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We come to it at last. The great battle of our time. Or at least the makings of a pretty good game of footy on Saturday afternoon between the top two sides in Major League Rugby. The Glendale Raptors have been at the top of the table virtually all season with only a temporary disruption while the Seattle Seawolves had played more games.
It’s tempting to call the match the first ever Cup Final. Alas the decision-makers will instead present an 80-pound hunk of metal – the America’s Championship Shield – to the winners instead. How exactly it will be presented remains to be seen, but it will certainly be a spectacle.
The match itself is the third between the two sides. A rainy day in Seattle on April 28 saw the Raptors tested but ultimately victorious in a thoroughly entertaining encounter despite the conditions. The rematch didn’t quite live up to expectations. The Seawolves started strong but somehow conceded 33 unanswered points in a 17-minute stretch to watch the game slip away without much fuss.
Seeing as Glendale have won both meetings it would be inaccurate to call this the rubber match. The circumstances are however markedly different with each side changing roughly half their teams since their last meeting. San Diego’s Torero Stadium sets the neutral venue stage and of course the reward on offer is not mere bragging rights. Seawolves fans will be desperately hoping that the third time is indeed the charm.
Glendale’s win over Utah in the Semi Final was relatively routine. The return of their Eagles proved too much for the Warriors, and the lineup this week is nearly identical. Peter Dahl starts on the flank in place of Dylan Fawsitt in the only change to the run-on side, with Dahl’s breakdown expertise preferred to help counter new Eagles cap Vili Toluta’u.
There is one further alteration on the bench with Grigor Kerdikoshvili taking the place of Brian Wanless. The Georgian’s ability to cover lock suggests that Connor Cook may come on as an impact sub in his preferred spot on the flank. Fawsitt’s change also gives the Raptors a complete front row in reserve to face off against the vaunted Seawolves scrum.
Seattle have named an entirely unchanged 23 after sinking San Diego last weekend. Their scrum was in top form and Riekert Hattingh’s ball carrying presence was a major boost to the side at the business end of the season. The same cannot be said of their lineout, utterly abysmal and surely a top priority at training during the week.
With 20 full internationals between the two sides and three senior sevens caps, this has all the ingredients to be a classic. The weather forecast is perfect weather leaving no excuses for either side but to produce their best. Is there room for Seattle to succeed where they have previously failed?
Based on previous results the Raptors enter as clear favorites to claim the inaugural MLR title. The Seawolves will need more than their best effort, they will have to show their opponents something they haven’t seen. Against a side as meticulously prepared as Glendale, the odds are not in their favor.
Expect a close contest much more reminiscent of their first encounter. Seattle’s scrum will be a source of strength but Glendale’s ability to control field position will pay dividends. Come the final whistle look for the Raptors to be a step ahead once again.
Kickoff is set for 6pm local time, 9pm Eastern. Those in Canada and the USA can watch on CBS Sports Network. A live stream on the MLR Facebook page will be available for other international viewers.
GLENDALE RAPTORS
1 Blake Rogers, 2 Zach Fenoglio, 3 Kelepi Fifita, 4 Kody O’Neil, 5 Ben Landry, 6 Peter Dahl, 7 John Quill, 8 Sam Figg, 9 Shaun Davies (capt.), 10 Will Magie, 11 Mika Kruse, 12 Bryce Campbell, 13 Chad London, 14 Harley Davidson, 15 Maximo de Achaval
Replacements: 16 Luke White, 17 Nick Kwasniewski, 18 Dylan Fawsitt, 19 Connor Cook, 20 Grigor Kerdikoshvili, 21 Mickey Bateman, 22 Ata Malifa, 23 Nick Johnson
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Olive Kilifi, 2 Ray Barkwill, 3 Tim Metcher, 4 Taylor Krumrei, 5 Cam Polson, 6 Eric Duechle, 7 Vili Toluta’u, 8 Riekert Hattingh, 9 Phil Mack, 10 Peter Smith, 11 Peter Tiberio, 12 Shalom Suniula (capt.), 13 William Rasileka, 14 Brock Staller, 15 Mat Turner
Replacements: 16 Mike Shepherd, 17 John Hayden, 18 Kellen Gordon, 19 Cole van Harn, 20 Aladdin Schirmer, 21 Andre Coquillard, 22 Jeremy Misailegalu, 23 Sequoyah Burke-Combs
Date: Saturday, July 7
Venue: Torero Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 18:00 local (19:00 Mountain, 21:00 Eastern)
Referee: Scott Green (USAR)
Assistants: Adam Leal (RFU) & Derek Summers (USAR)
TMO: Marc Nelson (USAR)
Broadcasts: CBS Sports Network, Facebook
