team to be determined, and leaves the Gilgronis out in the cold.
Houston memorably booked their playoff spot in defeat last week. A Robbie Povey penalty goal in stoppage time gave them two losing bonus points against the Seawolves, and with both Austin and LA holding an insurmountable lead in points the Cats will take the opportunity to rest their top players.
Wynand Grassmann is the only forward to retain his spot in the starting lineup. Frikkie de Beer, Diego Fortuny, and Aaron Mitchell are the new front row with Emmanuel Albert and Will Crawford paired at lock. This is Albert’s first professional start. Gideon van Wyk comes in at openside flanker and Willie Britz returns from injury to start at No8. Fijian lock Maikeli Naromaitoga is set for his first MLR appearance since the 2020 season against his former team.
Nick Boyer and Kian Meadon are the new halfbacks, and last week’s wingers are this week’s midfield pairing in Matai Leuta and Gerrie Labuschagne. Marcos Moroni and Kisi Unufe are out wide, with Zach Pangelinan running out at fullback.
The AG’s are suddenly in a dead-rubber. Instead of potentially playing for a spot in the Western Conference Final, they are left to front up for themselves with significant changes to the franchise both on and off the field sure to come in the off-season.
There are four changes to the starting pack this week. Faka’osi Pifeleti tags in for Jake Turnbull at loosehead prop, and Cam Dodson starts at lock with Isaac Ross left on the bench. Ronan Murphy and Maclean Jones are the flankers with Luke Beauchamp among the reserves.
Mark O’Keeffe sits out with Marcel Brache moving up to outside center. Chris Mattina gets the start at fullback. Julián Domínguez, recently rewarded with selection to the Argentina XV squad, returns to the lineup as a reserve.
The drastic news on the morning of the game has changed the complexion of this match entirely. How will Austin’s players respond? For many this will now be their last game in Austin colors and for some it could be their last in Major League Rugby. The AG’s have too much talent to lose this one but it will be a bitter-sweet victory to say the least.
Kickoff is set for 8pm local time, 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern. Fox Sports 2 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming to viewers abroad.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Frikkie de Beer, 2 Diego Fortuny, 3 Aaron Mitchell, 4 Emmanuel Albert, 5 Will Crawford, 6 Gideon van Wyk, 7 Wynand Grassmann, 8 Willie Britz, 9 Nick Boyer, 10 Kian Meadon, 11 Marcos Moroni, 12 Matai Leuta, 13 Gerrie Labuschagne, 14 Kisi Unufe, 15 Zach Pangelinan
Replacements: 16 Axel Zapata, 17 Alec McDonnell, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Maikeli Naromaitoga, 20 Keni Nasoqeqe, 21 Zachary Short, 22 Robbie Povey, 23 Trace Bolstad
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Namatahi Waa, 4 Sebastian de Chaves, 5 Cam Dodson, 6 Ronan Murphy, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Michael de Waal, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 10 Mack Mason, 11 Zinzan Elan-Puttick, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Chris Mattina
Replacements: 16 Mason Koch, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 LaRome White, 19 Isaac Ross, 20 Luke Beauchamp, 21 Pele Cowley, 22 Will Magie, 23 Julián Domínguez
Date: Friday, June 3
Venue: AVEVA Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 20:00 local (18:00 Pacific, 21:00 Eastern)
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USA) & Brian Dusablon (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-04-03 – Austin Gilgronis 43, Houston SaberCats 5 (Bold Stadium)
2021-06-05 – Houston SaberCats 9, Austin Gilgronis 28 (AVEVA Stadium)
2021-04-03 – Austin Gilgronis 26, Houston SaberCats 0 (Bold Stadium)
2020-03-07 – Houston SaberCats 20, Austin Gilgronis 24 (AVEVA Stadium)
2019-05-25 – Houston SaberCats 36, Austin Elite 15 (AVEVA Stadium)
2019-01-26 – Austin Elite 20, Houston SaberCats 21 (Dell Diamond)
2018-04-28 – Houston SaberCats 50, Austin Elite 38 (Dyer Stadium)
