MLR 2024: NOLA Gold vs Chicago Hounds – ARN Guide

NOLA return from a bye week in search of another victory to keep the pace at the top of the Eastern Conference. The Gold welcome the Hounds to Metairie on Saturday afternoon, with Chicago reeling from back-to-back losses and showing just one win from five games.

CURRENT STANDINGS

3-1-0 (W1) East 2nd

1-3-1 (L2) East 4th

LINEUP CHANGES

1 Matt Harmon replaces Jarred Adams (suspension)
3 Sean Paranihi replaces Isaac Salmon (injury)
13 Ross Depperschmidt replaces Jordan Jackson-Hope
15 Dougie Fife replaces Reece Botha
17 Bart Vermeulen replaces Matt Harmon
21 Sebastiano Villani replaces Maciu Koroi
22 Reece Botha replaces Ross Depperschmidt
23 Jack Webster replaces Julian Roberts

1 Charlie Abel replaces Zura Zhvania (injury)
2 Dylan Fawsitt replaces Guillermo Pujadas
6 Ben Landry rotates with 20 Conall Boomer
7 Lucas Rumball rotates with 19 Luke White
11 Nate Augspurger replaces Julián Domínguez
15 Dave Kearney replaces Luke Carty
16 Janus Venter replaces Dylan Fawsitt
18 Paddy Ryan replaces Charlie Abel
22 Caolan Dooley replaces Cassh Maluia

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(7) – Harmon, M Tonga’uiha (USA), Böhme (Chile), Botchar (Canada), Iona, Fidow (Samoa), Fife (Scotland)

(11) – Fawsitt, Landry, McCarthy, Augspurger, Ryan, White, Baska (USA), Péculo (Uruguay), Flesch, Rumball (Canada), Kearney (Ireland)

CLUB DEBUTS

(0) – n/a

(1) – Janus Venter*

* – MLR debut

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Jarred Adams (LH), Cam Dolan (LO/N8), OJ Noa (N8), Jordan Jackson-Hope (CE)

– Zura Zhvania (LH), Julián Domínguez (WI)

NOTES

• the Gold are missing two of their starters due to suspension… number eight OJ Noa serves the third of his four-game sentence… while it’s expected that loosehead prop Jarred Adams will miss two games with his three-game sanction set to be reduced by a week
• Isaac Salmon went down with a lower leg injury against Dallas but his spot goes to fellow New Zealander Sean Paranihi… the two have been competing for the starting No3 shirt
• with no sign of Jordan Jackson-Hope this week there is enough space in the international player cap for Dougie Fife to return at fullback… with Ross Depperschmidt covering the midfield
• Charlie Abel plays loosehead prop for the first time this season for the Hounds… he fills the gap left by a lower leg injury suffered by regular No1 Zura Zhvania against Seattle
• Ben Landry makes his first start for Chicago… the USA international packs down on the blindside flank with Canada’s Mason Flesch continuing at lock
• Nate Augspurger has recovered from an HIA to start on the wing for the Hounds… he was carried off against New England two weeks ago… Augspurger takes the spot of Julián Domínguez, who was replaced at halftime against Seattle last week
• Janus Venter is set to make his MLR debut as a replacement… the 25-year-old South African hooker moved to Chicago from the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup

PREDICTION

On paper the Hounds have a lineup that looks capable of challenging the top teams in MLR, but their on-field performance has been well short of expectations thus far. Chicago got off to a blistering start against Seattle before watching a 26-point lead evaporate at home. The Gold are missing four first choice players but are in better form and should be well-rested from their bye week. NOLA are favorites at home.

LINEUPS

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon, 2 Augusto Böhme, 3 Sean Paranihi, 4 Callum Botchar, 5 William Waguespack, 6 Malcolm May, 7 Moni Tonga’uiha (capt.), 8 Jonah Mau’u, 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Rodney Iona, 11 Ed Fidow, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Ross Depperschmidt, 14 Taniela Filimone, 15 Dougie Fife

Replacements: 16 Ale Lopeti, 17 Bart Vermeulen, 18 James Irey, 19 Fintan Coleman, 20 Osaiasi Tonga’uiha, 21 Sebastiano Villani, 22 Reece Botha, 23 Jack Webster

CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Charlie Abel, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Ignacio Péculo, 4 Mason Flesch, 5 James Scott, 6 Ben Landry, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Maclean Jones, 9 Nick McCarthy, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Billy Meakes (capt.), 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Noah Brown, 15 Dave Kearney

Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Fred Apulu, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Luke White, 20 Conall Boomer, 21 Michael Baska, 22 Caolan Dooley, 23 Brad Tucker

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, April 6
Venue: The Gold Mine, Metairie
Kickoff: 15:00 local (13:00 Pacific, 16:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sun and cloud, 79°F (26°C), wind SE 11-17mph (18-27km/h)
Broadcasts: Marquee Sports Plus, YurView Louisiana, The Rugby Network

OFFICIALS

Referee: George Myers (Australia)
Assistants: Federico Anselmi (Argentina) & Ian Seaton (USA)
TMO: Greg Gilliam (USA)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (1) – NOLA 1, Chicago 0
2023-04-23 – Chicago Hounds 24, NOLA Gold 37 (SeatGeek Stadium)