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It’s an all-Eastern clash in Charlotte on Saturday evening when Anthem hosts Old Glory at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Carolina are searching for their first ever franchise win while DC have refreshed their lineup in response to a disappointing home loss to San Diego.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
0-4-0 (L4) East 6th
1-2-1 (L1) East 4th
| LINEUP CHANGES |
5 James Rivers replaces Braemar Murray
8 Sione Latu replaces Dylan Fortune (injury)
11 David Still replaces Josh Shetler
12 Junior Gafa replaces Mateo Gadsden
13 Cael Hodgson replaces Te Rangatira Waitokia
15 Te Rangatira Waitokia replaces Shane Barry
19 Logan Weidner replaces James Rivers
22 Shane Barry replaces Cael Hodgson
1 Quentin Newcomer replaces Jack Iscaro
2 Facundo Gattas replaces Martín Vaca
3 Cali Martinez replaces Tyler Rowland
4 Bill Whiteside replaces Rob Harley
9 Ethan McVeigh replaces Connor Buckley
13 John Powers replaces Tommaso Boni
16 Martín Vaca replaces KoiKoi Nelligan
17 Jack Iscaro replaces Quentin Newcomer
18 Tyler Rowland replaces Cali Martinez
19 Tevita Naqali replaces Bill Whiteside
23 Mike Dabulas replaces John Powers
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(1) – Turnbull (USA)
(9) – Gattas, Dotti (Uruguay), Daniel, Iscaro, Dabulas (USA), Hoyland (Scotland), Rowland, Bowd (Canada), Tusitala (Samoa)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Joe Apikotoa (TH), Dylan Fortune (N8), Cliven Loubser (FH/FB)
– Rob Harley (LO), Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (FL/N8), Niko Jones (FL/N8), Tommaso Boni (CE), Perry Humphreys (WI)
| NOTES |
- Anthem are still waiting on the arrival of Tongan international Joe Apikotoa… he is the only overseas signing yet to appear… Stephen Bernal-Wendt and Ivan Pula continue to cover tighthead prop this week… both played for the USA Hawks last year
- Junior Gafa and David Still return to the Anthem backline after recovering from short-term injuries… Gafa started the season opener against New England and Still played in Week 2 against New Orleans… this is the first time they will play together
- this is the first pro start for Sione Latu, who wears No8 for Anthem… the 20-year-old debuted as a replacement against Dallas in Week 3… incumbent starter Dylan Fortune came off the field early against Miami with a lower back issue
- Anthem replacement Logan Weidner is set to play against his regular club side… Old Glory signed the 22-year-old to a three-year deal but have loaned him to Carolina for the duration of the 2024 campaign
- Facundo Gattas, Tevita Naqali, and Mike Dabulas make their first appearances of the season for DC after recovering from injury… Gattas was a late scratch from the season opener… Dabulas returns almost a year to the day from his last appearance, on April 2 against San Diego
- Old Glory lock Bill Whiteside is set to make his first pro start… the 23-year-old was on the books for New York last season and spent time playing with the Hawks… he is a USA u23 representative and played collegiate rugby at Lindenwood
| PREDICTION |
Simon Cross has swapped out four of DC’s tight five and handed opportunities to Ethan McVeigh and John Powers. The returns of Gattas, Naqali, and Dabulas will provide an energy boost to the squad. Anthem field arguably their strongest lineup of the season with a legitimately dangerous backline. Defense and the scrum were their downfalls in Miami. DC are strong favorites.
| LINEUPS |
ANTHEM CAROLINA
1 Jake Turnbull (capt.), 2 Declan Moore, 3 Stephan Bernal-Wendt, 4 Reagan Leslie, 5 James Rivers, 6 Shneil Singh, 7 Albert O’Shannessey, 8 Sione Latu, 9 Conor McManus, 10 Oscar Koller, 11 David Still, 12 Junior Gafa, 13 Cael Hodgson, 14 Tyren Al-Jiboori, 15 Te Rangatira Waitokia
Replacements: 16 Connor Robinson, 17 Dan Hanson, 18 Ivan Pula, 19 Logan Weidner, 20 Joe Basser, 21 Siaosi Nai, 22 Shane Barry, 23 Ulu Niutupuivaha
OLD GLORY DC
1 Quentin Newcomer, 2 Facundo Gattas, 3 Cali Martinez, 4 Bill Whiteside, 5 Ignacio Dotti, 6 Collin Grosse, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Lautaro Bavaro, 9 Ethan McVeigh, 10 Jason Robertson (capt.), 11 John Rizzo, 12 William Talataina, 13 John Powers, 14 Axel Müller, 15 Damien Hoyland
Replacements: 16 Martín Vaca, 17 Jack Iscaro, 18 Tyler Rowland, 19 Tevita Naqali, 20 Brady Daniel, 21 Danny Tusitala, 22 Gradyn Bowd, 23 Mike Dabulas
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, March 30
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte
Kickoff: 18:00 local (15:00 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 70°F (21°C), wind SW 15-22mph (24-35km/h)
Broadcasts: Monumental Sports, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Cisco Lopez (USA) & Alex Hedquist (USA)
TMO: Greg Gilliam (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (0) – first match
