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Two sides closing in on Semi Final spots will clash in the first of five Major League Rugby games this weekend. After a brief stop in Queens, it’s back to Jersey City for Rugby United New York with the Utah Warriors making their way east from Salt Lake.
This is the first time these two sides have faced each other in over two years due to last season’s pandemic intervention. New York won both meetings during their inaugural campaign, a blowout win at Utah but a much closer result in Brooklyn.
Three wins in a row have put New York in the driver’s seat in the Eastern Conference. They trail Rugby ATL by two points but earned their biggest win of the season over the Ratlers on Sunday and have one game at hand on the conference leaders.
There are a trio of personnel changes to the run-on side. Andy Ellis and Kara Pryor miss out with ankle and hamstring injuries respectively. Conor McManus gets the call at scrumhalf with Evan Mintern shifting to No8. Charlie Hewitt fills the gap in the second row.
Elsewhere Will Leonard comes in at outside center with Fa’asiu Fuatai switched to the bench. It’s an unusual 4-4 split among the reserves with Nick Civetta still battling a shoulder knock. Luke Hume is the extra wing cover along with Joel Miranda.
Utah are also on a three-game winning streak. Their outstanding come-from-behind win over San Diego last Saturday puts them a step ahead of their Western Conference rivals but there is still work to be done to secure their playoff ticket.
Shawn Pittman has opted to rotate his squad with a heap of changes. Olive Kilifi starts at loosehead with Sama Malolo fit to resume at hooker. At lock it’s a first start this season for Saia Uhila, and a first MLR start for Mike Gieselman on the flank. Lance Williams returns after a week’s absence to start at the back of the scrum with captain Bailey Wilson sitting out.
There is an all-new halfback partnership with Fraser Hurst and Cliven Loubser, and Derek Ellingson takes the place of Calvin Whiting at inside center. James Vaifale and Hagen Schulte are at wing and fullback with Mika Kruse and Mike Te’o left on the bench.
Both teams have strong momentum behind them but the changes to Utah’s lineup suggests their thoughts are at least somewhat on future battles. They do have considerable firepower on the bench which could come in handy on what is projected to be a hot afternoon. The long travel distance however is a significant advantage that should be enough to see New York to victory.
Kickoff is set for 2:30pm local time, 11:30am Pacific, 12:30 Mountain. CBS Sports Network will broadcast to Canada and the USA with The Rugby Network streaming to viewers located abroad.
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford, 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.), 3 Samu Tawake, 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Charlie Hewitt, 6 Kyle Sumsion, 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Evan Mintern, 9 Conor McManus, 10 Harry Bennett, 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu, 12 Quinn Ngawati, 13 Will Leonard, 14 Chris Mattina, 15 Ben Foden
Replacements: 16 Rob Irimescu, 17 Zak Taulafo, 18 Wilton Rebolo, 19 Hanco Germishuys, 20 Connor Buckley, 21 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 22 Luke Hume, 23 Joel Miranda
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi, 2 Sama Malolo, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Saia Uhila, 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Thomas Tu’avao, 7 Mike Gieselman, 8 Lance Williams, 9 Fraser Hurst, 10 Cliven Loubser, 11 James Vaifale, 12 Derek Ellingson, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Josh Whippy, 15 Hagen Schulte
Replacements: 16 Veremalua Vugakoto, 17 Franco van den Berg, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Aston Fortuin, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Danny Christensen, 22 Mika Kruse, 23 Mike Te’o
Date: Saturday, June 19
Venue: Cochrane Stadium, Jersey City
Kickoff: 14:30 local (11:30 Pacific, 12:30 Mountain)
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Luke Rogan (USA) & Lex Weiner (USA)
Broadcasts: CBS Sports Network, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
2019-04-20 – Rugby United New York 24, Utah Warriors 22 (MCU Park)
2019-03-08 – Utah Warriors 21, Rugby United New York 47 (Zions Bank Stadium)
