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The Hounds will look to break out of their five-game losing skid when they arrive in Atlanta on Saturday. Chicago have only one win to their name thus far and ATL present a considerable challenge given their standing in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The two sides have actually faced off once before, albeit during a 40-minute preseason friendly played in Florida.
Achieving an 80-minute performance from his charges will have been the message from Sam Harris during the bye week. While competitive in the early stages, Chicago have a habit of falling away in the final square and they will can’t afford a repeat against ATL.
The most surprising change sees club captain Bryce Campbell dropped from the starting lineup, with Billy Meakes named skipper. Mark O’Keeffe moves in to outside center with Matai Leuta running out on the wing. Sid Shoop gets his first Major League Rugby start at scrumhalf with Michael Baska another regular left among the reserves.
Hugh Roach isn’t quite ready to return to Mason Koch again gets the call at hooker, with Charlie Abel providing backup. LaRome White and Paddy Ryan are the new props, the latter returning after a month on the sidelines. John Cullen is back in at lock, with Justice Nkombua on the blindside flank in his first start since arriving from South Africa.
ATL are also coming off a bye week. They gave the Free Jacks some problems but were ultimately second best at Fort Quincy two weeks ago. Stephen Brett will have circled the next three games on the calendar as critical to his team’s chances for making the postseason, with their opposition holding a combined record to date of 3 wins and 26 defeats.
Nahuel Milán makes just his second start of the season at lock in place of Justin Basson, the giant Argentine the only alteration to the first-up pack. On the bench there is a second chance for Phil Thiel to stretch his legs, and the first sighting of the season for veteran flanker Connor Cook who has also decided that retirement can wait a little longer.
There are two changes in the backs. Kurt Coleman tags in for Duncan van Schalkwyk at flyhalf, with Jack Shaw taking the place of Nolan Tuamoheloa on the left wing. Ex-Utah scrumhalf Niall Saunders is set to make his club debut as a replacement.
Warm weather is on the forecast which is an opportunity for ATL to get some home support. There are some big calls in the Chicago lineup, with Shoop set for the biggest test of his young career. ATL’s scrum is arguably the best in MLR while the Hounds have struggled in that department. The visitors are in with a shout but the home side have more to play for and should be clear favorites.
Kickoff is set for 6pm local time, 5pm Central, 3pm Pacific. A local broadcast will be available on Marquee Sports in Chicago, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
RUGBY ATL
1 Will Burke, 2 Alex Maughan, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 4 Nahuel Milán, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Ross Deacon, 9 Ryan Rees, 10 Kurt Coleman, 11 Jack Shaw, 12 Martini Talapusi, 13 Will Leonard, 14 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 15 Rewita Biddle
Replacements: 16 Phil Thiel, 17 Lincoln Si’i, 18 Wikus Groenewald, 19 Justin Basson, 20 Connor Cook, 21 Niall Saunders, 22 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 23 Harley Davidson
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 LaRome White, 2 Mason Koch, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Cam Dodson, 5 John Cullen, 6 Justice Nkombua, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Luke White, 9 Sidney Shoop, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Billy Meakes (capt.), 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Matai Leuta, 15 Chris Mattina
Replacements: 16 Charlie Abel, 17 George Thornton, 18 Fred Apulu, 19 Dacoda Worth, 20 Michael de Waal, 21 Michael Baska, 22 Bryce Campbell, 23 JP Eloff
Date: Saturday, May 6
Venue: Silverbacks Park, Atlanta
Kickoff: 18:00 local (15:00 Pacific, 17:00 Central)
Broadcasts: Marquee Sports, The Rugby Network
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Cisco Lopez (USA) & Dave Edwards (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
n/a
