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History will be made at Constellation Field on Saturday evening when two Major League Rugby sides take the pitch opposite each other for the first time. The Houston SaberCats host the New Orleans Gold in preseason action with both offering virtually full strength rosters and extended benches that see 25 from each team included.
The SaberCats already have seven matches under their belt in 2018, an impressive figure with three more preseason fixtures to follow Saturday’s event. Their progress has not been without hiccups, including losses to the UBC Old Boys and Uruguay. Most recently it was New York Athletic Club who game them a run, ultimately falling short by just a single point.
Justin Fitzpatrick’s selection has been consistent. Only four changes have been made from the NYAC nail-biter. Rotation sees Lindsay Stevens taking over for Diego Maquieira at hooker with Robert Meeson in at lock and Charlie Hewitt swapped to the bench.
In the backs new signing Alex Elkins makes his SaberCats debut on the wing having been released from the Eagles camp. Malacchi Esdale gets a run in the midfield and Osea Kolinisau tries out fullback at the expense of Zach Pangelinan.
It’s only game number two for the Gold, who had little trouble with the Capital Selects a month ago. There are two changes to the starting lineup from that day.
Hubert Buydens joins the team from the Canadian camp and starts at loosehead prop with Ben Tarr switching to his favored tighthead spot. Nikola Bursic will play for Chile so its Myles McQuone who gets the nod in the second row, with flanker John Sullivan again pressed into lock duty.
There are three newcomers on the bench. Loosehead prop Alec Janotka, loose forward Todd Dupre, and Australian halfback John Stapleton will all make their Gold debuts.
While the scrum battle will be notable, perhaps the most compelling head-to-head is the loose forward trios. Kyle Sumsion, Cecil Garber, and Matt Trouville have all represented the USA at international level but their opposites Vincent Jobo, Matt Hughston, and Sebastián Kalm are all dynamic attacking players.
The two sides are of comparable strength with NOLA leaning heavily on their all-international front row spearheaded by vice-captain Eric Howard. Eagles utility back JP Eloff will provide the spark from fullback but in Elkins and Fijian ace Josua Vici the SaberCats have two lethal strike runners of their own. Predicting a winner seems foolish give the circumstances but a high-scoring affair is a certainty.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time. The match will not be streamed live but audio commentary from Grant Cole and Brent Mills will be available on MIXLR.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Adam Macklin, 2 Lindsey Stevens, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Robert Meeson, 5 Justin Allen, 6 Kyle Sumsion (capt.), 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Matt Trouville, 9 Connor Murphy, 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Josua Vici, 12 Conor Mills, 13 Malacchi Esdale, 14 Alex Elkins, 15 Osea Kolinisau
Replacements: 16 Diego Maquieira, 17 Petey Hepburn, 18 Jake Turnbull, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Chris Parker, 21 Chris Coyle, 22 Chris Slater, 23 Zach Pangelinan, 24 Dan Paul, 25 Chauntez Jackson
NOLA GOLD
1 Hubert Buydens, 2 Eric Howard, 3 Ben Tarr, 4 Myles McQuone, 5 John Sullivan, 6 Vincent Jobo, 7 Matt Hughston, 8 Sebastián Kalm, 9 Holden Yungert, 10 Taylor Howden (capt.), 11 Jojo Tikoisuva, 12 Zack Stryffeler, 13 Moni Tonga’uiha, 14 Peceli Rinakama, 15 JP Eloff
Replacements: 16 Derrek van Klein, 17 Cam Falcon, 18 Matt Wirken, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Bobby Johns, 21 Michael Baska, 22 Melvin DeSouza, 23 Alec Janotka, 24 John Stapleton, 25 Todd Dupre
Date: Saturday, February 24
Venue: Constellation Field, Sugar Land
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: MIXLR (audio only)
