MLR 2024: Seattle Seawolves vs RFC Los Angeles – ARN Guide

The Seawolves head back to Starfire Stadium for the final home game of the regular season on Sunday night. They do so knowing that San Diego are within striking distance of second seed in the West, which could see Seattle missing out on hosting a Quarter Final. Los Angeles are out of the playoff picture but with nothing to lose and contracts for next season up for grabs will embrace the spoiler role.

CURRENT STANDINGS

10-4-0 (L1) West 2nd

4-9-1 (L2) West 6th

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

2 Jackson Zabierek replaces Joe Taufete’e (injury)
5 Jean Droste replaces Mahonri Ngakuru
11 Lauina Futi replaces Toni Pulu (injury)
14 Conner Mooneyham replaces Jade Stighling
15 Duncan Matthews replaces Tavite Lopeti (No13 vs Houston)

2 Ben Strang replaces Conor Young (No3 vs NOLA)
5 Reegan O’Gorman replaces Jason Damm
12 James Stokes replaces Jason Emery (injury)
13 Seth Purdey replaces Will Leonard
14 Jack Shaw replaces Andrew Coe

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(6) – Akuei (Kenya), Futi, Wenglewski, Rees, Lopeti (USA), Rossouw (Namibia)

(8) – Rebolo (Brazil), Maughan (USA), Katjijeko (Namibia), O’Gorman, Heaton, Young (Canada), Kunatani (Fiji), Speight (Australia)

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Joe Taufete’e (HO), Peter Malcolm (HO), Charles Elton (FL), Kara Pryor (FL), Riekert Hattingh (N8), Tevita Kuridrani (CE)

– Theo Vukasinovic (LO), Jurie van Vuuren (LO), Michael Amiras (FL), Jason Damm (N8), Niall Saunders (SH), Dan Hollinshead (FH), Jordan Chait (FH), Jason Emery (CE), Andrew Coe (WI)

NOTES

• Jackson Zabierek comes in at hooker for the injured Joe Taufete’e for his first MLR start… the only other change in the Seawolves pack is the return of Jean Droste at lock after recovering from a head knock
• Seattle have changed their entire outside back contingent… Divan Rossouw moves up to outside center with Duncan Matthews in at fullback, his first appearance since early May… the selection of Matthews means a week off for Jade Stighling, and with Toni Pulu injured there are starts for Lauina Futi and Conner Mooneyham on the wing
• it’s again musical chairs in LA’s front row as Alex Maughan switches from hooker to tighthead prop… Ben Strang comes in at No2, and with Wilton Rebolo at loosehead and Bruce Yun on the flank, there are three props named on the bench
• second row Liam Antrobus is the only LA forward reserve who isn’t a front rower… injuries have deprived the team of several players with Jason Damm joining the absentee list this week
• there are four backs on LA’s bench, with Matt Anticev and Sam Walsh both capable of playing either flyhalf or fullback… curiously there is no reserve scrumhalf with Niall Saunders and Cristian Rodriguez both absent

PREDICTION

While Los Angeles would like to pull themselves out of the Western Conference basement before the season’s end, there is more at stake for the Seawolves. A win would all but end San Diego’s hopes of a home Quarter Final. On paper the home side field a much stronger lineup and also have both form and historical results on their side. Seattle are heavy favorites at home.

LINEUPS

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Cameron Orr, 2 Jackson Zabierek, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 5 Jean Droste, 6 Devin Short, 7 Monate Akuei, 8 Huw Taylor, 9 JP Smith (capt.), 10 Mack Mason, 11 Lauina Futi, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Divan Rossouw, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Duncan Matthews

Replacements: 16 DaQuan Perry, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 18 Koby Baker, 19 Taylor Krumrei, 20 Pago Haini, 21 Ryan Rees, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Tavite Lopeti

RFC LOS ANGELES
1 Wilton Rebolo, 2 Ben Strang, 3 Alex Maughan, 4 Max Katjijeko, 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Bruce Yun, 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Semi Kunatani, 9 Tas Smith, 10 Sean Nolan, 11 Henry Speight, 12 James Stokes, 13 Seth Purdey, 14 Jack Shaw, 15 Rory van Vugt

Replacements: 16 Dane Zander, 17 Alessandro Heaney, 18 Conor Young, 19 Liam Antrobus, 20 Will Leonard, 21 Matt Anticev, 22 Sam Walsh, 23 Brooklyn Hardaker

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, June 22
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 19:00 local (22:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: mainly sunny, 70°F (21°C), wind SW 9-15mph (14-24km/h)
Broadcasts: Bally Sports SoCal, Fox 13+ Seattle, The Rugby Network

OFFICIALS

Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
Assistants: Chris Assmus (Canada) & Clint Lemkus (Canada)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (3) – Seattle 2, ATL/LA 1, STREAK Seattle +2
2024-04-14 – RFC Los Angeles 5, Seattle Seawolves 36 (Dignity Health Track Field)
2023-02-24 – Seattle Seawolves 28, Rugby ATL 22 (Starfire Stadium)
2021-05-23 – Seattle Seawolves 6, Rugby ATL 25 (Starfire Stadium)