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Major League Rugby’s top team will put their four-game win streak on the line when Chicago lands in Houston on Saturday evening. The SaberCats scored a routine win over Anthem last week while the Hounds saw their own hot streak come to an end against Old Glory.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
9-1-0 (W4) West 1st
5-4-1 (L1) East 2nd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
2 Pita Anae-Ah Sue replaces Tiaan Erasmus
3 Maks van Dyk replaces Rob Cobb
6 Marno Redelinghuys replaces Emmanuel Albert
7 Keni Nasoqeqe replaces Gideon van Wyk (No8 vs Anthem)
9 André Warner replaces Jay Renton
11 Line Latu replaces Jeremy Misailegalu
12 Sam Hill replaces Louritz van der Schyff (No13 vs Anthem)
15 Davy Coetzer replaces Drew Wild
6 Ben Landry replaces Mason Flesch
8 Conall Boomer replaces Luke White
9 Nick McCarthy replaces Jason Higgins
11 Julián Domínguez replaces Cassh Maluia (No12 vs DC)
15 Luke Carty replaces Dave Kearney
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(2) – Lindenmuth, Alatimu (Samoa)
(11) – Fawsitt, Ryan, Landry, McCarthy, Campbell, Augspurger, Carty, White (USA), Péculo (Uruguay), Flesch (Canada), Kearney (Ireland)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Christian Dyer (WI), Drew Wild (FB)
– Zura Zhvania (LH), Lucas Rumball (FL), Billy Meakes (CE)
| NOTES |
- after rotating their squad against Anthem, the SaberCats will roll out a virtually full strength lineup against the Hounds with winger Christian Dyer the only injury absentee… Drew Wild is the odd man out due to the import limit
- Houston’s front row is boosted by the return of Pita Anae-Ah Sue and Maks van Dyk from injury… with Marno Redelinghuys recalled on the blindside flank
- an impressive SaberCats debut for Seimou Smith last week gives him the start on the right wing with Jeremy Misailegalu settling for a reserve role
- regular Hounds skipper Billy Meakes remains unavailable on maternity leave… with Luke White on the bench this week it’s last year’s captain Bryce Campbell who leads the team on the pitch against the Cats
- Julián Domínguez returns to the starting lineup for Chicago which sees three players shifting position in the backline, and Luke Carty returning from concussion… Domínguez makes his 50th MLR appearance, having previously suited up for NOLA and Austin
- Nick McCarthy is handed the No9 shirt this week and with six forwards named on Chicago bench, winger Nate Augspurger will be the reserve scrumhalf
| PREDICTION |
Saturday’s game is scheduled to go ahead despite a major storm hitting Houston just hours ago, resulting in at least 7 deaths and widespread power outages. Conditions at game time will be hot and humid but the wind and rain have let up. The SaberCats are on a roll while the Hounds looked a bit flat against DC, and are without the inspirational Meakes in the midfield. Houston are favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2 Pita Anae-Ah Sue, 3 Maks van Dyk, 4 Johan Momsen, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt (capt.), 6 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Keni Nasoqeqe, 8 Ronan Murphy, 9 André Warner, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Line Latu, 12 Sam Hill, 13 Dom Akina, 14 Seimou Smith, 15 Davy Coetzer
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Erasmus, 17 LaRome White, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Emmanuel Albert, 20 Tomi Agbongbon, 21 Carlo de Nysschen, 22 Max Schumacher, 23 Jeremy Misailegalu
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Charlie Abel, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 George Merrick, 5 James Scott, 6 Ben Landry, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Conall Boomer, 9 Nick McCarthy, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Nate Augspurger, 15 Luke Carty
Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Fred Apulu, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Mason Flesch, 20 Brad Tucker, 21 Dave Kearney, 22 Cassh Maluia, 23 Luke White
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, May 18
Venue: SaberCats Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 88°F (31°C), wind SE 7-11mph (11-18km/h)
Broadcasts: Marquee Sports, Space City, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Ian Seaton (USA) & Jono Cooper (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (2) – Houston 2, Chicago 0
2023-05-27 – Houston SaberCats 40, Chicago Hounds 33 (SaberCats Stadium)
2023-04-01 – Chicago Hounds 21, Houston SaberCats 38 (SeatGeek Stadium)
