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Houston returns to action on Saturday evening with a home tilt against Rugby ATL. The SaberCats tasted defeat for the first time this season in Seattle two weeks ago, while ATL are looking for improvement after looking outmatched against San Diego at home last weekend.
This will the first time ATL have traveled to Houston, with both previous matches victories over the SaberCats at home. In search of that old form, Stephen Brett has made wholesale changes to the team that stumbled against the Legion.
It’s all change up front with Will Burke, Tiaan Erasmus, and John-Roy Jenkinson in the front row, and it’s a beefy lock pairing in Jordan Brown and Nahuel Milán. This will be the first start in ATL colors for the latter. Johan Momsen moves to the blindside flank and Daemon Torres comes in at the back of the scrum.
The halfbacks are swapped out with Rowan Gouws partnering Duncan van Schalkwyk. Injury to Rewita Biddle sees Will Leonard sliding in one spot in the midfield, with Te Rangatira Waitokia outside him. Jack Shaw and Harley Davidson are the wingers.
Regular captain Dean Muir makes a welcome return from paternity leave in South Africa and slots straight back into the Houston lineup. He is one of six changes made by Pote Human as the Cats look for a win at home to keep them in striking distance of San Diego and Seattle.
With no Rob Cobb this week it’s Alec McDonnell who gets the start at loosehead prop. Marno Redelinghuys retains his blindside position against his former team, with Danny Barrett in at openside. Wynand Grassmann will play No8 for the first time with Houston. Eagles back row Malon Al-Jiboori has recovered from a long-term injury to take up a spot on the bench.
Dillon Smit is ruled out but Carlo de Nysschen is fit to return in the No9 shirt. There is a boost in the midfield with Louritz van der Schyff back at No12, which sees Dom Akina and Christian Dyer bumping to outside center and right wing respectively.
High humidity but moderate temperatures are on the forecast. Both teams enter on a loss but the SaberCats were very much in the game against Seattle and are now well-rested. The loss of Biddle is a heavy blow to ATL, while Houston celebrate the returns of Muir and van der Schyff.
ATL have selected a big pack with a 6/2 split on the bench in an effort to combat the SaberCats scrum. Expect improvement from the visitors but the home side are the more confident of the two. Look for Houston to take control in the second half of a physical battle.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. A local broadcast will be available on AT&T SportsNet SouthWest in Houston, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Alec McDonnell, 2 Dean Muir (capt.), 3 Morgan Mitchell, 4 Siaosi Mahoni, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Danny Barrett, 8 Wynand Grassmann, 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 Axel Zapata, 17 Frikkie de Beer, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Gideon van Wyk, 20 Malon Al-Jiboori, 21 Nick Boyer, 22 Zach Pangelinan, 23 Emmanuel Albert
RUGBY ATL
1 Will Burke, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 4 Nahuel Milán, 5 Jordan Brown, 6 Johan Momsen (capt.), 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Daemon Torres, 9 Rowan Gouws, 10 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 11 Harley Davidson, 12 Will Leonard, 13 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 14 Jack Shaw, 15 Martini Talapusi
Replacements: 16 Alex Maughan, 17 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 18 Lincoln Si’i, 19 Justin Basson, 20 Frederick Henry-Ajudua, 21 Ross Deacon, 22 Ryan Rees, 23 Kurt Coleman
Date: Saturday, March 25
Venue: SaberCats Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: AT&T SportsNet Southwest, The Rugby Network
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Jono Cooper (USA) & Blair McClure (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-03-05 – Rugby ATL 29, Houston SaberCats 22 (Silverbacks Park)
2021-06-19 – Rugby ATL 33, Houston SaberCats 15 (Lupo Family Field)
