MLR 2024: Utah Warriors vs RFC Los Angeles – ARN Guide

The final weekend of the regular season starts in Utah on Friday night where the Warriors host RFC Los Angeles. It’s the end of the road for both sides, who have nothing but bragging rights on offer. Neither team can improve their position on the Western Conference table though their overall standing might improve slightly with a victory.

CURRENT STANDINGS

5-10-0 (W1) West 5th

4-10-1 (L3) West 6th

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

1 Franco van den Berg replaces Emerson Prior
2 Nic Souchon replaces Tuvere Vugakoto
3 Paul Mullen replaces Angus MacLellan
8 Dylan Nel replaces Onehunga Havili

1 Dane Zander replaces Wilton Rebolo (injury)
4 Jason Damm replaces Matt Heaton (HIA, No7 vs Seattle)
6 Bruce Kauika-Petersen replaces Bruce Yun (injury)
9 Cristian Rodriguez replaces Sean Nolan (No10 vs Seattle)
11 Brooklyn Hardaker replaces Jack Shaw
13 Will Leonard replaces James Stokes
14 Andrew Coe replaces Henry Speight

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(8) – Mullen, Wilson, Mano, Lasike, MacLellan, Tu’avao (USA), Havili (Tonga), Povey (Canada)

(7) – Maughan, Damm (USA), O’Gorman, Coe, Young (Canada), Katjikeko (Namibia), Kunatani (Fiji)

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Matt Jensen (LO), Spencer Jones (CE), Mika Kruse (CE/WI)

– Wilton Rebolo (LH/TH), Theo Vukasinovic (LO), Jurie van Vuuren (LO), Michael Amiras (FL), Matt Heaton (FL), Niall Saunders (SH), Dan Hollinshead (FH), Jordan Chait (FH), Jason Emery (CE), James Stokes (CE), Henry Speight (WI)

NOTES

• Friday’s match will take place at America First Field, formerly known as Rio Tinto Stadium… it’s a 20,000 seat venue primarily used for soccer… the Warriors played their first two games as a franchise at the stadium during the 2018 preseason… with over 9,000 fans showing up to watch the March 30 debut against the Glendale Raptors
• Dylan Nel returns from a five-game suspension to take up a spot in Utah’s back row… Onehunga Havili drops to the bench to join Thomas Tu’avao as loose forward reserves
• the only other changes to Utah’s starting lineup come in the front row where all three positions are rotated… Angus MacLellan appears to be tasked with covering loosehead prop off the bench having played exclusively at tighthead all season
• Michael Manson can add insurance to his league-leading try scoring total… the Warriors winger has touched down 12 times this season, two more than a handful of other contenders
• LA are again scraping the barrel to put together a match day squad after a horrendous injury run… they have four backs on the bench with second row Liam Antrobus the only non-front row forward sub
• Jason Damm is back in at lock with Bruce Kauika-Petersen’s suspension reduced by one week to start on the flank… Matt Heaton is out after failing an HIA against the Seawolves last ween and Bruce Yun suffering a knee injury
• Cristian Rodriguez gets his first club start at scrumhalf… it’s his first MLR start since the 2022 season, when he played with the LA Giltinis… Tas Smith switches to No10 with more conventional options Matt Anticev and Sam Walsh left on the bench
• Will Leonard gets the start in the midfield after filling in as an emergency flanker against Seattle… there is no sign of James Stokes or Henry Speight in LA’s backline this week

PREDICTION

It was Los Angeles who got the edge the last time these two sides met in March, and in truth neither side has looked convincing since. Both teams have been heavily hit by injuries during the campaign, but the Warriors aren’t far off their top lineup for their season finale. LA’s list of absentees is simply too long to give them any more than a puncher’s chance. Utah are clear favorites at home.

LINEUPS

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Frank Lochore, 5 Saia Uhila, 6 Bailey WIlson, 7 Kalisi Moli, 8 Dylan Nel, 9 Kieran McClea, 10 Joel Hodgson (capt.), 11 Joe Mano, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Lopeti Aisea, 14 Michael Manson, 15 Caleb Makene

Replacements: 16 Phil Bradford, 17 Angus MacLellan, 18 Tonga Kofe, 19 Jonah Dietenberger, 20 Onehunga Havili, 21 Sam Reimer, 22 Thomas Tu’avao, 23 Robbie Povey

RFC LOS ANGELES
1 Dane Zander, 2 Ben Strang, 3 Alex Maughan (capt.), 4 Jason Damm, 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Bruce Kauika-Petersen, 7 Max Katjijeko, 8 Semi Kunatani, 9 Cristian Rodriguez, 10 Tas Smith, 11 Brooklyn Hardaker, 12 Seth Purdey, 13 Will Leonard, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Rory van Vugt

Replacements: 16 Alessandro Heaney, 17 Sam Buckley, 18 Conor Young, 19 Liam Antrobus, 20 Derek Adams, 21 Matt Anticev, 22 Austin White, 23 Sam Walsh

MATCH INFO

Date: Friday, June 28
Venue: America First Field, Sandy
Kickoff: 20:30 local (19:30 Pacific, 22:30 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: clear, 73°F (23°C), wind N 6-9mph (10-14km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network

OFFICIALS

Referee: Amelia Luciano (USA)
Assistants: Chris Assmus (Canada) & Kage Green (USA)
TMO: Cam Russell (Canada)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (5) – ATL/LA 3, Utah 2, STREAK LA +1
2024-03-24 – RFC Los Angeles 36, Utah Warriors 32 (Dignity Health Track Field)
2023-05-27 – Utah Warriors 28, Rugby ATL 12 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2022-05-07 – Utah Warriors 44, Rugby ATL 26 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2021-07-10 – Utah Warriors 31, Rugby ATL 41 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2020-02-09 – Rugby ATL 28, Utah Warriors 19 (Lupo Family Field)