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The odds are not strong for Old Glory to host their first ever playoff game. DC will need a bonus point victory over Rugby ATL on Saturday combined with a New York loss to Utah with no bonus point, a scenario that seems unlikely given the run of form.
Accomplishing the first half of that equation seems entirely plausible for DC. Josh Syms opted to rest many of his senior players against Houston but they are nearly all back to face an ATL side that have little motivation away from home. There are nine changes in all to the run-on side as they look to build momentum for next week’s clash against the Ironworkers.
Jack Iscaro, Nic Souchon, and Kyle Stewart are recalled in the front row. Kyle Baillie skippers the side with regular captain Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz to be eased back in from injury as a replacement. Lautaro Bavaro takes over from countryman Alejo Daireaux on the flank.
Danny Tusitala and Gradyn Bowd are back in as the starting halfbacks with William Talataina returning in the midfield. Tito Díaz Bonilla misses out with injury along with Marcos Young. Peni Lasaqa starts at fullback with no sign of Owen Sheehy. The only backs in reserve are John LeFevre and Thretton Palamo.
A disappointing campaign will come to a close for ATL, who will field a mix-and-match side to try and sneak their first victory in over a month. Stephen Brett’s men were competitive but ultimately outmatched against New York last weekend.
Johan Momsen and Justin Basson are out so it’s Nahuel Milan and Jordan Brown who partner in the second row. The forwards are otherwise unchanged but the backline has been reshuffled. Niall Saunders and Duncan van Schalwyk are the halfbacks, with Seth Purdey and Te Rangatira Waitokia in the midfield. Christopher Hilsenbeck shifts to fullback and Jack Shaw returns on the wing.
ATL’s two Collegiate Draft picks should make their MLR debuts as replacements. Second row Matt Gelhaus and scrumhalf Evan Conlon spent several weeks of the season playing with the USA Hawks in South America and South Carolina. Reserve hooker Ben Strang also returns spending the past three months on the sidelines with injury.
Conditions will be favorable for running rugby in Leesburg, which is exactly that DC would have been hoping for. They were outmuscled by ATL in their first meeting this year but with no Momsen or Basson and Baillie leading a beefed up pack, Old Glory can be confident they will live up to the challenge on Saturday. Take the home side who have something to play for.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 4pm Pacific. A local broadcast will be available on MASN 2 in the nation’s capital, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Kyle Stewart, 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Kyle Baillie (capt.), 6 Langilangi Haupeakui, 7 Lautaro Bavaro, 8 Niko Jones, 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Gradyn Bowd, 11 Junior Sa’u, 12 Doug Fraser, 13 William Talataina, 14 John Rizzo, 15 Peni Lasaqa
Replacements: 16 KoiKoi Nelligan, 17 Cali Martinez, 18 Quentin Newcomer, 19 Collin Grosse, 20 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 21 Thretton Palamo, 22 John LeFevre, 23 Alejo Daireaux
RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan, 2 Sidney Tobias, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 4 Nahuel Milán, 5 Jordan Brown, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Daemon Torres, 9 Niall Saunders, 10 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 11 Nolan Tuamoheloa, 12 Seth Purdey, 13 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 14 Jack Shaw, 15 Christopher Hilsenbeck
Replacements: 16 Ben Strang, 17 Lincoln Si’i, 18 Will Burke, 19 Matt Gelhaus, 20 Ross Deacon, 21 Evan Conlon, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 George Barton
Date: Saturday, June 17
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg
Kickoff: 19:00 local (16:00 Pacific)
Broadcasts: MASN 2, The Rugby Network
Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Assistants: Aaron Davis (USA) & Craig Sakowski (USA)
TMO: Luke Rogan (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2023-04-08 – Rugby ATL 35, Old Glory DC 27 (Silverbacks Park)
2022-03-20 – Old Glory DC 13, Rugby ATL 27 (Segra Field)
2022-02-05 – Rugby ATL 55, Old Glory DC 22 (Silverbacks Park)
2021-06-26 – Rugby ATL 32, Old Glory DC 12 (Lupo Family Field)
2021-03-27 – Old Glory DC 30, Rugby ATL 23 (Segra Field)
2020-03-08 – Old Glory DC 31, Rugby ATL 29 (Cardinal Stadium)
