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It seems like an age since the Toronto Arrows faced the San Diego Legion. In fact it’s now ticked over two years since they last met at Lamport Stadium. Neither side have played a single match at their home venue this season and their similarly high preseason expectations have undeniably suffered as a result.
In both of their previous meetings the Arrows came out on top, and both were memorable occasions. A remarkable second-half comeback in San Diego was a highlight of the first half of the season, and a 78th minute try in Toronto propelled the Canadian side to a Semi Final spot.
Things have not gone to plan for the Arrows this season and their frustrations continued at New England last week. With an 11-point gap now separating them from New York and international call-ups set to diminish their roster, it would take a dramatic turn of fortunes for Toronto to make the playoffs.
There are wholesale changes from the lineup that came up short in Weymouth. Cole Keith is restored at loosehead prop with Mike Sheppard starting at lock. Mason Flesch gets his first run on the blindside flank in the absence of Tomás de la Vega. Back row Siaki Vikilani is set to make his pro debut as a replacement after recovering from a knee injury.
Jason Higgins and Tayler Adams are the new halfback combination as Ross Braude and Will Kelly tag out. Manuel Montero is banged up so Leandro Leivas comes in on the wing, with Joaquín Tuculet back in the No15 shirt at the expense of Patrick Parfrey.
While their win-loss numbers are identical, the Legion are on a very different trajectory right now. Blowout wins over NOLA and Houston have them back within 7 points of a playoff spot and with the recent arrival of reinforcements the mood around camp is one of optimism.
Two of those newcomers slot straight into the starting lineup. It’s a pair of New Zealand Maori internationals in second row Tom Franklin and back row Dan Pryor, who replace Ben Mitchell and Jasa Veremalua respectively.
In the backs there is a return for Santiago González Iglesias albeit at fullback in place of Cecil Afrika. Meanwhile Chris Robshaw’s shoulder has been given the green light and the former England captain is one of six forwards on the bench.
Toronto can look to home status as an advantage, with the early kickoff time certainly to their benefit. On the other hand San Diego are well ahead in form and have received three significant additions to their forward compliment. Take the Legion as favorites against the unsettled Arrows.
Kickoff is set for noon local time, 9am Pacific. Those in Canada can watch on TSN’s digital platforms. A local broadcast will be available on Fox 5 San Diego, with The Rugby Network streaming across the USA and to viewers located abroad.
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Cole Keith, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Tyler Rowland, 4 Mike Sheppard, 5 Paul Ciulini, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Lucas Rumball (co-capt.), 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Tayler Adams, 11 Leandro Leivas, 12 Spencer Jones, 13 Ben LeSage (co-capt.), 14 Gastón Mieres, 15 Joaquín Tuculet
Replacements: 16 Jack McRogers, 17 Pat Lynott, 18 Gastón Cortes, 19 Siaki Vikilani, 20 Adrian Wadden, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Will Kelly, 23 Patrick Parfrey
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Dean Muir, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Joshua Furno, 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Psalm Wooching, 7 Michael Smith, 8 Dan Pryor, 9 Ethan McVeigh, 10 Joe Pietersen, 11 Bjorn Basson, 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Thomas Morani, 14 Cameron Clark (capt.), 15 Santiago González Iglesias
Replacements: 16 Peter Malcolm, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Tevita Tameilau, 20 Keni Nasoqeqe, 21 Chris Robshaw, 22 Carlo de Nysschen, 23 Ryan Matyas
Date: Sunday, June 6
Venue: Lupo Family Field, Marietta
Kickoff: 12:00 local (09:00 Pacific)
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Henrique Platais (Brazil) & Cisco Lopez (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox 5 San Diego, The Rugby Network, TSN Direct
Historical Results
2019-05-05 – Toronto Arrows 23, San Diego Legion 19 (Lamport Stadium)
2019-03-10 – San Diego Legion 20, Toronto Arrows 27 (Torero Stadium)
