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It’s a high-stakes showdown at Fort Lauderdale on Friday night where the Sharks host the Legion. With just two games left in the regular season, San Diego are one point behind in the race for the final playoff spot in the West, while Miami can clinch an Eastern Conference Semi Final place with a win of any kind.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
7-7-0 (L1) East 4th
7-7-0 (L2) West 5th
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 2 | Kirby Myhill | Sean McNulty |
| 5 | Federico Gutiérrez | Mauro Rebussone |
| 6 | Manuel Ardao | Tomás Bekerman |
| 8 | Ronan Foley | Marques Fuala’au |
| 14 | Marcos Young | Tomás Malanos |
|
IN | OUT |
| 2 | Hugh Roach | Shilo Klein |
| 5 | Zak Farrance | Vili Helu |
| 6 | Vili Helu | Hugh Roach |
| 13 | Junior Time-Taotua | Tavite Lopeti |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(12) – Myhill (Wales), Casares, Bonasso, McNulty (USA), Ardao, Inciarte (Uruguay), Morra, O’Leary, du Toit (Canada), Videla (Chile), Orlando (Argentina), Koloamatangi (Tonga)
(8) – Telea-Ilalio, Helu, James, Klein, Sylvia, Brache, Lopeti (USA), Holloway (Australia)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(0) – none
(1) – Time-Taotua*
* – MLR debut
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Reinaldo Piussi (TH), Tomás Cubelli (SH), Tomás Cubilla (CE)
– Brook To’omalatai (TH), Paddy Ryan (FL/N8), Richard Judd (SH)
| PREDICTION |
Hot and humid conditions are on the forecast, which likely benefits the Sharks. Jose Pellicena has opted for a 6/2 split on the bench though notably there is no specialist scrumhalf in reserve in the absence of regular skipper Tomás Cubelli. They were well-beaten by San Diego in March but since then the Legion’s form has collapsed. John Manenti has again picked an unusual backline with an inexperienced flyhalf and a complete newcomer in the midfield. Miami are slight favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
MIAMI SHARKS
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Alec McDonnell, 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Federico Gutiérrez, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Ronan Foley, 9 Tomás Inciarte, 10 Martín Elías, 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Santiago Videla, 13 Matías Orlando (capt.), 14 Marcos Young, 15 Shane O’Leary
Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Alex Tucci, 18 Tau Koloamatangi, 19 Braemar Murray, 20 Rick Rose, 21 Tomás Malanos, 22 Tomás Bekerman, 23 Guiseppe du Toit
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Darcy Breen, 4 Jed Holloway, 5 Zak Farrance, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Brad Wilkin (capt.), 8 Jimmy Hokafonu, 9 Connor Tupai, 10 Steffan Crimp, 11 Ryan James, 12 Cassh Maluia, 13 Junior Time-Taotua, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Ethan Grayson
Replacements: 16 Shilo Klein, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Oliver Kane, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Paddy Ryan, 21 Lincoln McClutchie, 22 Marcel Brache, 23 Tavite Lopeti
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Friday, May 30
Venue: Baptist Health Community Field, Fort Lauderdale
Kickoff: 19:30 local (16:30 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: cloudy, 86°F (30°C), humidex 91°F (33°C) wind SW 8-12mph (13-19km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Fan Duel Florida, YurView California, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Mike Lawrenson (USA)
Assistants: Cam Russell (Canada) & Kye Martinovic (USA)
TMO: Mike Kelly (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (2) – San Diego 2, Miami 0
2025-03-22 – San Diego Legion 31, Miami Sharks 12 (Torero Stadium)
2024-03-31 – Miami Sharks 21, San Diego Legion 22 (AutoNation Field)
