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The Warriors will attempt to put a halt to the Legion’s seven-game winning streak at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday evening. San Diego are now the top team in Major League Rugby and also hold the psychological advantage of beating Utah convincingly in the opening week of the season.
Finding weakness in this San Diego outfit hasn’t been easy, but Houston did at least show last week that the Legion can be challenged up front. Containing the attack proved a bigger problem however and it doesn’t seem to matter which backline is rolled out by Danny Lee.
This week it’s a first start of the season for Luke Burton, who wears No10 having otherwise played only a handful of minutes against Dallas as a replacement. Marcel Brache is rested with Tomas Aoake moving into the midfield, Mikey Te’o on the wing, and Matías Freyre starting at fullback.
Up front there are three changes to the run-on side. Djustice Sears-Duru comes in for Oti Pifeleti at loosehead prop, and Isaac Ross returns at lock with Chris Turori dropping to the bench. Michael Smith gets his first start on the flank having re-joined the squad last week. Malakai Latu’s first selection in a month makes it a 6/2 split among the reserves.
Utah carried a four-game win streak into Leesburg but came away with a stinging defeat. Defense remains a concern for Greg Cooper with the Warriors conceding an average of 27 points this season compared to only 19 for the Legion. They now sit eight points back of Houston for the third and final playoff spot in the West, though Utah does have a game at hand.
There is a welcome return for Henry Bell at hooker after a five-game absence. Onehunga Havili is fit again to take up a spot in the second row with Jurie van Vuuren settling for a reserve role. Joining him on the bench is Collegiate Draft pick John DuPree who is set to make his professional debut.
Two changes are made to the starting backline. Calvin Whiting gets a chance in the midfield for the first time in six weeks, this time in the No12 shirt. Cliven Loubser drops out of the side with Caleb Makene shifting to fullback and Logan Tago coming in on the right wing.
Somewhat cool temperatures are on the forecast but it suggests weather won’t be a factor. The Warriors are unbeaten at home this year and will not give that away lightly. Unlike Houston they play a style closer to the Legion, which might make for entertaining rugby but not necessarily success. San Diego aren’t invincible but until someone solves that puzzle it’s unwise to bet against them – home or away.
Kickoff is set for 7:30pm local time, 6:30pm Pacific, 9:30pm Eastern. Residents in Utah can watch on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, KMYU, or the KSL Sports website. Those located elsewhere can access a live stream on The Rugby Network.
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Olive Kilifi, 2 Henry Bell, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Jamie Lane, 5 Onehunga Havili, 6 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 7 Lance Williams, 8 Thomas Tu’avao, 9 Connor McLeod, 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Joe Mano, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Logan Tago, 15 Caleb Makene
Replacements: 16 Tuvere Vugakoto, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 John DuPree, 21 Zion Going, 22 Tomasi Tonga, 23 Tyler Fisher
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Sama Malolo, 3 Luke Green, 4 Ben Grant, 5 Isaac Ross, 6 Michael Smith, 7 Blair Cowan (capt.), 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Richard Judd, 10 Luke Burton, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 Tomas Aoake, 14 Mikey Te’o, 15 Matías Freyre
Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Jale Railala, 20 Chris Turori, 21 Malakai Latu, 22 Jason Higgins, 23 Will Hooley
Date: Saturday, May 6
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 19:30 local (18:30 Pacific, 21:30 Eastern)
Broadcasts: AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, KMYU, KSL Sports, The Rugby Network
Referee: Joe James (England)
Assistants: Brad Schwalger (Canada) & Kage Green (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2023-02-18 – San Diego Legion 33, Utah Warriors 17 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2022-04-01 – Utah Warriors 25, San Diego Legion 40 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2022-02-06 – San Diego Legion 31, Utah Warriors 29 (SDSU Sports Deck)
2021-06-12 – Utah Warriors 45, San Diego Legion 41 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2021-04-17 – San Diego Legion 31, Utah Warriors 29 (Dignity Health Track Field)
2019-05-18 – Utah Warriors 21, San Diego Legion 31 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2019-02-17 – San Diego Legion 21, Utah Warriors 10 (Torero Stadium)
2018-04-29 – San Diego Legion 31, Utah Warriors 24 (Torero Stadium)
