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The slumping Sharks are in desperate search for victory when they host the SaberCats on Saturday evening. Miami have lost four in a row and are coming off a season-worst performance against the Free Jacks. Houston were also disappointed to lose in their last outing, but despite the result moved up to top spot in the West thanks to bonus points and remain one of the league’s best outfits.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
2-5-0 (L4) East 5th
5-2-0 (L1) West 1st
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 2 | Sean McNulty | Kirby Myhill |
| 5 | Braemar Murray | Mauro Rebussone |
| 6 | Tomás Bekerman | Manuel Ardao |
| 9 | Tomás Inciarte | Tomás Cubelli |
| 11 | Josiah Morra | Tomás Inciarte |
| 12 | Tomás Cubilla | Matías Orlando |
| 14 | Marcos Young | Tomás Malanos |
|
IN | OUT |
| 2 | Pita Anae-Ah Sue | Seth Smith |
| 3 | Michael Scott | Pono Davis |
| 4 | Justin Basson | Nathan Den Hoedt |
| 10 | AJ Alatimu | Davy Coetzer |
| 11 | Juan-Dee Oliver | Max Schumacher |
| 12 | Louritz van der Schyff | Tautalatasi Tasi |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(10) – McNulty, Casares, Bonasso (USA), Piussi, Inciarte (Uruguay), Morra, du Toit, O’Leary (Canada), Koloamatangi (Tonga), Cubelli (Argentina)
(4) – Lindenmuth, Alatimu (Samoa), McLean (Scotland), Rebolo (Brazil)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(1) – Morra
(1) – Rebolo
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Mauro Rebussone (LO), Manuel Ardao (FL), Matías Orlando (CE)
– Pono Davis (TH), Ronan Murphy (N8), Davy Coetzer (FH)
| PREDICTION |
The loss of Davy Coetzer to injury is a blow to the Cats, though it’s likely he would have been rested for this fixture anyway. Wilton Rebolo is set for his club debut as part of a strong bench behind an even stronger starting pack. For Miami it’s a complete reshuffle of the backline with captain Tomas Cubelli left among the reserves. Without star openside Manuel Ardao on the flank, it’s hard to see where their point of difference might come. Houston are clear favorites on the road.
| LINEUPS |
MIAMI SHARKS
1 Alec McDonnell, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Reinaldo Piussi, 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Braemar Murray, 6 Tomás Bekerman, 7 Benjamín Bonasso (capt.), 8 Ronan Foley, 9 Tomás Inciarte, 10 Martín Elías, 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Tomás Cubilla, 13 Guiseppe du Toit, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Shane O’Leary
Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Ma’ake Muti, 18 Tau Koloamatangi, 19 Federico Gutiérrez, 20 Rick Rose, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Chase Schor-Haskin, 23 Tomás Malanos
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2 Pita Anae-Ah Sue, 3 Michael Scott, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Johan Momsen (capt.), 6 Emmanuel Albert, 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 8 Sam Tuifua, 9 André Warner, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Juan-Dee Oliver, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 13 Dom Akina, 14 Rufus McLean, 15 Drew Wild
Replacements: 16 Wilton Rebolo, 17 LaRome White, 18 Valdemar Lee-Lo, 19 Nathan Den Hoedt, 20 Tinashe Muchena, 21 Keni Nasoqeqe, 22 Max Schumacher, 23 Drake Davis
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, April 12
Venue: Baptist Health Community Field, Fort Lauderdale
Kickoff: 19:30 local (18:30 Central, 16:30 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 81°F (27°C), wind NW 7-11mph (11-18km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, CW39, FanDuel Florida, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Marquise Goodwin (USA)
Assistants: Moe Chaudhry (Canada) & Tom Ciampa (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (1) – Houston 1, Miami 0
2024-03-16 – Houston SaberCats 30, Miami Sharks 19 (SaberCats Stadium)
