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It’s a must-win game for the Utah Warriors on Saturday night when they host the Chicago Hounds at Zions Bank Stadium. Entering the weekend four points behind the Houston SaberCats, a win is the minimum requirement to stay alive but the bonus point will almost certainly be needed if they have any hope of reaching the first round of the playoffs.
The Warriors gave it everything against the Seawolves last weekend but couldn’t quite pull out the victory, instead taking a losing bonus point away from Seattle. With third place their best possible finish, this is now certain to be Utah’s final home game of the 2023 campaign.
A slight reshuffle in the pack sees Lance Williams returning to the starting lineup at openside flanker with Onehunga Havili switching to lock. Saia Uhila drops to the bench, where Joey Backe is summoned as reserve hooker in place of the injured Tuvere Vugakoto.
In the backs there is a recall for Cliven Loubser at fullback with Caleb Makene moving to the wing and Mika Kruse playing outside center. Tyler Fisher is the odd man out, the South African center named among the reserves with no Paul Lasike in the match day squad this week.
The Hounds have now dropped 10 games in a row and will ride out the last two weeks of their inaugural campaign on the road. They can still play a spoiler role but will have to do so without three starting forwards against the Warriors.
George Thornton, Cam Dodson, and Luke White are all absent this week. LaRome White comes in at loosehead prop with Duke Krishnan starting at lock for the first time since late March. Tinashe Muchena is handed his first pro start at the back of the scrum. New arrival Steveni Lombard could make his Major League Rugby debut as a replacement for White.
There are two personnel changes in the backs. Sidney Shoop is again favored to Michael Baska at scrumhalf, and JP Eloff gets the nod at fullback in place of Chris Mattina. It’s Baska and Mattina who are asked to cover the entire backline from the bench.
Utah were only narrow victors when the two sides met in Chicago in the third week of the season. Home field advantage will be more significant this time in the altitude, and with ideal conditions on the forecast that bodes well for the Warriors. The Hounds are missing key bodies up front which also suggests a strong victory for the home side.
Kickoff is set for 8pm local time, 9pm Central, 10pm Eastern, 7pm Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on Marquee Sports in Chicago and both KMYU and KSL Sports online in Utah. Viewers located elsewhere can watch 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 Caleb Makene, 15 Cliven Loubser
Replacements: 16 Joey Backe, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Saia Uhila, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Zion Going, 22 Tomasi Tonga, 23 Tyler Fisher
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 LaRome White, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 John Cullen, 5 Duke Krishnan, 6 Mike Matarazzo, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Tinashe Muchena, 9 Sidney Shoop, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Matai Leuta, 15 JP Eloff
Replacements: 16 Lindsey Stevens, 17 Steveni Lombard, 18 Charlie Abel, 19 Sam Peri, 20 Michael de Waal, 21 Justice Nkombua, 22 Michael Baska, 23 Chris Mattina
Date: Saturday, June 10
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 20:00 local (19:00 Pacific, 21:00 Central, 22:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: KMYU, KSL Sports, Marquee Sports, The Rugby Network
Referee: Cisco Lopez (USA)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Kage Green (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2023-03-05 – Chicago Hounds 10, Utah Warriors 14 (SeatGeek Stadium)
