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NOLA will try to accomplish something they have never achieved on Saturday when they host ATL at The Gold Mine. On seven occasions the two sides have met, including the most recent in March, and each time it was the team from Georgia who took bragging rights over Louisiana.
Kane Thompson & Co. have had an extra week off to prepare for their southern rivals. While they were defeated in their last outing, only a single point separated them from success against the previously unbeaten Seawolves. This match looms as a must-win for the Gold if they intend to stay in the top half of the Eastern Conference table.
There is minimal tinkering with the lineup with only two changes. Jarred Adams and Luke Campbell come into the starting lineup at loosehead prop and scrumhalf respectively. Matt Harmon and Damian Stevens swap to the bench. Otherwise it’s an identical lineup to the one that faced Seattle.
ATL are coming in off an all-important bonus-point victory over DC that brings them even with NOLA on points, with only scoring differential separating the two. Stephen Brett has also opted for consistency with only two changes to his run-on side.
Will Burke is in at loosehead prop with Martini Talapusi getting a look at inside center. Jonas Petrakopoulos and George Barton drop out of the side. There is good news with the returns of backs trio Ryan Rees, Kurt Coleman, and Harley Davidson among the reserves.
An injury crisis in the front row sees a surprising name on the bench. Phil Thiel answers the call, having previously played 36 tests and two World Cups for the Eagles. The Life University men’s forwards coach could make an unlikely Major League Rugby debut at the age of 38.
Damp conditions will await the two teams, which is nothing out of the ordinary. ATL won their first encounter this season though it was NOLA who were in command during the first half before fading in the second. This Gold side looks to be finding their form, however, and will be desperate to finally get one over on ATL. Take the home side in a tense and entertaining contest.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific. Fox Sports 2 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming for viewers located elsewhere around the globe.
NOLA GOLD
1 Jarred Adams, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Sean Paranihi, 4 Billy Stewart, 5 Liam Hallam-Eames, 6 Cam Dolan (capt.), 7 Malcolm May, 8 Tom Florence, 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Rodney Iona, 11 Cael Hodgson, 12 Jordan Jackson-Hope, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Jack Webster, 15 Dougie Fife
Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Matt Harmon, 18 Dino Waldren, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Moni Tonga’uiha, 21 Maciu Koroi, 22 Damian Stevens, 23 Ross Depperschmidt
RUGBY ATL
1 Will Burke, 2 Alex Maughan, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Johan Momsen (capt.), 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Ross Deacon, 9 Rowan Gouws, 10 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 11 Nolan Tuamoheloa, 12 Martini Talapusi, 13 Will Leonard, 14 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 15 Rewita Biddle
Replacements: 16 Phil Thiel, 17 Lincoln Si’i, 18 Wikus Groenewald, 19 Nahuel Milán, 20 Daemon Torres, 21 Ryan Rees, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Harley Davidson
Date: Saturday, April 15
Venue: The Gold Mine, New Orleans
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Allen Alongi (USA) & Brian Dusablon (USA)
TMO: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2023-03-04 – Rugby ATL 29, NOLA Gold 16 (Silverbacks Park)
2022-06-03 – Rugby ATL 45, NOLA Gold 19 (Silverbacks Park)
2022-04-09 – NOLA Gold 17, Rugby ATL 34 (The Gold Mine)
2022-02-12 – NOLA Gold 9, Rugby ATL 14 (The Gold Mine)
2021-06-05 – NOLA Gold 7, Rugby ATL 8 (The Gold Mine)
2021-04-24 – Rugby ATL 38, NOLA Gold 28 (Lupo Family Field)
2020-02-16 – NOLA Gold 10, Rugby ATL 22 (The Gold Mine)
