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The top team in Major League Rugby hosts the league’s newest team for the first time at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a match that officially puts a bow on the first half of the 2023 season. San Diego proved their mettle with a road win over Seattle last weekend, while Chicago are now three losses removed from their first-ever franchise victory.
Reinforcements are on the way for the Hounds but Sam Harris won’t be able to call on them just yet. There are three changes to the starting side that came up short against the Free Jacks, two of them necessitated by injuries sustained by first choice players.
Vice-captain Luke Beauchamp went down with a shoulder injury so it’s a first MLR start for Dacoda Worth on the flank. Michael de Waal has been dropped to the bench and it’s Luke White who will wear the No8 shirt for the first time in his pro career, with Mike Matarazzo filling the vacancy at lock. Caleb Strum replaces Julián Domínguez on the left wing, the latter failing an HIA at Quincy.
The Legion have now won four straight with their only defeat this far a tough loss in Houston in Round 3. Perhaps mindful of fatigue, Danny Lee has opted to rest some of his leading players this week with a month still to go before the next bye.
Faka’osi Pifeleti, Sama Malolo, Isaac Ross, Christian Poidevin, and Blair Cowan all sit out as the starting pack gets an overhaul. Nate Sylvia will play loosehead prop for the first time this season, and Shilo Klein comes in at hooker. At second row Tom Franklin gets his first start of the campaign, with Tupou Afungia and Dan Pryor coming in on the flanks. Reserve flanker Finn Kearns is set to make his professional debut as a replacement.
The new halfback pairing is Jason Higgins and Josh Henderson, with Will Hooley on the bench and Richard Judd rested. It’s a first start this season for Matías Freyre at fullback, with Mikey Te’o moving to the wing and Tomas Aoake left out. Alex Horan could make his debut after being an unused replacement against the Seawolves.
It looks to be a cooler than normal afternoon on the forecast which could feel positively balmy for the Hounds. Chicago are still searching for an 80-minute performance and are handing opportunities to a couple inexperienced players. Even with all the changes, San Diego are a top class outfit. The Legion shouldn’t have too much difficulty securing the victory at home.
Kickoff is set for 1pm local time, 3pm Central, 4pm Eastern. A local broadcast will be available on Marquee Sports Plus in Chicago, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia, 2 Shilo Klein, 3 Luke Green, 4 Ben Grant, 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Tupou Afungia, 7 Dan Pryor, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Josh Henderson, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 M’a Nonu, 13 Marcel Brache (capt.), 14 Mikey Te’o, 15 Matías Freyre
Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Jale Railala, 20 Finn Kearns, 21 Will Hooley, 22 Alex Horan, 23 Thomas Morani
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 George Thornton, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 Mike Matarazzo, 5 John Cullen, 6 Dacoda Worth, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Luke White, 9 Sean Yacoubian, 10 Chris Mattina, 11 Caleb Strum, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Mark O’Keeffe, 15 JP Eloff
Replacements: 16 Mason Koch, 17 LaRome White, 18 Mika Felix, 19 Duke Krishnan, 20 Sam Peri, 21 Michael de Waal, 22 Michael Baska, 23 Luke Carty
Date: Sunday, April 16
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 13:00 local (15:00 Central, 16:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: Marquee Sports Plus, The Rugby Network
Referee: Cam Stone (New Zealand)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Alexis Alfaro (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
n/a
