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Rugby New York have the honor of being the first rugby team from outside Texas to play at Choctaw Stadium when they take on the Dallas Jackals on Saturday. The home side came oh-so-close to securing a famous victory over Houston last weekend and will be hoping their guests are taking them lightly.
While New York coach Marty Veale has resisted wholesale changes, he has taken the opportunity to rest some bodies after the grueling victory over Rugby ATL. There are eight changes to the starting side while Benjamín Bonasso is handed the captain’s armband for the first time.
Brazilian international Wilton Rebolo packs down at hooker between a pair of Samoan bookends in Sakaria Taulafo and Kalolo Tuiloma. Will Tucker comes in at lock for Nate Brakeley, and Pago Haini is recalled at the back of the scrum.
Jack Heighton will get his first start in MLR at flyhalf and there is a return from injury for Canada’s Quinn Ngawati in the midfield. Ed Fidow gets the week off with Apenisa Cakaubalavu making his first appearance of the season on the left wing.
On the flipside Elaine Vassie has largely kept the faith with the team that led the SaberCats until the 78th minute. Eric Naposki misses out with injury the loss of the rising star is mitigated by the return of captain Chris Pennell at fullback. Tom Brusati is handed his first MLR start in the absence of regular scrumhalf Carlo de Nysschen.
There are three further alterations among the reserves. Brendan Rams will cover hooker in place of Luke Rizzo. Second row Sam Phillips is recalled at the expense of Calvin Gentry, and former Argentina u20 flyhalf Alejandro Torres could make his MLR debut as a replacement.
As much as the two teams will be facing off, the players will also be battling the weather. Cold and camp conditions are expected at game time which may ironically be more familiar to the visitors. Dallas have improved but not enough to resist a New York side with an array of heavy artillery on the bench. Take New York to win in frosty Texas.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. A local broadcast will be available on TXA 21 in Dallas, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Liam Murray, 2 Matt Frings, 3 Alex Tucci, 4 Bronson Teles, 5 Jérémy Lenaerts, 6 Mike Matarazzo, 7 Moe Abdelmonem, 8 Conrado Roura, 9 Tom Brusati, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 11 Aaron Gray, 12 Chad London, 13 Henry Trinder, 14 Campbell Johnstone, 15 Chris Pennell (capt.)
Replacements: 16 Brendan Rams, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Tommy Madaras, 19 Sam Phillips, 20 Adriaan Booysen, 21 Dylan James, 22 Ned Hodson, 23 Alejandro Torres
RUGBY NEW YORK
1 Zak Taulafo, 2 Wilton Rebolo, 3 Kalolo Tuiloma, 4 Will Tucker, 5 Charlie Hewitt, 6 Benjamín Bonasso (capt.), 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Pago Haini, 9 Connor Buckley, 10 Jack Heighton, 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu, 12 Jason Emery, 13 Quinn Ngawati, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Troy Lockyear
Replacements: 16 Kaleb Geiger, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 18 Nic Mayhew, 19 Nate Brakeley, 20 Joe Basser, 21 Andy Ellis, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Fa’asiu Fuatai
Date: Saturday, February 26
Venue: Choctaw Stadium, Arlington
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USA) & Cole Jones (USA)
TMO: Jack Gohl (Australia)
Broadcasts: The Rugby Network, TXA 21
HISTORICAL RESULTS
n/a
