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The Major League Rugby postseason gets underway in Seattle on Saturday, where the Seawolves host the Houston SaberCats in the Western Conference Playoff. It’s a rematch of last year’s conference final in Houston which was won decisively by the Seawolves to send them to a third Championship Final.
On both occasions the two sides have met this season the SaberCats came up short, though both were certainly competitive. The first was a fierce contest at Starfire Stadium in March, the second a disappointing home less for Houston that saw them squander a 17-3 second half lead.
The SaberCats have been hit with season-ending injuries to fullback Drew Wild, right wing Christian Dyer, and reserve flyhalf Robbie Povey. Utility back Zach Pangelinan is also out, which has led to the controversial addition of Super Rugby Americas star Line Latu on loan from the American Raptors. Latu had not played a single minute during the MLR regular season while both Kainoa Lloyd and Nick Boyer, who started against New England last week, are left out of the lineup.
Latu will play on the right wing with Gerrie Labuschagne starting at fullback. The rest of the backline is familiar with Davy Coetzer resuming his halfback partnership with Dillon Smit. There are two backs on the reserve list in scrumhalf Carlo de Nysschen and winger Jax Hidalgo.
Up front there is a notable return of vice-captain Nathan Den Hoedt at lock after a three-week absence with an ankle injury. Wynand Grassmann makes way with Houston at their import limit, so Keni Nasoqeqe will continue on the blindside flank. There is no place for Eagles lock Siaosi Mahoni in the match day squad with Emmanuel Albert given the nod as second row reserve on the bench.
Among others who will make an impact in the second half are USA internationals Joe Taufete’e, Danny Barrett, and Hanco Germishuys. Taufete’e will cover hooker after playing tighthead prop in his last outing, with Axel Zapata the odd man out.
The Seawolves have been boosted by the return of several players from injury, most notably captain Riekert Hattingh. Ben Landry and Charles Elton have led the side admirably during Hattingh’s six-week absence with a broken foot. Both are back in the lineup, as are Mzamo Majola and Rhyno Herbst who had each suffered shoulder damage in recent weeks.
Duncan Matthews will start on the wing with both Martin Iosefo and Conner Mooneyham ruled out. Adriaan Carelse is at fullback, and it’s AJ Alatimu who gets the nod at flyhalf. Strong showings from Lopeti Aisea and Jeremiah Sio against San Diego earn them spots on the reserve list.
It’s a conventional 5/3 bench for the Seawolves with no sign of Samu Manoa or Andrew Durutalo. Jordan Chait is another notable absentee, and Devereaux Ferris is the preferred halfback cover against the team he suited up for on two occasions earlier this season.
Sunny conditions are on the forecast at kickoff. Both teams opted to rest the majority of their top players last week in anticipation what will be a bruising encounter. The Seawolves are the higher seed and were the better side for most of the regular season, but the scales aren’t fully tipped in their favor.
Even absent Wild and Dyer the SaberCats field one of their strongest lineups of the season. Houston appear to be in better physical condition heading into the match, and have an extra forward on the bench to go with real quality in the likes of Taufete’e and Barrett. In Coetzer the Cats have a playmaker equally as influential as Alatimu, if not more so.
This promises to be another hugely physical contest on the narrower Starfire Stadium pitch, which suits Houston’s style and selection just fine. The Seawolves will have a packed house driving them on, and the return of Hattingh & Co. is another psychological boost. It’s a close call but the favorites tag goes with the home side by a small margin.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, 5pm Central, 6pm Eastern. Fox Sports 2 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming for those in Canada and abroad.
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola, 2 Peter Malcolm, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Ben Landry, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Charles Elton, 7 Ronan Foley, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Lauina Futi, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Duncan Matthews, 15 Adriaan Carelse
Replacements: 16 James Malcolm, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Mason Pedersen, 19 Ben Mitchell, 20 Nakai Penny, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Lopeti Aisea, 23 Jeremiah Sio
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Rob Cobb, 2 Dean Muir (capt.), 3 Morgan Mitchell, 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Malon Al-Jiboori, 7 Keni Nasoqeqe, 8 Gideon van Wyk, 9 Dillon Smit, 10 Davy Coetzer, 11 Vereniki Tikoisolomone, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 13 Dom Akina, 14 Line Latu, 15 Gerrie Labuschagne
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Alec McDonnell, 18 Valdemar Lee-Lo, 19 Emmanuel Albert, 20 Danny Barrett, 21 Hanco Germishuys, 22 Carlo de Nysschen, 23 Jax Hidalgo
Date: Saturday, June 24
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Kickoff: 15:00 local (17:00 Central, 18:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
Referee: Joe James (England)
Assistants: Luke Rogan (USA) & Austin Reed (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2023-05-13 – Houston SaberCats 17, Seattle Seawolves 34 (SaberCats Stadium)
2023-03-11 – Seattle Seawolves 24, Houston SaberCats 12 (Starfire Stadium)
2022-06-18 – Houston SaberCats 27, Seattle Seawolves 46 (SaberCats Stadium)
2022-05-27 – Seattle Seawolves 43, Houston SaberCats 36 (Starfire Stadium)
2022-03-12 – Houston SaberCats 21, Seattle Seawolves 19 (SaberCats Stadium)
2021-07-15 – Seattle Seawolves 40, Houston SaberCats 21 (Starfire Stadium)
2021-03-20 – Houston SaberCats 30, Seattle Seawolves 24 (SaberCats Stadium)
2019-04-13 – Houston SaberCats 10, Seattle Seawolves 52 (SaberCats Stadium)
2019-03-10 – Seattle Seawolves 27, Houston SaberCats 14 (Starfire Stadium)
2018-06-02 – Houston SaberCats 7, Seattle Seawolves 20 (Dyer Stadium)
