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Houston are looking to keep their perfect start to the season intact when they host Miami on Saturday evening. The SaberCats have opted to rotate some of their starters after convincing wins over Utah and LA, while the Sharks have selected a nearly identical match day squad from the defeat to Seattle.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
2-0-0 (W2) West 1st
0-2-0 (L2) East 5th
| LINEUP CHANGES |
5 Nathan Den Hoedt replaces Justin Basson
8 Gideon van Wyk replaces Marno Redelinghuys (6 vs LA)
10 AJ Alatimu replaces Davy Coetzer
12 Sam Hill replaces Dom Akina
13 Louritz van der Schyff replaces Tautalatasi Tasi
15 Line Latu replaces Drew Wild
23 Dom Akina replaces Line Latu
7 Roelof Smit replaces Dan Pryor
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(2) – AJ Alatimu, Sam Hill*
(1) – Roelof Smit*
*MLR debut
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(3) – Lindenmuth, Alatimu (Samoa), Dyer (USA)
(11) – Evans (Wales), Piussi, Ardao, Etcheverry, Inciarte (Uruguay), Bonasso (USA), Cubelli (Argentina), Grigg (Scotland), Videla (Chile), O’Leary, du Toit (Canada)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Davy Coetzer (FH), Drew Wild (FB)
– Kirby Myhill (HO), Stan van den Hoven (LO)
| NOTES |
- it’s the first appearances of the season for Houston quintet Nathan Den Hoedt, Gideon van Wyk, AJ Alatimu, Sam Hill, and Louritz van der Schyff… a club debut for ex-Seawolves flyhalf Alatimu… and an MLR debut for former Premiership and England Saxons center Hill
- Den Hoedt captains Houston for the 6th time… he takes over the role from Johan Momsen
- Louritz van der Schyff will play at outside center for the first time in a Houston shirt… all of his previous appearances were at inside center wearing No12
- Roelof Smit is the only change to Miami’s lineup… the South African flanker represented his country against the Barbarians in 2016… a training injury then denied him a full test cap
- Alec McDonnell will play against his former team… he was used exclusively at loosehead prop during his two seasons in Houston… he is now filling in at tighthead for Miami due to Alex Tucci’s injury
| PREDICTION |
The SaberCats have improved since last season and are showing they are among the best in the Western Conference. This week they show off their depth with the likes of Den Hoedt and Alatimu called in. Miami do not have as much talent in reserve and might be fatigued after the long trip to Seattle. Houston are clear favorites.
| LINEUPS |
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2 Pita Anae-Ah Sue, 3 Maks van Dyk, 4 Johan Momsen, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt (capt.), 6 Ronan Murphy, 7 Keni Nasoqeqe, 8 Gideon van Wyk, 9 Andre Warner, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Jeremy Misailegalu, 12 Sam Hill, 13 Louritz van der Schyff, 14 Christian Dyer, 15 Line Latu
Replacements: 16 Seth Smith, 17 Frikkie de Beer, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Emmanuel Albert, 20 Asa Carter, 21 Carlo de Nysschen, 22 Max Schumacher, 23 Dom Akina
MIAMI SHARKS
1 Rob Evans, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Reinaldo Piussi, 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Michael Etete, 6 Benjamín Bonasso, 7 Roelof Smit, 8 Manuel Ardao, 9 Tomás Cubelli (capt.), 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Santiago Videla, 12 Nick Grigg, 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Shane O’Leary
Replacements: 16 Alex Glover, 17 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 18 Alec McDonnell, 19 Rick Rose, 20 Chase Schor-Haskin, 21 Damian Morley, 22 Guiseppe du Toit, 23 Eric Naposki
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, March 16
Venue: SaberCats Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: cloudy, 72°F (22°C), wind SE 10-16mph (17-25km/h)
Broadcasts: Bally Sports Florida, Space City, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Scott Green (USA) & Jono Cooper (USA)
TMO: Eanna O’Dowd (Ireland)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (0) – first match
