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It’s do or die for the Gold when they play their final home game of the season against Old Glory DC on Saturday. A loss would all but end NOLA’s hopes of a first ever postseason appearance, and if New York were also to win on Sunday it could bring with it formal elimination from playoff contention.
NOLA have been underwhelming this season and two weeks ago suffered their worst defeat of the season at the hands of New England. They enter the game with three straight losses but do feature some notable returnees in their lineup this week.
Cam Dolan is back to skipper the side at lock with Billy Stewart recovered sufficiently from concussion to take up a spot among the reserves. Jarred Adams lines up at his preferred loosehead prop position with Dino Waldren back in the squad as a tighthead reserve. Devin Short remains sidelined with a head knock and fellow loose forward Maciu Koroi is left out despite his suspension now lifted.
In the backs there is a welcome return of first choice scrumhalf Luke Campbell at the expense of Damian Stevens. Cael Hodgson is back from a five-game absence to take up a spot on the left wing, with Jordan Trainor back in at fullback. Curiously Dougie Fife is left on the bench while star midfielder Jordan Jackson-Hope remains on the sidelines.
Old Glory enter the weekend seven points up in the standings but have also struggled for form as of late. They were soundly beaten by Seattle in Leesburg last Saturday and before that drew against a middling Arrows side in Toronto.
A significant blow to the side is the loss of skipper Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, seemingly to injury. Niko Jones switches to No8 with Alejo Daireaux coming in on the flank. The starting pack is otherwise unchanged though KoiKoi Nelligan is set to make his pro debut as a replacement hooker, with Facundo Gattas also missing.
Kurt Baker’s untimely hamstring injury sees Tito Díaz Bonilla again dropping back to fullback with Gradyn Bowd shifting back to flyhalf. Doug Fraser is handed his first start of the season in the midfield and Marcos Young returns from injury to start on the left wing.
Conditions will be typically hot and humid at kickoff and fatigue will certainly be a factor towards the end of each half. Both teams are missing key players and neither arrive with any real momentum though DC have been more effective on attack. NOLA won their earlier meeting by a slim margin but concede the favorites tag to their higher-ranked opponent this time.
Kickoff is set for 5pm local time, 6pm Eastern, 3pm Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on MASN in the nation’s capital and YurView Louisiana, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
NOLA GOLD
1 Jarred Adams, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Sean Paranihi, 4 Cam Dolan (capt.), 5 Liam Hallam-Eames, 6 Malcolm May, 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 8 Tom Florence, 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Rodney Iona, 11 Cael Hodgson, 12 Ross Depperschmidt, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Harley Wheeler, 15 Jordan Trainor
Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Matt Harmon, 18 Dino Waldren, 19 Billy Stewart, 20 Alex Lopeti, 21 Sebastiano Villani, 22 Reece Botha, 23 Dougie Fife
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Kyle Stewart, 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Kyle Baillie, 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Alejo Daireaux, 8 Niko Jones, 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Gradyn Bowd, 11 Marcos Young, 12 Doug Fraser, 13 William Talataina, 14 Peni Lasaqa, 15 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla
Replacements: 16 KoiKoi Nelligan, 17 Quentin Newcomer, 18 Cali Martinez, 19 Langilangi Haupeakui, 20 Collin Grosse, 21 John LeFevre, 22 Thretton Palamo, 23 John Rizzo
Date: Saturday, June 3
Venue: The Gold Mine, New Orleans
Kickoff: 17:00 local (15:00 Pacific, 18:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: MASN, The Rugby Network, YurView Louisiana
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Allen Alongi (USA) & Rob Halcomb (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2023-03-25 – Old Glory DC 17, NOLA Gold 20 (Segra Field)
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)
