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Old Glory DC will take on the Seattle Seawolves for just the third time when the two sides collide at Segra Field on Saturday. Both previous occasions were also played at the nation’s capital, with the home side winning each in close contests. They did not meet during the 2022 season.
The Seawolves arrive with a four-game winning streak after last Saturday’s cruise against the Hounds at Starfire Stadium. With four weeks to go they are just five points back of San Diego for top spot in the Western Conference and need to take every opportunity if they hope to secure the coveted position.
It’s all change in the front row this week as Jake Turnbull, Peter Malcolm, and Sam Matenga rotate in after bench duty last weekend. Otherwise the forward selection is unchanged with Andrew Durutalo and Nakai Penny again doubling up as back row reserves.
Dan Kriel and David Busby did not make the trip east. Tavite Lopeti slides in one spot to inside center with Martin Iosefo shifting from wing to outside center. Conner Mooneyham fills the vacancy out wide, and both scrumhalf Reid Watkins and midfielder Lopeti Aisea could make their first appearances of the season as replacements. Aisea was an unused substitute in Round 4.
Old Glory find themselves in uncharted territory as they currently sit second in the East. First place is beyond their reach at this stage and there are three teams not far behind so every point counts in these last weeks of the regular season. They have had a couple extra days rest after finishing deadlocked in Toronto last Thursday.
The only change to the starting pack sees the return of Tevita Naqali at lock after missing the draw against the Arrows. Collin Grosse drops to the bench which also shows a 6/2 split. Langilangi Haupeakui and Alejo Daireaux are the back row subs, and Cali Martinez takes over from Ramiro Herrera as the second prop along with Quentin Newcomer.
In the backs there is a recall for Tito Diaz Bonilla at flyhalf with Gradyn Bowd pushing out one spot to inside center. Marcos Young is injured and Junior Sa’u left out so it’s a first start of the season for John Rizzo on the left wing, with Kurt Baker back in at fullback. Thretton Palamo and Doug Fraser are the only backs replacements with no specialist cover for scrumhalf Danny Tusitala in the 23.
Perfect conditions are expected at kickoff, and the late-afternoon start will be comfortable for the visitors. Though they share identical rankings within their conference, Seattle have twice as many wins and are undoubtedly the better side at the moment. Jet leg could still take its toll on the Seawolves and leave the scoreline close but this is still their game to lose.
Kickoff is set for 6pm local time, 3pm Pacific. Fox Sports 2 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming for viewers abroad.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Kyle Stewart, 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Kyle Baillie, 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Niko Jones, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 John Rizzo, 12 Gradyn Bowd, 13 William Talataina, 14 Peni Lasaqa, 15 Kurt Baker
Replacements: 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Quentin Newcomer, 18 Cali Martinez, 19 Langilangi Haupeakui, 20 Collin Grosse, 21 Alejo Daireaux, 22 Thretton Palamo, 23 Doug Fraser
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Jake Turnbull, 2 Peter Malcolm, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Taylor Krumrei, 6 Ben Landry (co-capt.), 7 Charles Elton (co-capt.), 8 Ronan Foley, 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Lauina Futi, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Martin Iosefo, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Adriaan Carelse
Replacements: 16 James Malcolm, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Mason Pedersen, 19 Rhyno Herbst, 20 Andrew Durutalo, 21 Nakai Penny, 22 Reid Watkins, 23 Lopeti Aisea
Date: Saturday, May 27
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg
Kickoff: 18:00 local (15:00 Pacific)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Aaron Davis (USA) & Craig Sakowski (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2021-05-16 – Old Glory DC 22, Seattle Seawolves 18 (Segra Field)
2020-02-16 – Old Glory DC 28, Seattle Seawolves 22 (Cardinal Stadium)
