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The Utah Warriors opened their Major League Rugby account in San Diego last weekend and though they couldn’t get the win, they did come away with a bonus point and the feel-good factor of ending the game on a high. On Saturday they host the league-leading Glendale Raptors at Zions Bank Stadium and they’ll have to start the way they finished if they hope to get a similar or better result in their home opener.
Four personnel changes have been made to Utah’s starting lineup, two each in the forwards and backs. Ara Elkington returns at openside flanker with Lance Williams switching to the blindside, and USA international David Tameilau gets his first start at No8 with vice-captain Saia Uhila moving up into the second row and Kory Olsen named on the bench.
Fetu’u Vainikolo is named at outside center to form a dynamite midfield partnership with captain Paul Lasike. AJ Tu’ineau steps in on the left wing with Tonata Lauti on the right in place of Josh Anderson. Filling the vacancy at fullback is Eagles Sevens veteran Don Pati.
The bench returns to a conventional 5-3 split. Wineera Elkington covers the back row but there are gaps up front with Maika Hafoka and Peni Pahulu still very inexperienced at the set piece.
Dave Williams has chosen to stick with the status quo in his Raptors side with only one enforced change. An injury to captain Shaun Davies sees youngster Jake Christmann handed the start with former Life University standout Kevin Lynch called up to provide cover on the bench.
Even without the influential Davies this remains a formidable Glendale side who showed impressive composure under pressure in Seattle last weekend. The additions of Tameilau, Vainikolo, and Kurt Morath should make the scoreline closer than the 42-15 preseason result but all things considered it’s hard to see anything but a decisive Raptors win.
Kickoff is set for 1:30pm local time, 3:30pm Eastern. Those in the USA can watch on AT&T Sportsnet and ESPN+. International viewers can access to a live stream on the official MLR Facebook page.
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Alex Tucci, 2 Lote Tu’ipulotu, 3 Angus MacLellan, 4 Matt Jensen, 5 Saia Uhila, 6 Lance Williams, 7 Ara Elkington, 8 David Tameilau, 9 Joseph Nicholls, 10 Kurt Morath, 11 AJ Tu’ineau, 12 Paul Lasike (capt.), 13 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 14 Tonata Lauti, 15 Don Pati
Replacements: 16 Ray Forrester, 17 Maika Hafoka, 18 Peni Pahulu, 19 Kory Olsen, 20 Wineera Elkington, 21 Ben Nicholls, 22 Paki Afu, 23 Josh Anderson
GLENDALE RAPTORS
1 Blake Rogers, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Kelepi Fifita, 4 Casey Rock, 5 Luke White, 6 Zach Fenoglio (capt.), 7 Peter Dahl, 8 Sam Figg, 9 Jake Christmann, 10 Will Magie, 11 Seth Halliman, 12 Bryce Campbell, 13 Chad London, 14 Harley Davidson, 15 Maximo de Achaval
Replacements: 16 Devin Vaughter, 17 Nick Kwasniewski, 18 James Del Bozque, 19 Kody O’Neil, 20 Brian Wanless, 21 Kevin Lynch, 22 Mika Kruse, 23 Ata Malifa
Date: Saturday, May 5
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 13:30 local (12:30 Pacific, 15:30 Eastern)
Referee: Derek Summers (USAR)
Assistants: Steve Gore (USAR) & Kage Green (USAR)
Broadcasts: AT&T SportsNet, ESPN+, Facebook
