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A pivotal Eastern Conference clash opens Round 6 of the 2023 Major League Rugby season. Old Glory DC host the NOLA Gold with both teams looking to prove they belong in the playoff conversation.
After a poor start to the campaign, NOLA seem to have turned things around with two dominant home victories over New York and Utah. Kane Thompson has kept his lineup largely intact though a couple injuries have forced his hand in the forwards.
Devin Short jarred his knee early against Utah and will miss out this week, with Moni Tonga’uiha coming in at openside flanker. Eric Howard is also ruled out so it’s a first appearance of the season for reserve hooker Alex Lopeti. On the positive side Matt Harmon is fit to resume after missing the last three weeks and comes straight in at loosehead prop, with Jarred Adams dropping to the reserves.
The backline reverts to the first choice side, minus the injured Harley Wheeler. Jordan Trainor is in at fullback with Dougie Fife moving back to the right wing. Ross Depperschmidt is added to the reserves with Reece Botha missing out this week.
Old Glory had a close call against the Free Jacks two weeks ago but there was no doubt they were the better side at home against the Arrows. The only change to Josh Syms’ squad this week sees Mike Dabulas in at fullback for the concussed Kurt Baker, with Gradyn Bowd filling the vacancy on the bench.
Rain will lead into the match but the sun should arrive with warmer air around kickoff. DC have traditionally struggled against NOLA – in fact they have never found success in the match-up with the only a draw to show for in five previous meetings.
Both teams have shown stronger form over the past two matches and have continuity in selection. DC should be challenged is at the lineout, where the loss of Stan South and presence of Cam Dolan tips the scales towards the Gold. Short’s injury certainly hurts the visitors though they are blessed with depth in the back row.
Much could depend on NOLA’s ability to deal with Tito Díaz Bonilla’s kicking game, and with both Fife and Trainor in the lineup they are well suited to counter-attack. Rodney Iona’s preference is to attack though he has also proved adept at tactical kicking. Will it be Gold or Glory? It’s a close call but the favorites tag goes to the visitors, who have shone against tough competition over the past two weeks.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, 2pm Central, noon Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on MASN in the nation’s capital and YurView Louisiana, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 4 Collin Grosse, 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Owen Sheehy, 12 Fermín Martínez, 13 William Talataina, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Mike Dabulas
Replacements: 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Quentin Newcomer, 18 Kyle Stewart, 19 Fintan Coleman, 20 Alejo Daireaux, 21 John LeFevre, 22 Thretton Palamo, 23 Gradyn Bowd
NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Sean Paranihi, 4 Cam Dolan (capt.), 5 Billy Stewart, 6 Malcolm May, 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 8 Tom Florence, 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Rodney Iona, 11 Cael Hodgson, 12 Jordan Jackson-Hope, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Dougie Fife, 15 Jordan Trainor
Replacements: 16 Alex Lopeti, 17 Jarred Adams, 18 James Irey, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Maciu Koroi, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Aaron Matthews, 23 Ross Depperschmidt
Date: Saturday, March 25
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific, 14:00 Central)
Broadcasts: MASN, The Rugby Network, YurView Louisiana
Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)
Assistants: Aaron Davis (USA) & Ian Seaton (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-05-14 – NOLA Gold 50, Old Glory DC 21 (The Gold Mine)
2022-03-26 – Old Glory DC 22, NOLA Gold 31 (Segra Field)
2021-02-12 – Old Glory DC 21, NOLA Gold 25 (Segra Field)
2021-03-21 – NOLA Gold 26, Old Glory DC 26 (The Gold Mine)
2020-02-08 – NOLA Gold 46, Old Glory DC 13 (The Gold Mine)
