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Austin will take their home show on the road this week as Toyota Field will host its second Major League Rugby fixture. It’s Old Glory who arrives for what is being dubbed the ‘Cuisine Solutions Cup’, a nod to DC’s major sponsor that will soon open a new sous-vide franchise in San Antonio.
The Gilgronis settled for a draw with Utah and having snapped the 20-game losing streak are now fixing for their first win since the 2018 season. After the promising result Mick Byrne has named the same match day 23 with only one alteration to the starting lineup.
A second All Blacks cap will start as Frank Halai moves into the No13 shirt in place of Peni Tagive. Halai made a big impression in the second half against the Warriors, scoring a try on debut. Back row cover Stewart Morris again awaits his first MLR appearance after being an unused replacement last weekend.
Old Glory were victorious in their first Texas stop, beating the SaberCats in Houston. Despite the success it was not a convincing performance in a sloppy and disjointed game, prompting Andrew Douglas to make six changes to the run-on side including five in the pack.
Tendai Mtawarira is left out to rest bumps and bruises but there is good news with Eagles hooker Mike Sosene-Feagai returning from injury a week earlier than expected. Jake Turnbull and Will Vakalahi make it an entirely new front row, with Api Naikatini recalled at lock. Max Lum covers loosehead prop on the bench having lined up at hooker previously this season.
There is a straight swap in the back row as Travis Larsen is restored on the blindside flank at the expense of Matt Hughston. Similarly in the backs Canadian international Doug Fraser comes in on the left wing with Renata Roberts-Te Nana dropping to the bench.
With last weekend’s palatable result comes expectations for Austin. The two newcomers have raised spirits and the Gilgronis head to San Antonio a confident side. Old Glory are two wins from three, however, and even without The Beast are formidable opponents. DC take the favorites tag but it’s by the slimmest of margins.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, 1pm Pacific, 4pm Eastern. A local broadcast will be available on NBC Sports Washington Plus, with a nationwide stream available on the Gilgronis Facebook page. Those located outside the USA can watch on the official MLR Facebook page.
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 Jamie Mackintosh, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 3 Mason Pedersen, 4 Potu Leavasa, 5 Maikeli Naromaitoga, 6 Dominic Akina, 7 Moe Abdelmonem, 8 Lino Saunitoga, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Zinzan Elan-Puttick (capt.), 11 Rodrick Waters, 12 Gabe Farley, 13 Frank Halai, 14 Corey Jones, 15 Rodrigo Silva
Replacements: 16 Brendan Rams, 17 LaRome White, 18 Juan Echeverría, 19 Luca Tani, 20 Stewart Morris, 21 Colby Stevens, 22 Sione Fangaiuiha, 23 Peni Tagive
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jake Turnbull, 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 3 Will Vakalahi, 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Api Naikatini, 6 Travis Larsen, 7 Mungo Mason (co-capt.), 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Jason Robertson, 11 Doug Fraser, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 13 Thretton Palamo (co-capt.), 14 Declan O’Donnell, 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson
Replacements: 16 Dante Lopresti, 17 Max Lum, 18 Gordon Fullerton, 19 Dylan Pieterse, 20 Matt Hughston, 21 Michael Reid, 22 Mike Dabulas, 23 Renata Roberts-Te Nana
Date: Saturday, February 29
Venue: Toyota Field, San Antonio
Kickoff: 15:00 local (13:00 Pacific, 16:00 Eastern)
Referee: Moe Chaudhry (Canada)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USA) & Butch Neuenschwander (USA)
Broadcasts: Facebook, NBC Sports Washington Plus
