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The Toronto Arrows open their final home stand of the season against the Houston SaberCats on Saturday night. While the visitors are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, the home side are simply trying to shake off a winless streak that now stands at 10 games.
After two respectable draws the Arrows took a step backwards with another blowout loss at the hands of the Free Jacks last Saturday. Despite the result there are just three changes to the run-on side this week with two other overseas recruits returning on the bench.
James O’Neill is a straight swap with Owain Ruttan at openside flanker in the only change up front. Isaac Salmon is fit to take up a spot among the reserves, with Conan O’Donnell asked to cover loosehead prop this week. In the backline it’s Ciaran Breen in for Kobe Faust on the wing, and Fabian Goodall could make his return to action as a replacement.
The SaberCats ran out to a hefty lead against the Chicago Hounds in Houston but very nearly blew it with a poor second half performance. Heyneke Meyer will be hoping the return of two USA internationals can help solve his team’s tendency to lose focus after halftime.
Danny Barrett takes over the captaincy this week with Nathan Den Hoedt injured. Emmanuel Albert gets his first start of the campaign at lock, and with Gideon van Wyk left out it’s Malon Al-Jiboori who lines up at No8. Morgan Mitchell returns at tighthead prop to square off against his former team, and Hanco Germishuys is back from a nine-game absence to take up a spot among the reserves.
The backline is untouched with Robbie Povey again deputising for Davy Coetzer at flyhalf after a strong individual showing against the Hounds. Nick Boyer is fit to resume as reserve scrumhalf after missing the last five games.
Perfect playing conditions are expected at game time which should allow for a strong home crowd. On the pitch this is simply Houston’s game to lose. Travel will be a factor, but the SaberCats have too much at stake and too much strength up front to let this one slip. Take the visitors to secure a vital bonus point north of the 49th parallel.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 6pm Central, 4pm Pacific. Viewers located in Canada can watch on TSN 2 with AT&T SportsNet Southwest broadcasting for Houston fans. All those located elsewhere can watch on The Rugby network.
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Connor Grindal, 2 Ramón Ayarza, 3 Tyler Rowland, 4 Mason Flesch, 5 Shay Kerry, 6 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 7 James O’Neill, 8 Travis Larsen, 9 Ross Braude, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 D’Shawn Bowen, 12 Liam Bowman, 13 Tautalatasi Tasi, 14 Ciaran Breen, 15 Shane O’Leary
Replacements: 16 Jack McRogers, 17 Conan O’Donnell, 18 Isaac Salmon, 19 Hank Stevenson, 20 Owain Ruttan, 21 Will Grant, 22 Dawson Fatoric, 23 Fabian Goodall
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Rob Cobb, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 3 Morgan Mitchell, 4 Emmanuel Albert, 5 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Danny Barrett (capt.), 7 Wynand Grassmann, 8 Malon Al-Jiboori, 9 Dillon Smit, 10 Robbie Povey, 11 Vereniki Tikoisolomone, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 13 Dom Akina, 14 Christian Dyer, 15 Drew Wild
Replacements: 16 Axel Zapata, 17 Pono Davis, 18 Valdemar Lee-Lo, 19 Keni Nasoqeqe, 20 Hanco Germishuys, 21 Nick Boyer, 22 Gerrie Labuschagne, 23 Asa Carter
Date: Saturday, June 3
Venue: York Lions Stadium, Toronto
Kickoff: 19:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 18:00 Central)
Broadcasts: AT&T SportsNet Southwest, The Rugby Network, TSN 2
Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Assistants: Peter Pender (Canada) & Clint Lemkus (Canada)
TMO: Greg Gilliam (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-04-23 – Houston SaberCats 29, Toronto Arrows 17 (SaberCats Stadium)
2021-05-15 – Houston SaberCats 10, Toronto Arrows 19 (SaberCats Stadium)
2020-02-16 – Toronto Arrows 27, Houston SaberCats 22 (Sam Boyd Stadium)
2019-04-21 – Toronto Arrows 35, Houston SaberCats 21 (York Alumni Field)
2019-02-22 – Houston SaberCats 27, Toronto Arrows 44 (Constellation Field)
