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The two top teams in Major League Rugby collide on Saturday night for what could be a preview of the Conference Final. A win for Houston would clinch top spot in the West and home field advantage in the postseason, but the Seawolves are lurking seven points behind and victory would make things very interesting in the last two weeks of the regular season.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
12-1-0 (W7) West 1st
10-3-0 (W2) West 2nd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
1 Rob Cobb replaces Ezekiel Lindenmuth
3 Pono Davis replaces Maks van Dyk
8 Gideon van Wyk replaces Johan Momsen (injury, No6 vs LA)
10 AJ Alatimu replaces Drew Wild (No15 vs LA)
13 Tautalatasi Tasi replaces Dom Akina
14 Christian Dyer replaces Jeremy Misailegalu
5 Mahonri Ngakuru replaces Jean Droste (HIA)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(2) – Jackson Zabierek*, Koby Baker*
* – MLR debut
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(2) – Alatimu (Samoa), Dyer (USA)
(7) – Taufete’e, Lopeti, Wenglewski, Rees, Futi (USA), Akuei (Kenya), Rossouw (Namibia)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Ezekiel Lindenmuth (LH), Maks van Dyk (TH), Johan Momsen (LO/FL), Drew Wild (FB)
– Peter Malcolm (HO), Charles Elton (FL), Kara Pryor (FL), Riekert Hattingh (N8), Tevita Kuridrani (CE)
| NOTES |
- Houston have rested both first choice props this week, with Rob Cobb finally getting a run in his preferred loosehead position after being asked to fill in at tighthead… for Pono Davis it’s a first start of the 2024 campaign and just the second of his MLR career
- Johan Momsen sits out after taking a knock to the shoulder early in the win over LA… his back row spot goes to Gideon van Wyk who slots in at No8 with Ronan Murphy switching to flanker
- Tautalatasi Tasi sees his first action since early May and partners Louritz van der Schyff for the first time… vice-captain Christian Dyer makes a full return from injury on the right wing
- the Seawolves have made just one enforced change to their starting lineup after thrashing Utah last week… Jean Droste is ruled out with an HIA so the No5 shirt goes to Mahonri Ngakuru
- two players will make their Seattle and MLR debuts as replacements… hooker Jackson Zabierek and tighthead prop Koby Baker have arrived after playing in Super Rugby Americas with the American Raptors… Zabierek was drafted by LA last year but did not sign with the club… Baker spent three years in the UK playing university rugby for Cardiff Met
| PREDICTION |
The March contest in Tukwila was a fierce contest played in drizzly weather that was surprisingly high scoring. Since then the SaberCats have lost just once and enter the game on a franchise record seven-game win streak. The Seawolves have had to overcome some injuries to key players but remain a formidable outfit who will be determined to send a message heading into the postseason. Houston are slight favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Rob Cobb, 2 Pita Anae-Ah Sue, 3 Pono Davis, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt (capt.), 6 Ronan Murphy, 7 Keni Nasoqeqe, 8 Gideon van Wyk, 9 André Warner, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Seimou Smith, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 13 Tautalatasi Tasi, 14 Christian Dyer, 15 Davy Coetzer
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Erasmus, 17 LaRome White, 18 Val Lee-Lo, 19 Emmanuel Albert, 20 Asa Carter, 21 Carlo de Nysschen, 22 Max Schumacher, 23 Jeremy Misailegalu
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Cameron Orr, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 5 Mahonri Ngakuru, 6 Devin Short, 7 Monate Akuei, 8 Huw Taylor, 9 JP Smith (capt.), 10 Mack Mason, 11 Toni Pulu, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Jade Stighling, 15 Divan Rossouw
Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 18 Koby Baker, 19 Taylor Krumrei, 20 Pago Haini, 21 Ryan Rees, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Lauina Futi
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, June 15
Venue: SaberCats Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 18:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 19:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 90°F (32°C), humidex 97°F (36°C), wind SE 11-16mph (18-26km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 1, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Jono Cooper (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (12) – Seattle 9, Houston 3, STREAK Houston +1
2024-03-22 – Seattle Seawolves 40, Houston SaberCats 42 (Starfire Stadium)
2023-06-24 – Seattle Seawolves 37, Houston SaberCats 26 (Starfire Stadium)
2023-05-13 – Houston SaberCats 17, Seattle Seawolves 34 (SaberCats Stadium)
2023-03-11 – Seattle Seawolves 24, Houston SaberCats 12 (Starfire Stadium)
2022-06-18 – Houston SaberCats 27, Seattle Seawolves 46 (SaberCats Stadium)
2022-05-27 – Seattle Seawolves 43, Houston SaberCats 36 (Starfire Stadium)
2022-03-12 – Houston SaberCats 21, Seattle Seawolves 19 (SaberCats Stadium)
2021-07-15 – Seattle Seawolves 40, Houston SaberCats 21 (Starfire Stadium)
2021-03-20 – Houston SaberCats 30, Seattle Seawolves 24 (SaberCats Stadium)
2019-04-13 – Houston SaberCats 10, Seattle Seawolves 52 (SaberCats Stadium)
2019-03-10 – Seattle Seawolves 27, Houston SaberCats 14 (Starfire Stadium)
2018-06-02 – Houston SaberCats 7, Seattle Seawolves 20 (Dyer Stadium)
