MLR Preview – Old Glory DC vs Rugby ATL

Old Glory DC will host fellow expansion side Rugby ATL at Cardinal Stadium on Sunday. It’s the first time the two sides will face each other in regular season play, but they are already familiar with each other thanks to an indoor contest during the preseason. On that occasion DC emerged victorious but this match should bear little resemblance to the dress rehearsal.

Andrew Douglas has not deviated much from his preferred lineup during their first four games. It’s the usual suspects again though the two main absentees are significant.

Tendai Mtawarira sits on the sidelines again and this week he is joined by Api Naikatini, who is recovering from a head knock suffered in last week’s win at Austin. Dylan Pieterse will deputise in the second row in an otherwise unchanged starting lineup.

There are two changes on the bench. Mo Katz is set to make his Major League Rugby debut, taking the reserve hooker spot from Dante Lopresti. There is no specialist lock cover with No8 Josh Brown called up to fill the vacancy left by the promotion of Pieterse.

Scott Lawrence on the other hand has actively rotated his squad each week. The lineup shows four changes from the side that lost to the Arrows, three in the forwards. Both props are swapped out with Chance Wenglewski and Duane Aholelei recalled to the run-on side. Vili Helu is a straight change for Marno Redelinghuys on the blindside flank.

The only personnel change in the backs sees Martini Talapusi coming in for Harley Wheeler. Talapusi starts at fullback, with Zander van Schalkwyk moving to the right wing and Harley Davidson switching from right to left. A 6-2 split on the bench has both Jason Damm and Bill Fukofuka providing loose forward cover.

This is an intriguing battle that could well have playoff implications. Old Glory have won three straight since dropping their opener, while ATL have lost two after winning their first two. The two flyhalves – Jason Robertson and Kurt Coleman – have proved the key players for their teams thus far. DC’s missing forwards balance out home field advantage in the otherwise even contest.

Kickoff is set for 6pm local time, 3pm Pacific. The match will be featured nationwide on CBS Sports Network. Those located outside the USA can access a live stream on the official MLR Facebook page.

OLD GLORY DC
1 Jake Turnbull, 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 3 Will Vakalahi, 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Dylan Pieterse, 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 Mo Katz, 17 Max Lum, 18 Gordon Fullerton, 19 Josh Brown, 20 Matt Hughston, 21 Michael Reid, 22 Mike Dabulas, 23 Renata Roberts-Te Nana

RUGBY ATL
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Alex Maughan, 3 Duane Aholelei, 4 Johan Momsen, 5 Stefan Willemse, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton (co-capt.), 8 Ross Deacon, 9 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 10 Kurt Coleman, 11 Harley Davidson, 12 Ryan Nell (co-capt.), 13 Jeremy Misailegalu, 14 Zander van Schalkwyk, 15 Martini Talapusi

Replacements: 16 Amro Gouda, 17 Jamie Ferrante, 18 Cronan Gleeson, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Jason Damm, 21 Kurtis Werner, 22 Sean Coughlan, 23 Bill Fukofuka

Date: Sunday, March 8
Venue: Cardinal Stadium, Washington
Kickoff: 18:00 local (15:00 Pacific)
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Luke Rogan (USA) & Stu Geiger (USA)
Broadcasts: CBS Sports Network, Facebook