Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Two teams searching for their second win of the season will clash in Leesburg on Saturday. Old Glory DC nearly pulled off an improbable come-from-behind result against New England last weekend, while the Toronto Arrows are all smiles after Sam Malcolm led them to victory in Chicago.
It’s the sixth regular season meeting between the two sides, who also danced during the preseason. On that day it was DC who were superior against a makeshift Toronto pack, but in the real deal it’s the Arrows who hold a 4-1 advantage. DC won the most recent match in the final round of last year’s campaign.
Old Glory were much improved from their disappointing showing in New York in Round 3, but still conceded 34 points to the Free Jacks. Josh Syms will be looking for improved defense as he makes three personnel changes to the run-on side and one positional switch.
Jack Iscaro and Ramiro Herrera are restored as the starting props, with Quentin Newcomer and Kyle Stewart on the bench. Thretton Palamo will be a reserve this week as Owen Sheehy comes in on the wing and William Talataina moves to his preferred midfield spot.
After a pair of shaky outings to start the season, the Arrows rebounded with a hard-earned win over the Hounds in miserable weather. Sam Malcolm’s heroics have given the team a boost in confidence and they’ll need it against a DC side who are no easy outs this season.
Mike Sheppard comes into the second row to earn his 50th Major League Rugby appearance alongside Adrian Wadden, with Mason Flesch moving to the blindside flank. The only other change sees Fabian Goodall add bulk on the wing in place of Avery Oitomen. Jack McRogers is the reserve hooker this week as Owain Ruttan again awaits his pro debut on a conventional 5/3 bench.
Cool but relatively mild weather is on the forecast, a welcome change for the Arrows. DC will fancy their chances in the scrum with Herrera back in, though he will be up against the similarly gargantuan Lolani Faleiva and a savvy Ramón Ayarza. With Stan South still injured, however, the Arrows will target the lineout using Wadden and Flesch to disrupt.
The decision to leave Palamo on the bench is intriguing given Toronto’s power options out wide in Goodall and Tautalatasi Tasi. In Malcolm and Tito Díaz Bonilla, both sides boast top caliber kickers. It’s hard to give form points to either side, so DC gets the nod as slight favorites despite their historical disadvantage.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 4pm Pacific. Viewers in the USA can watch on Fox Sports 2, with TSN’s digital services streaming for Canadians. Those located elsewhere can watch on The Rugby Network.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 4 Collin Grosse, 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Owen Sheehy, 12 Fermín Martínez, 13 William Talataina, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Kurt Baker
Replacements: 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Quentin Newcomer, 18 Kyle Stewart, 19 Fintan Coleman, 20 Alejo Daireaux, 21 John LeFevre, 22 Mike Dabulas, 23 Thretton Palamo
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Lolani Faleiva, 2 Ramón Ayarza, 3 Tyler Rowland, 4 Mike Sheppard, 5 Adrian Wadden, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 8 Mitch Eadie, 9 Ross Braude, 10 Sam Malcolm, 11 Mitch Richardson, 12 Noel Reid, 13 Tautalatasi Tasi, 14 Fabian Goodall, 15 Ciaran Breen
Replacements: 16 Jack McRogers, 17 Nik Hildebrand, 18 Conan O’Donnell, 19 Owain Ruttan, 20 James O’Neill, 21 Will Grant, 22 Kobe Faust, 23 Avery Oitomen
Date: Saturday, March 18
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg
Kickoff: 19:00 local (16:00 Pacific)
Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Assistants: Craig Sakowski (USA) & Ian Seaton (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network, TSN Digital
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-06-05 – Toronto Arrows 35, Old Glory DC 50 (York Lions Stadium)
2022-04-09 – Toronto Arrows 32, Old Glory DC 27 (York Lions Stadium)
2022-02-26 – Old Glory DC 5, Toronto Arrows 29 (Segra Field)
2021-07-04 – Toronto Arrows 34, Old Glory DC 28 (Lupo Family Field)
2021-04-03 – Old Glory DC 19, Toronto Arrows 40 (Segra Field)
