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Two traditional Western Conference rivals will clash at Zions Banks Stadium on Saturday night. The Utah Warriors got their first win of the year at home against Chicago last week, while the Seattle Seawolves hit the road for the first time after back-to-back wins over San Diego and Miami.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
1-1-0 (W1) West 3rd
2-0-0 (W2) West 2nd
| LINEUP CHANGES |
9 Kieran McClea replaces Zion Going
11 Isaia Kruse replaces Sione Mahe (HIA)
13 Zion Going replaces Tomasi Tonga (injury)
21 Alesana Pohla replaces Kieran McClea
6 Pago Haini replaces Huw Taylor
9 JP Smith replaces Ryan Rees
11 Toni Pulu replaces Lauina Futi
15 Duncan Matthews replaces JP Smith
19 Isaia Lotawa replaces Taylor Krumrei
21 Ryan Rees replaces Pago Haini
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(2) – Isaia Kruse**, Alesana Pohla*
(0) – n/a
* MLR debut, ** pro debut
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(8) – Mullen, Tu’avao, Wilson, Lasike, MacLellan, Jensen (USA), Havili (Tonga), Povey (Canada)
(6) – Taufete’e, Hattingh, Wenglewski, Kilifi, Rees (USA), Rossouw (Namibia)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Spencer Jones (CE), Mika Kruse (CE/WI), Joe Mano (WI), Michael Manson (WI)
– Peter Malcolm (HO), Mahonri Ngakuru (LO), Huw Taylor (LO/FL), Tevita Kuridrani (CE), Tavite Lopeti (CE)
| NOTES |
- it’s a makeshift backline for Utah with regular centers Spencer Jones, Mika Kruse, and Tomasi Tonga all out… Zion Going moves from scrumhalf to the midfield… which is highly unusual given Alesana Pohla is a center but is left on the bench
- concussion suffered by Sione Mahe last week sees another player making his pro debut on the left wing for the Warriors… it’s Isaia Kruse, younger brother of Mika
- Kieran McClea gets his first start with Utah… he played for New England last year and Otago in the off-season… McClea was signed after Logan Crowley was unable to secure a visa
- JP Smith returns to his favored scrumhalf spot for Seattle… he was forced to play fullback last week following the late withdrawal of Tavite Lopeti
- it’s the first appearance of the season for Duncan Matthews, who has been a regular fullback for the Seawolves for the past two seasons
- Olive Kilifi is set to line up against his former team… he started his MLR career with Seattle but moved to Utah in 2021… and was a late addition to the Seawolves squad in February
| PREDICTION |
The Warriors showed character in their win over a favored Chicago side last week, and did so with an understrength backline. This week sees more names missing and the Seawolves midfield will be licking their lips. The visitors are unbeaten and confident, and on paper have a stronger lineup. Seattle are slight favorites on the road.
| LINEUPS |
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Frank Lochore, 5 Saia Uhila, 6 Thomas Tu’avao, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Dylan Nel, 9 Kieran McClea, 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Isaia Kruse, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Zion Going, 14 Jesse Hamilton, 15 Caleb Makene
Replacements: 16 Phil Bradford, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Matt Jensen, 20 Onehunga Havili, 21 Alesana Pohla, 22 Kalisi Moli, 23 Robbie Povey
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Cameron Orr, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 5 Jean Droste, 6 Pago Haini, 7 Charles Elton, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Mack Mason, 11 Toni Pulu, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Divan Rossouw, 14 Jade Stighling, 15 Duncan Matthews
Replacements: 16 DaQuan Perry, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 18 Olive Kilifi, 19 Isaia Lotawa, 20 Reid Davis, 21 Ryan Rees, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Jeremiah Sio
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, March 16
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 19:00 local (18:00 Pacific, 21:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 46°F (8°C), wind NW 7-11mph (11-17km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox 13+ Seattle, KMYU, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Kage Green (USA)
TMO: Amanda Cox (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (10) – Seattle 6, Utah 3, Draw 1, STREAK Seattle +1
2023-06-04 – Seattle Seawolves 27, Utah Warriors 20 (Starfire Stadium)
2023-04-15 – Utah Warriors 41, Seattle Seawolves 35 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2022-04-23 – Utah Warriors 14, Seattle Seawolves 20 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2022-02-10 – Seattle Seawolves 20, Utah Warriors 17 (Starfire Stadium)
2021-06-06 – Seattle Seawolves 28, Utah Warriors 29 (Starfire Stadium)
2021-04-10 – Utah Warriors 15, Seattle Seawolves 20 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2020-03-07 – Seattle Seawolves 31, Utah Warriors 33 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-05-26 – Seattle Seawolves 27, Utah Warriors 27 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-04-05 – Utah Warriors 36, Seattle Seawolves 48 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2018-05-21 – Seattle Seawolves 41, Utah Warriors 32 (Starfire Stadium)
