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San Diego returns from a week off to face new league leaders Ohio at Memorial Park in Obetz on Sunday. The Breakers have slipped to 4-4 and another loss will all but end any lingering title hopes. The Aviators, on the other hand, are flying high on the back of a three game win-streak that includes their record-setting performance again San Francisco a week ago.
Not keen to mess with a winning formula, Paule Barford has made only one change to his starting lineup, recalling Taylor Howden at flyhalf and bumping Zac Mizell to his more comfortable fullback position. The bench sees the return of two internationals in Angus MacLellan and Kyle Baillie, with Allan Hanson taking the spot of Ryan Cochran.
San Diego have made a handful of changes to the team that fell to the Rush in Week 10. Joe Taufete’e and Jake Ilnicki return to the front row, with the former slotting in at loosehead due to Hubert Buydens’ season-ending knee injury. Ian Carpenter replaces David Dolinar at lock, and Bruce Thomas starts on the flank in a dual-openside role with Cecil Garber to combat the mobile Aviators loose forward trio.
Andrew Suniula has shaken off a leg injury to return in the midfield, pushing captain Phil Mackenzie back out to the wing. Mike Te’o returns from Eagles duty to line up at fullback. The bench sees the return of Tom Bliss from concussion, and the addition of Jean-Baptiste Gobelet as a forward reserve. Gobelet has yet to make his first PRO appearance despite being named in the match day squad in Week 8.
The Breakers must find a way to slow down Ohio’s rapid-fire attack if they hope to earn the upset. Thomas and Garber will be crucial in that respect, and the ability of Ryan Matyas in particular to close down space and restrict possession for tyrannical wingers Alex Elkins and Spike Davis will also be of vital importance. There is no secret to how the Aviators will play. If they are allowed to impose their will, the result will be a foregone conclusion.
OHIO AVIATORS
1 Jamie Mackintosh 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Demecus Beach 4 Pierce Dargan 5 Ryan McTiernan 6 Filippo Ferrarini 7 Sebastián Kalm 8 Riekert Hattingh 9 Shaun Davies (capt.) 10 Taylor Howden 11 Alex Elkins 12 Roland Suniula 13 Dominic Waldouck 14 Spike Davis 15 Zac Mizell
16 Angus MacLellan 17 Derrek van Klein 18 Kyle Baillie 19 Chad Joseph 20 Allan Hanson 21 Robbie Shaw 22 Chris Kunkel 23 Ahmad Harajly
SAN DIEGO BREAKERS
1 Joe Taufete’e 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai 3 Jake Ilnicki 4 Ian Carpenter 5 Tai Tuisamoa 6 Bruce Thomas 7 Cecil Garber 8 Sione Tu’ihalamaka 9 Charlie Purdon 10 Kurt Morath 11 Phil Mackenzie (capt.) 12 Andrew Suniula 13 Ryan Matyas 14 Pono Haitsuka 15 Mike Te’o
16 Brice Schilling 17 Mason Pedersen 18 Epeli Kalemani 19 Jean-Baptiste Gobelet 20 Chris Turori 21 Tom Bliss 22 Kalei Konrad 23 Ben Leatigaga
Date: Sunday, July 3
Venue: Memorial Field, Obetz
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 PDT, 13:00 MDT)
Referee: Kurt Weaver
Assistants: Scott Green & Jamie Miller
Broadcasts: PRO Rugby (web stream) & Time Warner (cable)
Tickets: TicketsWest
