MLR 2023 West Playoff – Seattle Seawolves vs Houston SaberCats – ARN Guide – Americas Rugby News

The Main League Rugby postseason will get underway in Seattle on Saturday, the place the Seawolves host the Houston SaberCats within the Western Convention Playoff. It’s a rematch of final 12 months’s convention remaining in Houston which was received decisively by the Seawolves to ship them to a 3rd Championship Last.

On each events the 2 sides have met this season the SaberCats got here up quick, although each had been definitely aggressive. The primary was a fierce contest at Starfire Stadium in March, the second a disappointing residence much less for Houston that noticed them squander a 17-3 second half lead.

The SaberCats have been hit with season-ending accidents to fullback Drew Wild, proper wing Christian Dyer, and reserve flyhalf Robbie Povey. Utility again Zach Pangelinan can be out, which has led to the controversial addition of Tremendous Rugby Americas star Line Latu on mortgage from the American Raptors. Latu had not performed a single minute in the course of the MLR common season whereas each Kainoa Lloyd and Nick Boyer, who began towards New England final week, are neglected of the lineup.

Latu will play on the fitting wing with Gerrie Labuschagne beginning at fullback. The remainder of the backline is accustomed to Davy Coetzer resuming his halfback partnership with Dillon Smit. There are two backs on the reserve checklist in scrumhalf Carlo de Nysschen and winger Jax Hidalgo.

Up entrance there’s a notable return of vice-captain Nathan Den Hoedt at lock after a three-week absence with an ankle harm. Wynand Grassmann makes means with Houston at their import restrict, so Keni Nasoqeqe will proceed on the blindside flank. There is no such thing as a place for Eagles lock Siaosi Mahoni within the match day squad with Emmanuel Albert given the nod as second row reserve on the bench.

Amongst others who will make an affect within the second half are USA internationals Joe Taufete’e, Danny Barrett, and Hanco Germishuys. Taufete’e will cowl hooker after enjoying tighthead prop in his final outing, with Axel Zapata the odd man out.

The Seawolves have been boosted by the return of a number of gamers from harm, most notably captain Riekert Hattingh. Ben Landry and Charles Elton have led the aspect admirably throughout Hattingh’s six-week absence with a damaged foot. Each are again within the lineup, as are Mzamo Majola and Rhyno Herbst who had every suffered shoulder harm in current weeks.

Duncan Matthews will begin on the wing with each Martin Iosefo and Conner Mooneyham dominated out. Adriaan Carelse is at fullback, and it’s AJ Alatimu who will get the nod at flyhalf. Robust showings from Lopeti Aisea and Jeremiah Sio towards San Diego earn them spots on the reserve checklist.

It’s a standard 5/3 bench for the Seawolves with no signal of Samu Manoa or Andrew Durutalo. Jordan Chait is one other notable absentee, and Devereaux Ferris is the popular halfback cowl towards the staff he suited up for on two events earlier this season.

Sunny circumstances are on the forecast at kickoff. Each groups opted to relaxation the vast majority of their high gamers final week in anticipation what shall be a bruising encounter. The Seawolves are the upper seed and had been the higher aspect for many of the common season, however the scales aren’t absolutely tipped of their favor.

Even absent Wild and Dyer the SaberCats subject one in all their strongest lineups of the season. Houston seem like in higher bodily situation heading into the match, and have an additional ahead on the bench to go along with actual high quality within the likes of Taufete’e and Barrett. In Coetzer the Cats have a playmaker equally as influential as Alatimu, if no more so.

This guarantees to be one other massively bodily contest on the narrower Starfire Stadium pitch, which fits Houston’s fashion and choice simply superb. The Seawolves may have a packed home driving them on, and the return of Hattingh & Co. is one other psychological increase. It’s an in depth name however the favorites tag goes with the house aspect by a small margin.

Kickoff is ready for 3pm native time, 5pm Central, 6pm Japanese. Fox Sports activities 2 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Community streaming for these in Canada and overseas.

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola, 2 Peter Malcolm, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Ben Landry, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Charles Elton, 7 Ronan Foley, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Lauina Futi, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Duncan Matthews, 15 Adriaan Carelse

Replacements: 16 James Malcolm, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Mason Pedersen, 19 Ben Mitchell, 20 Nakai Penny, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Lopeti Aisea, 23 Jeremiah Sio

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Rob Cobb, 2 Dean Muir (capt.), 3 Morgan Mitchell, 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt, 6 Malon Al-Jiboori, 7 Keni Nasoqeqe, 8 Gideon van Wyk, 9 Dillon Smit, 10 Davy Coetzer, 11 Vereniki Tikoisolomone, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 13 Dom Akina, 14 Line Latu, 15 Gerrie Labuschagne

Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Alec McDonnell, 18 Valdemar Lee-Lo, 19 Emmanuel Albert, 20 Danny Barrett, 21 Hanco Germishuys, 22 Carlo de Nysschen, 23 Jax Hidalgo

Date: Saturday, June 24
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Kickoff: 15:00 native (17:00 Central, 18:00 Japanese)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network

Referee: Joe James (England)
Assistants: Luke Rogan (USA) & Austin Reed (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)

HISTORICAL RESULTS
2023-05-13 – Houston SaberCats 17, Seattle Seawolves 34 (SaberCats Stadium)
2023-03-11 – Seattle Seawolves 24, Houston SaberCats 12 (Starfire Stadium)
2022-06-18 – Houston SaberCats 27, Seattle Seawolves 46 (SaberCats Stadium)
2022-05-27 – Seattle Seawolves 43, Houston SaberCats 36 (Starfire Stadium)
2022-03-12 – Houston SaberCats 21, Seattle Seawolves 19 (SaberCats Stadium)
2021-07-15 – Seattle Seawolves 40, Houston SaberCats 21 (Starfire Stadium)
2021-03-20 – Houston SaberCats 30, Seattle Seawolves 24 (SaberCats Stadium)
2019-04-13 – Houston SaberCats 10, Seattle Seawolves 52 (SaberCats Stadium)
2019-03-10 – Seattle Seawolves 27, Houston SaberCats 14 (Starfire Stadium)
2018-06-02 – Houston SaberCats 7, Seattle Seawolves 20 (Dyer Stadium)