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Two founding members will clash in New Orleans on Saturday as the Gold play host to the San Diego Legion. It’s the fifth time they have faced off since the inaugural 2018 campaign, with the Californians taking each and every match. Can the Gold finally crack the code?
Two weeks ago it would have been a brave call to pick NOLA but they produced a stunning blowout win over DC last Saturday to bring their five-game losing streak to a halt. It’s an identical forward selection this week from Kane Thompson but there are three significant changes in the backs.
Juan Cappiello and Harley Wheeler, both standouts against San Diego, are on the bench this week with Aaron Matthews coming into the midfield and Kyle Rogers named on the wing. It’s the first start for Matthews in Gold colors, with only a handful of replacement appearances since arriving from the Seawolves during the offseason.
Another former Seattle player starts at scrumhalf as Devereaux Ferris steps in for Damian Stevens. Christian Alvarez will provide backup in just his second Major League Rugby match day selection. It’s a conventional 5/3 split on the bench this week with Osaiasi Tonga’uiha the odd man out.
San Diego bounced back from their disappointing loss to Houston with an inspired performance against the Giltinis at home on Sunday. With the SaberCats four points ahead in the standings and holding a game at hand, the Legion are in must-win territory to keep their slender playoff hopes alive.
Michael Smith is recalled at openside flanker in the only change to the starting lineup. Chris Robshaw drops to the bench alongside new arrival James Hilterbrand. The former Eagles hooker is set to make his Major League Rugby bow on his 33rd birthday.
Other additions on the bench are loosehead prop Nathan Sylvia, second row Ben Grant, and Ryan Matyas. The latter has been utilised as a makeshift scrumhalf in recent weeks following the knee injury to Nate Augspurger. Nico Gilli drops out of the squad to make room for Matyas.
Hot and sticky conditions await at game time and much will depend on the ability to hang on to the ball. Will Hooley’s tactical kicking is a distinct advantage for the Legion, and the backline changes disrupt NOLA’s continuity. San Diego have more to play for and should be considered favorites, but the Gold can’t be written off and will be fired up for what is their last home game of the season.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. Fox Sports 2 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming to viewers abroad.
NOLA GOLD
1 Kevin Sullivan, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Brian Nault, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Billy Stewart, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Devin Short, 8 Cam Dolan (capt.), 9 Devereaux Ferris, 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Nick Feakes, 12 Aaron Matthews, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Kyle Rogers, 15 JP Eloff
Replacements: 16 George Sharpe, 17 Matt Harmon, 18 Dino Waldren, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Maciu Koroi, 21 Christian Alvarez, 22 Juan Cappiello, 23 Harley Wheeler
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Joe Walsh, 2 Peter Malcolm, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Jale Railala, 6 Dan Pryor, 7 Michael Smith, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Will Hooley, 11 Tomas Aoake, 12 Ma’a Nonu (capt.), 13 Tiaan Loots, 14 Bjorn Basson, 15 Joe Pietersen
Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Chris Robshaw, 21 Ryan Matyas, 22 Josh Thiel, 23 Matías Freyre
Date: Saturday, May 21
Venue: The Gold Mine, New Orleans
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: George Selwood (England)
Assistants: Allen Alongi (USA) & Saade Bou-Mikael (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2021-05-15 – San Diego Legion 43, NOLA Gold 17 (Elite Athlete Training Center)
2020-02-29 – NOLA Gold 21, San Diego Legion 25 (The Gold Mine)
2019-06-02 – San Diego Legion 22, NOLA Gold 10 (Torero Stadium)
2019-05-11 – NOLA Gold 19, San Diego Legion 26 (Archbishop Shaw Stadium)
2018-06-09 – NOLA Gold 22, San Diego Legion 39 (Archbishop Shaw Stadium)
