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The last match of the first six-game weekend in Major League Rugby history pits the newly re-branded Austin Gilgronis against the top seeds from the East Conference – the Toronto Arrows. It’s also the first time a regular season match will be played in Bold Stadium at Circuit of the Americas.
Austin’s fresh start won’t be easy with several leading players missing from the lineup. Chris Schade starts at hooker with no sign of Wilton Rebolo. Three MLR first timers are in the back row in Potu Leavasa, Dominic Akina, and Lino Saunitoga. Loosehead prop Skyler Adams and 39-year-old flanker JP Novak could make their debuts if called from the bench.
Zinzan Elan-Puttick captains the side at flyhalf with Peni Tagive handed his first run in the midfield having played wing last season. Corey Jones cracks the side on the right wing in his first outing, and there are two more untested players in reserve in flyhalf Alex Rees and midfielder Gabe Farley.
The Arrows meanwhile have named a dozen internationals in the run-on size with another two on the bench. Richie Asiata begins his MLR adventure at loosehead prop with the two South American additions Tomás de la Vega and Manuel Diana in the back row. 20-year-old prop Tyler Rowland is called up to the bench in the absence of Rob Brouwer.
There is a new flyhalf in Tayler Adams, one of two New Zealanders in the backline along with Sam Malcolm who switches to fullback. Ben LeSage forms an all-Canada midfield with Guiseppe du Toit and Gastón Mieres prowls on the left wing. Andrew Ferguson settles for an impact role as Jamie Mackenzie gets the first go at scrumhalf.
Shorthanded is not a where Austin wanted to be against a powerful Arrows roster. The Gilgronis may have renewed confidence but this is the real deal and their opponents are all business. Despite being visitors Toronto should be considered heavy favorites to come away with a bonus point victory.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern time. Viewers in the USA can watch on Fox Sports 2, while Canadians can find the game on TSN 2 or TSN Direct. Those located elsewhere can access the live stream on the official MLR Facebook page.
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
1 LaRome White, 2 Chris Schade, 3 Juan Echeverría, 4 Maikeli Naromaitoga, 5 Rikus Zwart, 6 Potu Leavasa, 7 Dominic Akina, 8 Lino Saunitoga, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Zinzan Elan-Puttick (capt.), 11 Alex Faison-Donahoe, 12 Sione Fangaiuiha, 13 Peni Tagive, 14 Corey Jones, 15 Rodrigo Silva
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Erasmus, 17 Skyler Adams, 18 Mason Pedersen, 19 JP Novak, 20 Moe Abdelmonem, 21 Colby Stevens, 22 Alex Rees, 23 Gabe Farley
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Richie Asiata, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Mike Sheppard, 5 Paul Ciulini, 6 Tomás de la Vega, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Jamie Mackenzie, 10 Tayler Adams, 11 Gastón Mieres, 12 Guiseppe du Toit, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Dan Moor (capt.), 15 Sam Malcolm
Replacements: 16 Steven Ng, 17 Pat Lynott, 18 Tyler Rowland, 19 Kolby Francis, 20 Peter Milazzo, 21 Andrew Ferguson, 22 Mitch Richardson, 23 Leandro Leivas
Date: Sunday, February 9
Venue: Bold Stadium, Austin
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Scott Green (USA) & Butch Neuenschwander (USA)
Broadcasts: Facebook, Fox Sports 2, TSN 2, TSN Direct
