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Sunday’s match between LA and Seattle at the Memorial Coliseum has a new air of intrigue thanks to the dramatic disqualification of Austin. The Giltinis need a win to have any hope of hosting the Championship Final though they’ll still need either ATL or New York to knock off the Free Jacks. The Seawolves were down and out but suddenly are within two points of an improbable playoff spot.
For the Seawolves that means a draw, an outright win, or both a four-try bonus plus a losing bonus point. None of those scenarios will be easy under the circumstances. Seattle defeated Houston at home last weekend but arrive in California without several key players.
Ben Landry, Andrew Durutalo, and Samu Manoa are all out. The latter is a late withdrawal from the squad. Add Victor Comptat, Setefano Funaki, and Nakai Penny to the injured or unavailable list and the Seawolves are down to bare bones in the pack.
Brad Tucker takes Landry’s spot on the blindside flank, with Tommy Clark filling the void left by Manoa at lock. It would not be a surprise, however, to see them switching come game time. Travis Larsen is in for Durutalo at openside flanker, and Sean McNulty starts at hooker.
First choice centers Dan Kriel and Tavite Lopeti are both absent, so it’s a new-look combination in David Busby and Ross Neal. Lauina Futi steps in on the wing where Neal started last week with Cole Zarcone called up to the bench.
It’s the reserve forwards where the gaps are most apparent. All five are front row forwards with Kellen Gordon and Mike Brown occupying jerseys that would normally go to a lock or loose forward. Dewald Donald and Taniela Tupou are tagged as the prop reserves with James Malcolm covering hooker.
The Giltinis have won nine of their last ten games though they were given a run for their money in Utah last weekend. By contrast Stephen Hoiles has named a virtually identical match day 23 with the only alterations some rotation in the front row.
Djustice Sears-Duru, Andrew Tuala, and Marco Fepulea’i will start. The latter pair are celebrating first-ever international call-ups to the Manu Samoa squad this past week. There is one new name on the bench recent USA High Performance camp attendee Fred Apulu, a hulking figure who remarkably played in the backs for Samoa’s u20 squad before switching to the back row. He has spent the past few months learning to play prop under the tutelage of Giltinis scrum coach Alex Corbisiero.
San Diego fans will be watching with intent as the Legion will advance to the Western Conference Playoff should Seattle fail to reach their two-point target. It’s not an impossible goal but the Seawolves certainly have their work cut out for them with such a makeshift group of reserves to call on. LA are strong favorites to win so the question is whether the visitors can conjure four tries and stay within seven points. To say the odds are long would be an understatement.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, 6pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on Bally Sports SoCal in Los Angeles and Root Sports Plus in Seattle, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
LA GILTINIS
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Andrew Tuala, 3 Marco Fepulea’i, 4 Dave Dennis (capt.), 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 Christian Poidevin, 8 Langilangi Haupeakui, 9 Harrison Goddard, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Will Chambers, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Cristian Rodriguez, 15 Tom Mitchell
Replacements: 16 Lindsey Stevens, 17 Charlie Abel, 18 Fred Apulu, 19 Zach Bonte, 20 Cyrille Cama, 21 Tas Smith, 22 Luke Burton, 23 Ryan James
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Tommy Clark, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Brad Tucker, 7 Travis Larsen, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Martin Iosefo, 12 David Busby, 13 Ross Neal, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Duncan Matthews
Replacements: 16 James Malcolm, 17 Dewald Donald, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Mike Brown, 20 Kellen Gordon, 21 Reid Watkins, 22 Lopeti Aisea, 23 Cole Zarcone
Date: Sunday, June 4
Venue: Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
Kickoff: 15:00 local (18:00 Eastern)
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Austin Reed (USA)
TMO: Jack Gohl (Australia)
Broadcasts: Bally Sports SoCal, Root Sports Plus, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-03-26 – Seattle Seawolves 12, LA Giltinis 31 (Starfire Stadium)
2021-06-27 – Seattle Seawolves 14, LA Giltinis 29 (Starfire Stadium)
2021-03-28 – LA Giltinis 57, Seattle Seawolves 26 (Memorial Coliseum)
