MLR 2024: Utah Warriors vs Old Glory DC – ARN Guide

Utah returns home after their historic victory in San Diego to host DC on Friday night. Both teams have an opportunity to end the first half of the campaign with an even win-loss record, though Old Glory have two draws on their account. The Warriors won their only previous meeting contested at Zions Bank Stadium by one point in 2021, though DC took both matches on their home turf.

CURRENT STANDINGS

3-4-0 (W1) West 5th

2-3-2 (L1) East 4th

LINEUP CHANGES

1 Emerson Prior rotates with 17 Franco van den Berg
3 Paul Mullen replaces Angus MacLellan
7 Bailey Wilson replaces Saia Uhila (No5 vs San Diego)
9 Kieran McClea rotates with Zion Going
12 Alesana Pohla replaces Paul Lasike
18 Tonga Kofe replaces Paul Mullen
19 Louis Conradie replaces Onehunga Havili
20 Kalisi Moli replaces Bailey Wilson
22 Lopeti Aisea replaces Alesana Pohla
23 Isaia Kruse replaces Robbie Povey

1 Jack Iscaro rotates with 17 Quentin Newcomer
3 Cali Martinez replaces Tyler Rowland
10 Gradyn Bowd replaces Mike Dabulas (No15 vs Houston)
11 John Rizzo replaces Axel Müller
12 William Talataina replaces Tommaso Boni
18 Steven Longwell replaces Cali Martinez
22 John Powers replaces Gradyn Bowd
23 Ishmail Shabazz replaces William Talataina

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(6) – Mullen, Jensen, Tu’avao, Wilson, Mano, M Kruse (USA)

(6) – Iscaro, C Daniel (USA), Gattas (Uruguay), Harley, Hoyland (Scotland), Bowd (Canada)

CLUB DEBUTS

(1) – Lopeti Aisea

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Paul Lasike (CE), Spencer Jones (CE)

– Ignacio Dotti (LO), Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (FL/N8), Niko Jones (FL/N8), Danny Tusitala (SH), Tommaso Boni (CE), Axel Müller (WI)

NOTES

• Nic Souchon starts for the Warriors against his former team… the 26-year-old hooker from New Zealander started all but one of Old Glory’s games last season… Souchon scored a try in DC’s 36-22 victory over the Warriors at Segra Field a year ago
• Utah have recalled Bailey Wilson to the starting lineup but Joel Hodgson will continue as on-field captain… the other second and back row forwards all change positions from last week as the pack is reshuffled
• Kieran McClea gets a start at scrumhalf after three straight starts for Zion Going… the Warriors have switched between the two at No9 all season… third choice scrumhalf Sam Reimer is yet to see a match day selection
• former Seawolves center Lopeti Aisea is set to make his Warriors debut as a replacement… the 27-year-old represented the USA at u17 level… he played 7 games for Seattle with 1 start since joining in 2022
• Old Glory welcomes back Steven Longwell to the squad after ending a short-term contract with Bristol Bears… the 33-year-old tighthead prop was first choice for DC in the 2021 season… he spent the past two years with Jersey Reds until the RFU Championship club folded for financial reasons this past September
• Gradyn Bowd gets his first start for DC since Week 2… the Canadian international earned the No10 shirt in the lead-up to last season’s playoff run but has been second string since the return of Jason Robertson
• Old Glory captain Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz serves the last of his five-game suspension this week… the back rower is clear to return for the home game against the Miami Sharks on May 4

PREDICTION

Damp and drizzly conditions await which could favor Utah’s scrum, and Wilson’s return is a boost to their lineout. The Warriors field arguably their strongest lineup of the season with Paul Lasike the only sure-fire starter absent from the match day squad. DC are coming off a heavy defeat to Houston and are absent a handful of leading men. Utah are favorites at home.

LINEUPS

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Emerson Prior, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Frank Lochore, 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Thomas Tu’avao, 7 Bailey Wilson, 8 Dylan Nel, 9 Kieran McClea, 10 Joel Hodgson (capt.), 11 Joe Mano, 12 Alesana Pohla, 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Michael Manson, 15 Caleb Makene

Replacements: 16 Phil Bradford, 17 Franco van den Berg, 18 Tonga Kofe, 19 Louis Conradie, 20 Kalisi Moli, 21 Zion Going, 22 Lopeti Aisea, 23 Isaia Kruse

OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Facundo Gattas, 3 Cali Martinez, 4 Rob Harley (capt.), 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Collin Grosse, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Lautaro Bavaro, 9 Ethan McVeigh, 10 Gradyn Bowd, 11 John Rizzo, 12 William Talataina, 13 Damien Hoyland, 14 Perry Humphreys, 15 Jason Robertson

Replacements: 16 Martín Vaca, 17 Quentin Newcomer, 18 Steven Longwell, 19 Bill Whiteside, 20 Brady Daniel, 21 Connor Buckley, 22 John Powers, 23 Ishmail Shabazz

MATCH INFO

Date: Friday, April 26
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 19:00 local (18:00 Pacific, 21:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: cloudy with showers, 46°F (8°C), wind N 2-4mph (3-6km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 1, The Rugby Network

OFFICIALS

Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Chris Assmus (Canada) & Kage Green (USA)
TMO: Amanda Cox (USA)

HISTORY

HEAD-TO-HEAD (3) – DC 2, Utah 1, STREAK DC +2
2023-04-22 – Old Glory DC 36, Utah Warriors 22 (Segra Field)
2022-04-15 – Old Glory DC 22, Utah Warriors 21 (Segra Field)
2021-05-08 – Utah Warriors 34, Old Glory DC 33 (Zions Bank Stadium)