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It may not be the first official Major League Rugby game but the first ‘main event’ – the CBS Sports Network Game of the Week – takes place at Infinity Park on Saturday afternoon as the Glendale Raptors take on the visiting Austin Elite. For both clubs it’s the realisation of a dream that started two years ago with the Raptors slowly building towards full-time professionalism and the Elite spawning from similar progressions at the Austin Huns.
The Raptors enter the season as consensus favorites to win the inaugural title. Naming 10 capped Eagles and two sevens internationals is an obvious indication of strength but the expectation surrounding them has more to do with preparation than composition. Glendale have followed their own road map to a tee and the MLR season represents the reward for their hard work.
Head coach Dave Williams is consistent with his selections and the team to start the season is largely predictable. Zach Fenoglio is the incumbent and the 2015 Eagles World Cup hooker starts ahead of 2019 World Cup hopeful Dylan Fawsitt, the latter set to make his debut after arriving earlier this week from Rugby United New York.
The other newcomer, Australia Sevens export Sam Figg, will also await his first appearance with Connor Cook retained on the blindside flank. With no spare second row on the bench it’s Cook who looks most likely to shift in if required.
Eagles Sevens rep Seth Halliman makes his first appearance of 2018 on the left wing in place of John Ryberg, and 19-year-old Mika Kruse gets a golden opportunity to start at outside center with regular starter Chad London named in the reserves.
Austin will save poster-man Todd Clever for the second half but will start new arrival Victor Comptat beside Ben Mitchell at lock to combat the Glendale lineout. Kyle Breytenbach starts in the back row rather than the second and Pedrie Wannenburg runs out at No8 in an all-South African loose forward trio.
There is another new name in the front row as Fawsitt’s New York understudy Mike Brown starts at number 2 and Chris Schade is a surprise selection at loosehead prop having played hooker exclusively in the preseason. On the bench a second New York import is included in loose forward Ross Deacon.
The backs have a more predictable look to them with Roland Suniula as expected named beside his brother having recently returned from a stint in Italy. Sani Taylor wins the battle to start on the left wing and Zac Mizell starts at fullback rather than Zinzan Elan-Puttick.
In stark contrast to Glendale, most preseason rankings placed Austin at the bottom after a disappointing preseason and concerns over lack of options in the forward pack. The sudden additions of Brown, Deacon, Comptat, and Clever during the week has already begun to shift expectations.
While the lineout looks well covered, Austin’s scrum is less convincing with two aerial specialists in the engine room and Schade starting out of position at prop. Given Glendale’s relative strength across the board and the cold and wet weather forecast, anything but a convincing win in favor of the home side would be a surprise.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local, 5pm Eastern. North American fans will be restricted to watching live on CBS Sports Network but all other international viewers will have access to a live stream on Facebook.
GLENDALE RAPTORS
1 Luke White, 2 Zach Fenoglio, 3 Kelepi Fifita, 4 Casey Rock, 5 Ben Landry, 6 Connor Cook, 7 John Quill, 8 Peter Dahl, 9 Shaun Davies (capt.), 10 Will Magie, 11 Seth Halliman, 12 Bryce Campbell, 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Harley Davidson, 15 Maximo de Achaval
Replacements: 16 Dylan Fawsitt, 17 Blake Rogers, 18 Nick Kwasniewski, 19 Sam Figg, 20 Brian Wanless, 21 Jake Christmann, 22 Chad London, 23 Ata Malifa
AUSTIN ELITE
1 Chris Schade, 2 Mike Brown, 3 Mason Pedersen, 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Victor Comptat, 6 Kyle Breytenbach, 7 Hanco Germishuys, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 9 Michael Reid, 10 Timothée Guillimin, 11 Sani Taylor, 12 Andrew Suniula (capt.), 13 Roland Suniula, 14 Reece Czarnecki, 15 Zac Mizell
Replacements: 16 David LeMasters, 17 Siaosi Finau, 18 Robert Drummond, 19 Todd Clever, 20 Ross Deacon, 21 Knute O’Donnell, 22 Sione Fangaiuiha, 23 Alex Faison-Donahoe
Date: Saturday, April 21
Venue: Infinity Park, Glendale
Kickoff: 15:00 local (14:00 Pacific, 17:00 Eastern)
Referee: Chris Assmus (RC)
Broadcasts: CBS Sports Network, Facebook
