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Two founding members of Major League Rugby will clash at the scenic AVEVA Stadium on Saturday evening. It’s been almost two years since their last meeting. Houston SaberCats fans will not recall the day with great pleasure as the Seattle Seawolves romped to a one-sided victory in the first ever match at the same venue.
The pitch has long since settled and this time the scrums will not be depowered. For Houston there is added motivation. The SaberCats have never tasted victory against the two-time MLR Shield Champions, and in fact have never really come close.
These are different teams today and both are coming off disappointing 1-4 campaigns. Houston’s offense sputtered last season while Seattle’s vaunted ‘Sea-wall’ defense was little more than myth as they conceded more points than any other side.
A healthy Ross Neal is a major boost to the Seawolves. The ex-Wasps and London Irish center lasted only 40 minutes in 2020. He is now vice-captain beside talismanic No8 Riekert Hattingh. If Seattle are to approach anything close to their championship form, the towering duo will have to be at their best.
Seattle fans are mourning the departure of several leading men but have new names to spark a revival. Obert Nortjé is a promising young hooker from Namibia, while South African beef arrives in the form of second row Rhyno Herbst. They join established stars Brad Tucker, JP Smith, and Ben Cima, all of whom remember the sweet champagne of victory in 2019.
Nortjé curiously is not included in the first lineup of the new season with Mike Shepherd instead getting the nod and new returnee to the squad Louie Henson providing cover from the bench. FP Pelser is missing with Les Soloai partnering Herbst at lock.
Collegiate draft pick Aaron Matthews makes his pro debut on the wing and there are two other MLR first-timers among the reserves. Henry Hall plays backup to starting tighthead Jake Ilnicki, and Irish center Kieran Joyce will spell Canadian starter George Barton in the second half.
The SaberCats have new blood of their own this season. Three Fijians are at the top of the list. Second row Apisai Tauyavuca and winger Paula Balekana were playing for Zebre last season, while outside center Veramu Dikidikilati turned heads in the preseason with his brutal physicality.
Scrumhalf De Wet Roos will be a name familiar to Australian rugby fans, while loose forward Diego Magno is Uruguay’s most-capped player and a two-time World Cup participant. Four Argentines provide further South American influence. Most notable among them is once-capped Puma hooker Diego Fortuny, a spikey character who made a big impact in his first season with the team.
Ross, worryingly, is not in Houston’s lineup for the opener with debutant Jinho Mun instead wearing the No9 shirt. Also missing is co-captain Luke Beauchamp. Tauyavuca shifts to blindside flanker with debutant Bronson Teles names on the bench.
Given their struggles from a year ago neither side should be screaming with confidence. Houston have had a more substantial preseason with mixed results. Seattle’s only hit-out was a scrimmage against San Diego. Though Houston have home field advantage, the historic results suggest the visitors should be favorites. The absence of Ross and Beauchamp tilt the scales slightly towards Seattle.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. Live broadcasts will be available on the CBS Sports Network domestically, and The Rugby Network abroad.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Valdemar Lee-Lo, 2 Diego Fortuny, 3 Charlie Connolly, 4 Kody O’Neil, 5 Van Stewart, 6 Apisai Tauyavuca, 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Diego Magno, 9 Jinho Mun, 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Zach Pangelinan, 12 Taylor Howden, 13 Veramu Dikidikilati, 14 Paula Balekana, 15 Matías Freyre
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Erasmus, 17 Nicolás Solveyra, 18 Nikoloz Khatiashvili, 19 Bronson Teles, 20 Adriaan Booysen, 21 Zachary Short, 22 Kieran Farmer, 23 Zack Godfrey
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Mike Shepherd, 3 Jake Ilnicki, 4 Les Soloai, 5 Ryno Herbst, 6 Brad Tucker, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Ben Cima, 11 Sitiveni Tamaivena, 12 George Barton, 13 Ross Neal, 14 Aaron Matthews, 15 Mat Turner
Replacements: 16 Kellen Gordon, 17 Louie Henson, 18 Henry Hall, 19 Eric Duechle, 20 Nakai Penny, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Shalom Suniula, 23 Kieran Joyce
Date: Saturday, March 20
Venue: AVEVA Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network, The Rugby Network
Historical Results:
2019-04-13 – Houston 10, Seattle 52 (AVEVA Stadium)
2019-03-10 – Seattle 27, Houston 14 (Starfire Stadium)
2018-06-02 – Houston 7, Seattle 20 (Dyer Stadium)
