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Utah will look to make up ground on Houston in the Western Conference standings when the two sides clash at SaberCats Stadium on Saturday night. As it stands the home side holds a seven-point lead for the last playoff spot and though there are 10 games left to play for each, this match will looms as one of vital importance for the Warriors.
The Cats have won two in a row in convincing fashion since their only loss of the season in Seattle a month ago. They will field a completely unchanged match day 23, though they will have to make do without the presence of Heyneke Meyer. Houston’s Director of Rugby was suspended for one week after being found guilty of tampering.
Injuries have forced Utah’s hands after Paul Lasike went down with a knee injury against New England and both Jamie Lane and Joe Mano failed head injury assessments. They have also won two in a row, with the Arrows and Free Jacks both failing to find success at Zions Bank Stadium.
There are returns for Tuvere Vugakoto and Jurie van Vuuren this week, the former back in at hooker and the latter filling the vacancy at lock. Olive Kilifi makes his first start of the campaign at loosehead prop with Franco van den Berg dropping to the bench. Paul Mullen is back in the squad as reserve tighthead.
In the backline Lasike and Mano are replaced by Calvin Whiting and Logan Tago respectively, though Whiting is unusually listed in the No11 shirt. The reserves are also changed with Cliven Loubser a replacement option at flyhalf or fullback, and Tomasi Tonga making his second appearance of the season as midfield cover.
The Warriors leave behind the altitude of Herriman for the humidity of Houston. All three injuries are significant losses though depth has proven a strength for Utah this season. The SaberCats have shown they are not a one-dimensional outfit and have continuity and consistency on their side. Give the favorites tag to the home team but the visitors will not go down easily.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 6pm Mountain, 8pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on AT&T SportsNet Southwest in Houston and both KMYU and the KSL Sports website in Utah, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Rob Cobb, 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 Alec McDonnell, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Asa Carter, 20 Malon Al-Jiboori, 21 Nick Boyer, 22 Zach Pangelinan, 23 Emmanuel Albert
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi, 2 Tuvere Vugakoto, 3 Angus MacLellan, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 5 Onehunga Havili, 6 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 7 Lance Williams, 8 Thomas Tu’avao, 9 Connor McLeod, 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Calvin Whiting, 12 Tyler Fisher, 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Logan Tago, 15 Caleb Makene
Replacements: 16 Joey Backe, 17 Franco van den Berg, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 Saia Uhila, 20 Jeremiah Noaese, 21 Zion Going, 22 Tomasi Tonga, 23 Cliven Loubser
Date: Saturday, April 8
Venue: SaberCats Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 18:00 Mountain, 20:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: AT&T SportsNet SouthWest, KMYU, KSL Sports, The Rugby Network
Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Brian Dusablon (USA) & Jono Cooper (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-05-14 – Houston SaberCats 31, Utah Warriors 27 (AVEVA Stadium)
2022-03-26 – Utah Warriors 12, Houston SaberCats 28 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2021-06-26 – Houston SaberCats 5, Utah Warriors 24 (AVEVA Stadium)
2021-04-24 – Utah Warriors 50, Houston SaberCats 43 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2019-06-01 – Utah Warriors 27, Houston SaberCats 31 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2019-03-21 – Houston SaberCats 29, Utah Warriors 27 (Constellation Field)
2018-06-23 – Utah Warriors 31, Houston SaberCats 27 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2018-05-26 – Houston SaberCats 30, Utah Warriors 36 (Dyer Stadium)
