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Major League Rugby returns to Texas on Sunday when the Dallas Jackals host the Houston SaberCats in Arlington. Their respective fortunes in 2022 were vastly different, with the Jackals going winless in their maiden campaign and the SaberCats reaching the postseason for the first time in their five-year history.
It’s been all-change for the Jackals during the off-season. A new coaching staff and a complete overhaul of their playing roster, including a raft of Argentine imports that should bolster their chances for a first-ever win. Only three of those additions, however, are named in their match day roster and it’s not clear why.
Flanker Jerónimo Gómez Vara and scrumhalf Nazareno Valentini are in the starting lineup, while former SaberCats outside back Marcos Moroni is on the bench. Absent, however, are seven off-season signings and incumbent flyhalf Adriaan Carelse.
There are two other newcomers to the starting lineup. Second row Sam Golla was the first overall selection in the 2022 Collegiate Draft. USA Falcons midfielder Patrick Medina is named on the wing. Canadian prop Kyle Steeves is set to debut from the bench, with scrumhalf Danny Christensen and winger James Vaifale joining from Utah. Giant lock Maikeli Naromaitoga is set to become the first player to appear for all three Texan franchises.
EDIT: Dallas have released an updated lineup showing significant changes. They are reflected in the team sheet below.
Houston have a more settled look to their squad this season, with Heyneke Meyer and Pote Human adding a few reinforcements after the club’s first winning campaign. They will be without captain Dean Muir to start the season, as he returns home to South Africa for the birth of his first child.
Axel Zapata gets his first MLR start at hooker in Muir’s stead, with short-term signing Andrew Tuala named on the bench. There are league debuts for loosehead prop Rob Cobb and fullback Drew Wild, both arriving from New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.
Others running out for the first time in Houston colors are tighthead prop Morgan Mitchell, second row Nathan Den Hoedt, No8 Hanco Germishuys, scrumhalf Carlo de Nysschen, and outside center Dom Akina. This will be the fifth MLR club for Germishuys, the US Eagles loose forward previously lining up for Austin, Glendale, New York, and LA.
Cloudy but warm conditions are expected at game time. The forecast is very much secondary when choosing a favorite, however. A full-strength Dallas roster might have given the SaberCats a sterner challenge, but their severely depleted lineup does not inspire confidence. Take the visitors by a convincing margin.
EDIT: Dallas’ updated roster presents a greater challenge to the SaberCats but our verdict remains the same.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on AT&T SportsNet Southwest in Houston and KTXA in Dallas. Viewers located elsewhere can watch a live stream on The Rugby Network.
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Liam Murray, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 4 Sam Golla, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Conrado Roura, 7 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 8 Adriaan Booysen, 9 Nazareno Valentini, 10 Alejandro Torres, 11 Marcos Moroni, 12 Juan Pablo Aguirre, 13 Tomás Malanos, 14 Eric Naposki, 15 Adriaan Carelse
Replacements: 16 Alex Tucci, 17 Connor Robinson, 18 Kyle Steeves, 19 Maikeli Naromaitoga, 20 Carson Shoemaker, 21 Danny Christensen, 22 Campbell Johnstone, 23 James Vaifale
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Rob Cobb, 2 Axel Zapata, 3 Morgan Mitchell, 4 Siaosi Mahoni, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Wynand Grassmann, 7 Danny Barrett (capt.), 8 Hanco Germishuys, 9 Carlo de Nysschen, 10 Davy Coetzer, 11 Gerrie Labuschagne, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 13 Dom Akina, 14 Christian Dyer, 15 Drew Wild
Replacements: 16 Andrew Tuala, 17 Alec McDonnell, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Keni Nasoqeqe, 20 Marno Redelinghuys, 21 Nick Boyer, 22 Robbie Povey, 23 Emmanuel Albert
Date: Sunday, February 19
Venue: Choctaw Stadium, Arlington
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Moe Chaudhry (Canada)
Assistants: Andrew Low (USA) & Justin Hale (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
Broadcasts: AT&T SportsNet Southwest, KTXA, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-04-09 – Houston SaberCats 31, Dallas Jackals 6 (AVEVA Stadium)
2022-02-19 – Dallas Jackals 33, Houston SaberCats 38 (Choctaw Stadium)
