MLR 2024: Miami Sharks vs San Diego Legion – ARN Guide

Miami will square off against their southwest coastal counterparts San Diego for the first time on Sunday evening. The Sharks are coming in on a positive note after a first ever franchise victory against Anthem, while the Legion are also on a high with three straight wins following the loss to Seattle in Week 1.

CURRENT STANDINGS

1-3-0 (W1) East 5th

3-1-0 (W3) West 2nd

LINEUP CHANGES

1 Jonas Petrakopoulos replaces Rob Evans
2 Kirby Myhill replaces Sean McNulty
3 Alec McDonnell replaces Reinaldo Piussi
4 Rick Rose replaces Tomás Casares
8 Benjamín Bonasso replaces Manuel Ardao
15 Matías Freyre replaces Shane O’Leary (injury)
16 Sean McNulty replaces Alex Glover
17 Rob Evans replaces Jonas Petrakopoulos
18 Tevita Sole replaces Alec McDonnell
19 David Beach replaces Rick Rose
20 Chase Schor-Haskin replaces Benjamín Bonasso
23 Avery Oitomen replaces Matías Freyre

1 Faka’osi Pifeleti replaces Nathan Sylvia
3 Darcy Breen replaces Luke Green
7 Finn Kearns replaces Blair Cowan
9 Nick Boyer replaces Connor Tupai
17 Payton Telea-Ilalio replaces Faka’osi Pifeleti
20 Jay Tuivaiti replaces Finn Kearns
22 Connor Tupai replaces Nick Boyer

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(8) – Myhill, Evans (Wales), Bonasso (USA), Inciarte, Etcheverry (Uruguay), Grigg (Scotland), du Toit (Canada), Videla (Chile)

(8) – Pifeleti, Helu, Tameilau, Boyer, James, Te’o, Brache (USA), Ross (New Zealand)

CLUB DEBUTS

(2) – Tevita Sole, David Beach

(1) – Jay Tuivaiti*

* – MLR debut

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Reinaldo Piussi (TH), Michael Etete (LO), Manuel Ardao (FL/N8), Tomás Cubelli (SH), Eric Naposki (WI), Shane O’Leary (FB/FH)

– Luke Green (TH), Greg Peterson (LO), Christian Poidevin (FL), Blair Cowan (FL), Tupou Afungia (FL/N8), Matt Giteau (FH), Ma’a Nonu (CE), Tomas Aoake (WI)

NOTES

• Miami welcomes back Kirby Myhill to the front row… but will hand first club starts to Jonas Petrakopoulos and Alec McDonnell at prop… first choice tighthead Reinaldo Piussi is out with a minor injury… Tevita Sole has arrived on loan from the Free Jacks
• Rick Rose gets his first pro start after four appearances for the Sharks off the bench… the 22-year-old from St. Bonaventure was the 1st overall selection in the 2023 Collegiate Draft… former Old Glory lock David Beach is set for his club debut as a replacement
• Nicolás Elewaut was a surprise choice as reserve scrumhalf for Miami against Anthem… he was primarily a winger in Argentina… Josh McAdam was signed as a center but came off the bench as a flanker against Carolina… he played flanker at Davenport
• Faka’osi Pifeleti, Darcy Breen, Finn Kearns, and Nick Boyer get their first starts of the season for San Diego… it’s the first start in Legion colors for Breen
• Jay Tuivaiti is set to make his first fully pro appearance as a replacement for San Diego… the 27-year-old lock or blindside flanker was previously part of the wider Samoa Sevens training squad before moving to Texas last year to play for the Austin Blacks

PREDICTION

Both sides have rotated their pack and are missing key players. Piussi’s absence will be greatly felt in the Miami scrum, which could be vulnerable against two hungry San Diego props. The conditions will be ideal which likely helps the Legion who prefer to attack the wide spaces. On form the visitors are the better side. San Diego are strong favorites despite playing on the road.

LINEUPS

MIAMI SHARKS
1 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Alec McDonnell, 4 Rick Rose, 5 Stan van den Hoven, 6 Roelof Smit, 7 Dan Pryor (capt.), 8 Benjamín Bonasso, 9 Tomás Inciarte, 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Marcos Young, 12 Nick Grigg, 13 Guiseppe du Toit, 14 Santiago Videla, 15 Matías Freyre

Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Tevita Sole, 19 David Beach, 20 Chase Schor-Haskin, 21 Nicolás Elewaut, 22 Josh McAdam, 23 Avery Oitomen

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Darcy Breen, 4 Charlie Hewitt, 5 Isaac Ross, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Finn Kearns, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Nick Boyer, 10 Lincoln McClutchie, 11 Ryan James, 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Ethan Grayson, 14 Mikey Te’o, 15 Marcel Brache (capt.)

Replacements: 16 Chris Mickelson, 17 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 18 Oliver Kane, 19 Chris Turori, 20 Jay Tuivaiti, 21 Cyrille Cama, 22 Connor Tupai, 23 Alex Horan

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday, March 31
Venue: AutoNation Field, Fort Lauderdale
Kickoff: 18:00 local (15:00 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 77°F (25°C), wind SE 11-16mph (18-26km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 1, The Rugby Network

OFFICIALS

Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Jarrod Ford (USA) & Tom Ciampa (USA)
TMO: Scott Green (USA)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (0) – first match