MLR 2024: Miami Sharks vs NOLA Gold – ARN Guide

It’s do or die for the Sharks on Sunday, who need maximum points at home against NOLA to get back into the playoff race. Both teams are looking to bounce back from disappointing performances a week ago while the visitors are also keen to repay April’s loss to Miami at The Gold Mine.

CURRENT STANDINGS

4-8-0 (L1) East 5th

7-5-0 (L1) East 2nd

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

1 Jonas Petrakopoulos replaces Rob Evans
2 Sean McNulty replaces Kirby Myhill
6 Dan Pryor replaces Tomás Casares (suspension)
10 Santiago Videla replaces Felipe Etcheverry
12 Matías Orlando replaces Nick Grigg
14 Avery Oitomen replaces Michael Hand

1 Jarred Adams replaces Matt Harmon
2 Augusto Böhme replaces Pat O’Toole (HIA)
3 Sean Paranihi replaces Isaac Salmon
5 William Waguespack replaces OJ Noa (suspension, No8 vs Houston)
10 Dorian Jones replaces Reece Botha
13 Ross Depperschmidt replaces Dougie Fife (injury, No15 vs Houston)
14 Harley Wheeler replaces Ed Fidow (injury)

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(8) – Koloamatangi (Tonga), Bonasso (USA), Cubelli, Orlando (Argentina), Videla (Chile), Inciarte (Uruguay), Myhill (Wales), du Toit (Canada)

(6) – Böhme (Chile), Botchar (Canada), Tonga’uiha, Dolan, Harmon (USA), Stevens (Namibia)

CLUB DEBUTS

(1) – Matías Orlando*

* – MLR debut

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Rob Evans (LH), Reinaldo Piussi (TH), Manuel Ardao (N8), Felipe Etcheverry (FH/FB)

– Jonah Mau’u (FL), OJ Noa (N8), Rodney Iona (FH/CE), Ed Fidow (WI), Dougie Fife (FB)

NOTES

• Miami will role out their latest addition for the first time as long-time Argentina center Matías Orlando arrives direct from the English Premiership… the 32-year-old joins World Cup teammate Tomás Cubelli in the lineup at the expense of Scottish international Nick Grigg
• Felipe Etcheverry has paid for a poor outing against LA and will watch on the sidelines this week… Chilean international Santiago Videla is recalled to the Sharks No10 shirt
• Tomás Casares will play no further part in the season after receiving a six-week suspension for a punch… with Manuel Ardao serving the second of his two-week suspension, it leaves the Sharks desperately short in the forwards with only four named on the bench this week and none of them back rows… Dan Pryor returns to start on the flank
• the Gold are also dealing with suspension woes as OJ Noa will sit out the rest of the regular season after his red card last week… Jonah Mau’u remains sidelined with a knee injury, so Cam Dolan switches to the back row with William Waguespack coming in at lock
• injuries have ruled out Ed Fidow and Dougie Fife, which means a bit of musical chairs in the NOLA backline… Taniela Filimone switches to the left wing with Harley Wheeler in on the right… JP du Plessis switches to inside center, Ross Depperschmidt joins him in the midfield, and Jordan Jackson-Hope is asked to cover fullback for the first time in his MLR career
• there is no sign of Rodney Iona but Dorian Jones is fit again to take the No10 shirt for the Gold… Reece Botha drops to the bench with Julian Roberts covering the outside backs

PREDICTION

The Sharks kept it close for the first hour against LA, but they crumbled in the final quarter and their hopes of a playoff spot are now slim. NOLA were the opposite with a poor opening quarter against Houston but a reasonably competitive second half. With high humidity on the forecast the lack of forwards on Miami’s bench is not helpful for their cause. NOLA are favorites on the road.

LINEUPS

MIAMI SHARKS
1 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Tau Koloamatangi, 4 Rick Rose, 5 Stan van den Hoven, 6 Dan Pryor, 7 Roelof Smit, 8 Benjamín Bonasso, 9 Tomás Cubelli (capt.), 10 Santiago Videla, 11 Marcos Young, 12 Matías Orlando, 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Avery Oitomen, 15 Matías Freyre

Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Alec McDonnell, 18 Setu Vole, 19 Michael Etete, 20 Guiseppe du Toit, 21 Damian Morley, 22 Michael Hand, 23 Eric Naposki

NOLA GOLD
1 Jarred Adams, 2 Augusto Böhme, 3 Sean Paranihi, 4 Callum Botchar, 5 William Waguespack, 6 Malcolm May, 7 Moni Tonga’uiha (capt.), 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Dorian Jones, 11 Taniela Filimone, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Ross Depperschmidt, 14 Harley Wheeler, 15 Jordan Jackson-Hope

Replacements: 16 Ale Lopeti, 17 Matt Harmon, 18 Isaac Salmon, 19 Fintan Coleman, 20 Osaiasi Tonga’uiha, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Reece Botha, 23 Julian Roberts

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday, June 9
Venue: AutoNation Field, Fort Lauderdale
Kickoff: 18:00 local (15:00 Pacific, 17:00 Central)
Weather Forecast: risk of thunderstorm, 86°F (30°C), humidex 95°F (35°C), wind S 9-14mph (14-22km/h)
Broadcasts: Bally Sports Florida, YurView Louisiana, The Rugby Network

OFFICIALS

Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Cisco Lopez (USA) & Tom Ciampa (USA)
TMO: Amanda Cox (USA)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (1) – Miami 1, NOLA 0
2024-04-20 – NOLA Gold 27, Miami Sharks 42 (The Gold Mine)