MLR 2024: Chicago Hounds vs Miami Sharks – ARN Guide

It’s the last home game of the season for the Hounds as they welcome Miami to the Windy City. Chicago are are looking to secure their 3rd seed position heading into the postseason with DC three points behind. The Sharks are playing for pride and a chance to end the season on a three-game win streak.

CURRENT STANDINGS

7-7-1 (W2) East 3rd

6-9-0 (W2) East 5th

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

2 Dylan Fawsitt replaces Janus Venter
3 Charlie Abel replaces Paddy Ryan
6 Mason Flesch replaces Mike Matarazzo
14 Nate Augspurger replaces Noah Brown
15 Adriaan Carelse replaces Dave Kearney

1 Rob Evans replaces Tau Koloamatangi
3 Reinaldo Piussi replaces Alec McDonnell
10 Shane O’Leary replaces Santiago Videla
12 Nick Grigg replaces Matías Orlando

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(10) – Fawsitt, White, McCarthy, Carty, Augspurger, Ryan, Campbell (USA), Flesch, Rumball, Higgins (Canada)

(11) – Evans, Myhill (Wales), Piussi, Ardao, Inciarte, Etcheverry (Uruguay), Bonasso (USA), Cubelli (Argentina), O’Leary, du Toit (Canada), Grigg (Scotland)

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Zura Zhvania (LH), Dave Kearney (WI/FB)

– Roelof Smit (FL), Santiago Videla (FH), Matías Orlando (CE)

NOTES

• Chicago hold the advantage over DC in points differential and tries scored, which means two points – either a draw or combination of four-try and loss by 7 or less – will be enough to clinch 3rd place and a first round clash most likely in New Orleans
• Charlie Abel starts at tighthead prop for the first time this season… he had been Chicago’s reserve tighthead to begin the campaign, and then switched to loosehead when Zura Zhvania suffered a season-ending knee injury against Seattle in March
• Mason Flesch returns to the Hounds back row after being a late scratch against Anthem… with Nate Augspurger restored on the right wing in place of Nate Augspurger… the unsettled fullback spot goes to Adriaan Carelse with Dave Kearney missing out
• Santiago Videla and Matías Orlando have departed the Sharks early to join begin preparation for the international window with Chile and Argentina respectively… Miami’s Uruguayan quartet – Reinaldo Piussi, Manuel Ardao, Tomás Inciarte, and Felipe Etcheverry – and Eagles back row Ben Bonasso have also been selected for the upcoming tests
• Shane O’Leary will play flyhalf for the first time this season with Miami… the Canadian international started the first four games at fullback before being injured
• the Sharks will finally have five forwards in reserve after having just four on the bench for the past three games… third-choice hooker Alex Glover will provide back row cover

PREDICTION

The coaching change in Chicago has worked out thus far and Rob Webber has opted to run out a lineup that could well be the starting XV in the opening round of the playoffs. There is strength in depth with four test veterans in reserve. Miami have a competitive run-on side but are a little short on class in forward reserves and haven’t traveled well this season. Chicago are clear favorites at home.

LINEUPS

CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Nicolás Revol, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 George Merrick, 5 James Scott, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Luke White, 9 Nick McCarthy, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Billy Meakes (capt.), 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Nate Augspurger, 15 Adriaan Carelse

Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Fred Apulu, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Brad Tucker, 20 Lucas Rumball, 21 Jason Higgins, 22 Bryce Campbell, 23 Noah Brown

MIAMI SHARKS
1 Rob Evans, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Reinaldo Piussi, 4 Rick Rose, 5 Stan van den Hoven, 6 Benjamín Bonasso, 7 Dan Pryor, 8 Manuel Ardao, 9 Tomás Cubelli (capt.), 10 Shane O’Leary, 11 Eric Naposki, 12 Nick Grigg, 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Matías Freyre

Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 18 Alec McDonnell, 19 Chase Schor-Haskin, 20 Alex Glover, 21 Damian Morley, 22 Guiseppe du Toit, 23 Felipe Etcheverry

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, June 29
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium, Bridgeview
Kickoff: 18:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 19:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 86°F (30°C), wind W 14-20mph (22-32km/h)
Broadcasts: Bally Sports Florida, Marquee Sports, The Rugby Network

OFFICIALS

Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Andrew Dunn (USA)
TMO: Cam Russell (Canada)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (1) – Chicago 1, Miami 0
2024-03-03 – Miami Sharks 19, Chicago Hounds 23 (AutoNation Field, Fort Lauderdale)