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It’s back to Dell Diamond for the Austin Elite, who host the Seattle Seawolves on Saturday in the last match at the stadium this season. This far it has yet to inspire an Austin victory and the Elite will need something extra if they are to earn their first win of the 2019 Major League Rugby season against the defending champions.
Alain Hyardet’s disappointment is reflected in the roster as two senior players have been axed completely and another two consigned to the bench. Josh Larsen returns from Canada duty to partner Ben Mitchell and he is joined in the starting pack by brother Travis who packs down at No8.
There is a new midfield pairing with the latest signing, JP Aguirre, thrown straight in at inside center while first Andrés Vilaseca serves a one-week suspension as a result of his red card while playing for Uruguay last weekend. Sione Fangaiuiha is promoted from the bench to outside center.
Injuries have left the Elite with only five fit front row players so flanker Dom Bailey is named in the No16 jersey. Meanwhile Canadian utility back Aidan McMullan is set to make his MLR debut as a replacement, with winger Reece Czarnecki also named in the reserves.
Seattle will hand USA international Aladdin Schirmer his first start of the season at openside flank as Eric Duechle moves back to his preferred blindside spot. Cam Polson is left out, as is Fijian lock Api Naikatini with Taylor Krumrei starting in his place.
There is but one change in the backs. Shalom Suniula is absent so George Barton gets the start in a heavyweight midfield along with William Rasileka. JP Smith continues at scrumhalf despite the return of Phil Mack, the Canada star named on the bench along with Seawolves debutant Roland Suniula.
At the very least Austin should be able to play with freedom knowing they have nothing to lose. At 0-6 their playoff hopes are already gone but there is still pride to play for and potential World Cup spots for some members of the team. An upset win to farewell Dell Diamond would be fitting, and to do so they’ll have to play with desperation from start to finish.
Kickoff is set for 6pm local time, 4pm Pacific, 7pm Eastern. A local broadcast will be available on Root Sports in Seattle, with a live stream available on the MLR Facebook page.
AUSTIN ELITE
1 Chris Schade, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 3 Juan Echeverría, 4 Ben Mitchell (capt.), 5 Josh Larsen, 6 Rikus Zwart, 7 Moe Abdelmonem, 8 Travis Larsen, 9 Mickaël Romera, 10 Rodrigo Silva, 11 Peni Tagive, 12 JP Aguirre, 13 Sione Fangaiuiha, 14 Alex Faison-Donahoe, 15 Soheyl Jaoudat
Replacements: 16 Dom Bailey, 17 LaRome White, 18 Brendan Rams, 19 Dylan Pieterse, 20 Kyle Breytenbach, 21 Marcelo Torrealba, 22 Reece Czarnecki, 23 Aidan McMullan
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Kellen Gordon, 2 Dan Trierweiler, 3 Tim Metcher, 4 Brad Tucker, 5 Taylor Krumrei, 6 Eric Duechle, 7 Aladdin Schirmer, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Ben Cima, 11 Sequoyah Burke-Combs, 12 George Barton, 13 William Rasileka, 14 Brock Staller, 15 Peter Tiberio
Replacements: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 John Hayden, 19 Jérémy Lenaerts, 20 Nakai Penny, 21 Phil Mack, 22 Roland Suniula, 23 Dion Crowder
Date: Saturday, March 16
Venue: Dell Diamond, Round Rock
Kickoff: 18:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 19:00 Eastern)
Referee: Luke Rogan (USAR)
Assistants: Scott Green (USAR) & Butch Neuenschwander (USAR)
Broadcasts: Facebook, Root Sports
