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A spot in the postseason might well be up for grabs when NOLA plays host to Miami on Friday night. Both sides have been inconsistent this year, but a recent string of encouraging results has pushed the Sharks to within a single point of the Gold as we reach the business end of the season.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
4-7-0 (L1) East 4th
5-6-0 (L1) East 5th
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Matt Harmon | Bart Vermeulen |
| 2 | Ale Lopeti | Joe Taufete’e |
| 3 | Paul Mullen | Tyler Matchem |
| 4 | Jay Tuivaiti | Callum Botchar |
| 5 | Cam Dolan | William Waguespack |
| 6 | Aidan King | Osaiasi Tonga’uiha |
| 7 | Jonah Mau’u | Cian Darling |
| 8 | Tupou Afungia | Moni Tonga’uiha |
| 9 | Ruben de Haas | Damian Stevens |
| 10 | Dorian Jones | Reece Botha |
| 12 | JP du Plessis | Nikolai Foliaki |
| 13 | Isaac Te Tamaki | Ross Depperschmidt |
| 14 | Xavier Mignot | Jack Webster |
| 15 | Julian Roberts | Cooper Coats |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Ma’ake Muti | Jonas Petrakopoulos |
| 5 | Mauro Rebussone | Federico Gutiérrez |
| 6 | Manuel Ardao | Tomás Bekerman |
| 9 | Tomás Cubelli | Tomás Inciarte |
| 12 | Tomás Cubilla | Guiseppe du Toit |
| 14 | Marcos Young | Tomás Malanos |
| 15 | Shane O’Leary | Santiago Videla |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(11) – Harmon, Mullen, Dolan, de Haas, Taufete’e, Tonga’uiha (USA), Mau’u (Samoa), Afungia (Tonga), Mignot (France), Matchem (Canada), Stevens (Namibia)
(12) – Myhill (Wales), Casares, Bonasso, McNulty (USA), Ardao, Piussi, Inciarte (Uruguay), Cubelli, Orlando (Argentina), Morra, O’Leary, du Toit (Canada)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Jarred Adams (LH), Kélian Galletier (FL), Ed Fidow (WI)
– Santiago Videla (FH/FB), Tomás Malanos (WI)
| PREDICTION |
Wet weather awaits the two sides at The Gold Mine which doesn’t really suit the playing style of either team. Both have suitably opted for six forwards on the bench, with the Gold able to summon an entirely new tight five in the second half. The Sharks welcome back star duo Manuel Ardao and Shane O’Leary, and have giant prop Reinaldo Piussi in reserve. On form the visitors have shown more promise in recent weeks. Miami are slight favorites on the road.
| LINEUPS |
NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon, 2 Ale Lopeti, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Jay Tuivaiti, 5 Cam Dolan, 6 Aidan King, 7 Jonah Mau’u (capt.), 8 Tupou Afungia, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Dorian Jones, 11 Harley Wheeler, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Isaac Te Tamaki, 14 Xavier Mignot, 15 Julian Roberts
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Bart Vermeulen, 18 Tyler Matchem, 19 Chase Jones, 20 William Waguespack, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Moni Tonga’uiha, 23 Reece Botha
MIAMI SHARKS
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Alec McDonnell, 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Mauro Rebussone, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Ronan Foley, 9 Tomás Cubelli (capt.), 10 Martín Elías, 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Tomás Cubilla, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Shane O’Leary
Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 18 Reinaldo Piussi, 19 Rick Rose, 20 Marques Fuala’au, 21 Tomás Inciarte, 22 Tomás Bekerman, 23 Guiseppe du Toit
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Friday, May 9
Venue: The Gold Mine, Metairie
Kickoff: 18:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 19:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: light rain, 66°F (19°C), wind E 10-15mph (16-24km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, FanDuel Florida, Gulf Coast Sports, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USA) & Mike Lawrenson (USA)
TMO: Mike Kelly (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (3) – Miami 2, NOLA 1
2025-02-23 – Miami Sharks 30, NOLA Gold 25 (Baptist Health Community Field)
2024-06-09 – Miami Sharks 13, NOLA Gold 20 (AutoNation Field)
2024-04-20 – NOLA Gold 27, Miami Sharks 42 (The Gold Mine)
