Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Two teams looking to bounce back from frustrating defeats square off at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday night. Rugby ATL arrive at Salt Lake to take on the Utah Warriors for the third time, with the visitors owning a 2-0 lead in the head-to-head contest to date.
In fact it’s not just one loss that Utah are looking to erase. They have dropped six games in a row, one short of the franchise mark regrettably set in the disappointing 2019 campaign. Two players have been handed first starts this week with seven personnel changes made to the team that came up short against the Free Jacks in Quincy.
Emerson Prior is the first new starter, the Canadian coming in at loosehead prop with both Franco van den Berg and Olive Kilifi sidelined. Tuvere Vugakoto, typically a hooker, is asked to provide prop cover. Angus MacLellan rotates in for Paul Mullen at tighthead, and second row Saia Uhila gets his first start in two months with Thomas Tu’avao moving back to this preferred flanker spot.
The second player making a first start is scrumhalf Zion Going. Tomasi Tonga is in at No12 with Calvin Whiting pushing out one spot, and Joe Mano is handed the right wing position in place of Connor Burns. Mikey Te’o finds himself on the bench for just the second time in his MLR career with Cliven Loubser taking over at fullback.
ATL saw their three-game winning streak snapped at home by the Giltinis. A poor opening half cost the Ratlers and Stephen Brett has responded with sweeping changes to his side, only six of the starting cast retaining their spots this week.
Alex Maughan and John Sullivan are the new props with Conor Keys coming into the second row. It’s a new-look back row with Daemon Torres switching to the blindside flank, Connor Cook in at openside, and Johan Momsen packing down at No8. On the bench Lincoln Sii and Frederick Henry-Ajudua each make their second appearances of the season.
Eamonn Matthews is handed his first MLR start with the experienced Kurt Coleman his halfback partner. George Barton makes his first start in an ATL shirt at inside center, and both wings are changed with Nolan Tuamoheloa and Harley Davidson handed opportunities.
The Warriors play better at home but the road trip did not bother the Ratlers last season. Both teams have made significant changes and are looking for new names to step up. Utah will be desperate to halt their slide, but ATL have more to play for with New York just three points behind for second spot in the East. Take the visitors in a competitive contest.
Kickoff is set for 8pm local time, 7pm Pacific, 10pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on KMYU and KSL Sports online in Utah, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Emerson Prior, 2 Chad Gough, 3 Angus MacLellan, 4 Saia Uhila, 5 Jurie van Vuuren, 6 Thomas Tu’avao, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Lance Williams, 9 Zion Going, 10 Caleb Makene, 11 Mika Kruse, 12 Tomasi Tonga, 13 Calvin Whiting, 14 Joe Mano, 15 Cliven Loubser
Replacements: 16 Joey Backe, 17 Tuvere Vugakoto, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 James Mocke, 20 Mike Gieselman, 21 Danny Christensen, 22 Tyler Fisher, 23 Mike Te’o
RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan, 2 Tiaan Erasmus, 3 John Sullivan, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Daemon Torres, 7 Connor Cook, 8 Johan Momsen, 9 Eamonn Matthews, 10 Kurt Coleman, 11 Nolan Tuamoheloa, 12 George Barton, 13 Ryan Nell (capt.), 14 Harley Davidson, 15 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 18 Lincoln Sii, 19 Frederick Henry-Ajudua, 20 Jason Damm, 21 Rowan Gouws, 22 Will Leonard, 23 Te Rangatira Waitokia
Date: Saturday, May 7
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 20:00 local (19:00 Pacific, 22:00 Eastern)
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Kage Green (USA)
TMO: Jack Gohl (Australia)
Broadcasts: KMYU, KSL Sports, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2021-07-10 – Utah Warriors 31, Rugby ATL 41 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2020-02-09 – Rugby ATL 28, Utah Warriors 19 (Lupo Family Field)
