Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
NOLA return from a bye week to host Seattle for the latest chapter in a rivalry that stretches back to the inaugural 2018 campaign. The Seawolves are the stronger side historically and carry a five-game win streak into the clash against the Gold, who routed Anthem in their most recent run-out.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
4-4-0 (W1) East 3rd
8-1-0 (W5) West 2nd
| LINEUP CHANGES |
11 Ed Fidow replaces Dougie Fife (No15 vs Anthem)
12 Jordan Jackson-Hope replaces Rodney Iona
16 Augusto Bohme replaces Ale Lopeti
20 Maciu Koroi replaces Jack Webster
22 Sebastiano Villani replaces Damian Stevens
1 Cameron Orr replaces Dewald Donald
2 Dewald Donald replaces DaQuan Perry
4 Rhyno Herbst replaces Taylor Krumrei
5 Jean Droste replaces Mahonri Ngakuru
6 Reid Davis replaces Charles Elton (injury)
7 Huw Taylor replaces Kara Pryor
9 JP Smith rotates with 21 Ryan Rees
10 Mack Mason rotates with 22 Sam Windsor
11 Toni Pulu replaces Conner Mooneyham
12 Dan Kriel replaces Tavite Lopeti
15 Divan Rossouw replaces Duncan Matthews
16 DaQuan Perry replaces Joe Taufete’e (injury)
17 Kellen Gordon replaces Cameron Orr
19 Taylor Krumrei replaces Isaia Lotawa
20 Pago Haini replaces Huw Taylor
23 Tavite Lopeti replaces Lauina Futi
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(6) – Harmon, Tonga’uiha, Dolan (USA), Noa, Fidow (Samoa), Böhme (Chile)
(7) – Kilifi, Hattingh, Wenglewski, Rees, Lopeti (USA), Kuridrani (Australia), Rossouw (Namibia)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Sean Paranihi (TH), Isaac Salmon (TH), Rodney Iona (FH/CE), JP du Plessis (CE), Dougie Fife (FB)
– Joe Taufete’e (HO), Peter Malcolm (HO), Sam Matenga (TH), Charles Elton (FL), Kara Pryor (FL)
| NOTES |
- the only two changes to NOLA’s lineup are in the backs were Ed Fidow and Jordan Jackson-Hope return from injury… but it comes at the expense of Rodney Iona and Dougie Fife
- Jarred Adams continues to fill in at tighthead prop for the Gold… their top two choices at No3 are still sidelined, Isaac Salmon with injury and Sean Paranihi serving the last week of his suspension
- with Fife left out it’s Julian Roberts who starts for the first time at fullback… his previous appearances have been on the wing
- Allen Clarke has made wholesale changes to the Seawolves after their lackluster performance against Anthem… only four players retain their spots in the starting lineup
- Joe Taufete’e and Charles Elton were injured last week… the most serious concern is for Elton, Seattle’s vice-captain, who went down with knee ligament damage just before halftime
- with Kara Pryor out of this week’s lineup there is no experienced openside flanker in Seattle’s lineup… Reid Davis and Huw Taylor are on the flank, and both are typically blindsides
- Seattle’s backline by contrast is at full strength with Dan Kriel and Divan Rossouw back in the lineup and first choice halfbacks JP Smith and Mack Mason restored to the run-on side
| PREDICTION |
The Seawolves will field one of the largest forward packs seen in MLR this season, suggesting they will be happy to keep things tight against the more mobile Gold selection. Travel to Louisiana has not troubled Seattle in the past. NOLA will rely on their back row and playmakers if they are to force an upset against one of the league’s top teams. Seattle are favorites on the road.
| LINEUPS |
NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Jarred Adams, 4 Malcolm May, 5 William Waguespack, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha (capt.), 7 Jonah Mau’u, 8 OJ Noa, 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Dorian Jones, 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Jordan Jackson-Hope, 13 Ross Depperschmidt, 14 Taniela Filimone, 15 Julian Roberts
Replacements: 16 Augusto Böhme, 17 Bart Vermeulen, 18 James Irey, 19 Callum Botchar, 20 Maciu Koroi, 21 Cam Dolan, 22 Sebastiano Villani, 23 Reece Botha
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Cameron Orr, 2 Dewald Donald, 3 Olive Kilifi, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 5 Jean Droste, 6 Reid Davis, 7 Huw Taylor, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Mack Mason, 11 Toni Pulu, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 14 Jade Stighling, 15 Divan Rossouw
Replacements: 16 DaQuan Perry, 17 Kellen Gordon, 18 Chance Wenglewski, 19 Taylor Krumrei, 20 Pago Haini, 21 Ryan Rees, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Tavite Lopeti
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, May 11
Venue: The Gold Mine, Metairie
Kickoff: 14:00 local (12:00 Pacific, 15:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 81°F (27°C), wind NE 8-12mph (13-19km/h)
Broadcasts: Root Sports, YurView Louisiana, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Ben Dickenson (USA)
TMO: Amanda Cox (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (7) – Seattle 5, NOLA 2, STREAK Seattle +1
2023-04-02 – NOLA Gold 35, Seattle Seawolves 36 (The Gold Mine)
2022-03-04 – Seattle Seawolves 24, NOLA Gold 25 (Starfire Stadium)
2021-07-11 – Seattle Seawolves 30, NOLA Gold 6 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-04-21 – Seattle Seawolves 25, NOLA Gold 24 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-02-10 – NOLA Gold 41, Seattle Seawolves 31 (Archbishop Shaw Stadium)
2018-05-27 – Seattle Seawolves 55, NOLA Gold 26 (Starfire Stadium)
2018-05-12 – NOLA Gold 29, Seattle Seawolves 31 (Archbishop Shaw Stadium)
