MLR 2024: RFC Los Angeles vs Utah Warriors – ARN Guide

Two teams currently occupying the bottom end of the Western Conference will look for better results in Carson on Sunday. Los Angeles are yet to record their first win since relocating from ATL, falling one-point short in San Diego last week. Utah were well-beaten by Seattle at home but are boosted by the return of two key backs while changing their entire tight five.

CURRENT STANDINGS

0-3-0 (L3) West 6th

1-2-0 (L1) West 5th

LINEUP CHANGES

13 Will Leonard replaces Jason Emery (injury)
15 Austin White replaces Sam Walsh
23 Sam Walsh replaces Austin White

1 Emerson Prior replaces Franco van den Berg (injury)
2 Phil Bradford replaces Nic Souchon
3 Angus MacLellan replaces Paul Mullen
4 Matt Jensen replaces Bailey Wilson (wore 7 vs Seattle)
 5 Louis Conradie replaces Saia Uhila
13 Mika Kruse replaces Zion Going
15 Michael Manson replaces Caleb Makene
16 Nic Souchon replaces Phil Bradford
17 Paul Mullen replaces Emerson Prior
18 Tonga Kofe replaces Angus MacLellan
19 Saia Uhila replaces Matt Jensen
21 Zion Going replaces Kalisi Moli

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(8) – Maughan, Damm (USA), Young, O’Gorman, Heaton, Coe (Canada), Kunatani (Fiji), Katjijeko (Namibia)

(9) – MacLellan, Jensen, Tu’avao, Mano, Lasike, Kruse, Mullen (USA), Havili (Tonga), Povey (Canada)

CLUB DEBUTS

(0) – n/a

(1) – Tonga Kofe*

* – pro debut

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Wilton Rebolo (HO/TH), Theo Vukasinovic (LO), Jason Emery (CE), Rory van Vugt (FB)

– Franco van den Berg (LH), Bailey Wilson (FL), Caleb Makene (FB)

NOTES

• Will Leonard makes his first appearance for LA, though he was an established starter with ATL prior to their relocation… this will be the first game for Leonard as a US-qualified player, having played the last 5 seasons in MLR… he replaces Jason Emery who suffered what LA says is a minor knee injury during the first half of the game against San Diego
• LA lock Jurie van Vuuren starts against his former team… the former South Africa u20 representative spent four seasons with the Warriors spanning 2020-2023… Niall Saunders played for Utah in 2022 before moving to ATL last season
• Bruce Kauika-Petersen has shaken off a rib issue that forced him off in the first half of last week’s game against San Diego to start at hooker
• Utah have not identified their captain for the match on their team sheet, though presumably it will be either Joel Hodgson or Paul Lasike… either way it will be the third captain in four games with regular skipper Bailey Wilson and vice-captain Caleb Makene both missing
• Mika Kruse returns from injury to play alongside his younger brother Isaia for the first time… they come from a family of six siblings who all play rugby
• Joe Mano returns from a leg injury suffered during the preseason to start on his regular left wing spot for the Warriors… Michael Manson’s initial three-week suspension was reduced by a week, allowing him to slot in at fullback in place of Makene

PREDICTION

A stiff westerly breeze is expected which could turn this into a tactical battle between Hodgson and Dan Hollinshead. Utah has the height advantage at the lineout but accuracy plagued them against Seattle. LA have been competitive in every match but haven’t quite hit their stride yet. There’s little to choose between the two sides, but the revamped Warriors backline makes them slight favorites.

LINEUPS

RFC LOS ANGELES
1 Alex Maughan, 2 Bruce Kauika-Petersen, 3 Conor Young, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Semi Kunatani, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Jason Damm, 9 Niall Saunders (capt.), 10 Dan Hollinshead, 11 Jack Shaw, 12 James Stokes, 13 Will Leonard, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 Austin White

Replacements: 16 Ben Strang, 17 Lincoln Si’i, 18 Dane Zander, 19 Max Katjijeko, 20 Michael Amiras, 21 Tas Smith, 22 Seth Purdey, 23 Sam Walsh

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Emerson Prior, 2 Phil Bradford, 3 Angus MacLellan, 4 Matt Jensen, 5 Louis Conradie, 6 Frank Lochore, 7 Dylan Nel, 8 Thomas Tu’avao, 9 Kieran McClea, 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Joe Mano, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Isaia Kruse, 15 Michael Manson

Replacements: 16 Nic Souchon, 17 Paul Mullen, 18 Tonga Kofe, 19 Saia Uhila, 20 Onehunga Havili, 21 Zion Going, 22 Robbie Povey, 23 Alesana Pohla

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday, March 24
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson
Kickoff: 15:00 local (16:00 Mountain, 18:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sun and cloud, 64°F (18°C), wind W 27-40mph (43-64km/h)
Broadcasts: KMYU, The Rugby Network

OFFICIALS

Referee: Cisco Lopez (USA)
Assistants: Mike Lawrenson (USA) & Kirk Swanner (USA)
TMO: Mike Kelly (USA)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (4) – Utah 2, ATL 2, STREAK Utah +2
2023-05-27 – Utah Warriors 28, Rugby ATL 12 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2022-05-07 – Utah Warriors 44, Rugby ATL 26 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2021-07-10 – Utah Warriors 31, Rugby ATL 41 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2020-02-09 – Rugby ATL 28, Utah Warriors 19 (Lupo Family Field)