MLR 2024: Anthem Carolina vs NOLA Gold

Anthem return from their bye week rested and recharged for their game against NOLA on Saturday. The game will be played at High Point instead of their usual home base in Charlotte. Both sides are in search of victory to end losing skids, with the Gold in danger of falling behind in the East.

CURRENT STANDINGS

0-7-0 (L7) East 6th

3-4-0 (L3) East 3rd

LINEUP CHANGES

5 Reagan Leslie replaces James Rivers
7 Joe Basser replaces Alby O’Shannessey
11 David Still replaces Tyren Al-Jiboori
16 Jack Manzo replaces Mika Felix
18 Stephan Bernal-Wendt replaces Ivan Pula
19 James Rivers replaces Braemar Murray
20 Logan Weidner replaces Michael Ma’afu
22 Dom Iacovino replaces Shane Barry
23 Tomasi Alosio replaces Ulu Niutupuivaha

2 Pat O’Toole replaces Augusto Böhme
3 Jarred Adams replaces Sam Klimkowski
10 Dorian Jones replaces Reece Botha
11Julian Roberts replaces JP du Plessis (No13 vs Miami)
16 Ale Lopeti replaces Pat O’Toole
17 Bart Vermeulen replaces Jarred Adams
18 James Irey replaces Trent Rogers
20 Cam Dolan replaces Fintan Coleman
21 Damian Stevens replaces Sebastiano Villani
22 Reece Botha replaces Nick Feakes
23 Jack Webster replaces Osaiasi Tonga’uiha

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(4) – Turnbull (USA), Apikotoa (Tonga), Loubser (Namibia), Alosio (Samoa)

(8) – Harmon, Tonga’uiha, Dolan (USA), Noa, Iona (Samoa), Fife (Scotland), Botchar (Canada), Stevens (Namibia)

CLUB DEBUTS

(2) – Dom Iacovino, Tomasi Alosio*

* – MLR debut

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Declan Moore (HO)

– Isaac Salmon (TH), Sean Paranihi (TH), Jordan Jackson-Hope (CE), JP du Plessis (CE), Ed Fidow (WI)

NOTES

this will be the first Major League Rugby game played at Truist Point… the stadium opened in 2019 and is typically used for baseball, with a turf surface and a capacity of 4,500
Anthem field their most experienced lineup of the season with hooker Declan Moore the only certain starter absent… 6’7″ (2.01m) Reagan Leslie partners 6’8″ (2.03m) Lucas Gramlick in a bulky second row with former Ironworkers regular Joe Basser recalled in the back row
two new signings have arrived to bolster the backline and start their Anthem accounts from the bench… former San Diego and USA Falcons center Dom Iacovino played last season with the American Raptors… Samoan international fullback Tomasi Alosio has appeared with Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby and plays provincially with Tasman Mako in New Zealand
Anthem winger Cael Hodgson played a half-dozen games with NOLA Gold last season… before that he was a starter for Dallas in 2022 after being originally drafted by the Free Jacks
the Gold remain without their top two tighthead props with Isaac Salmon a late scratch last week and still injured, and Sean Paranihi suspended… Jarred Adams will slot in at No3 this week… he is typically a loosehead but filled in at tighthead on three occasions for the Gold last year
NOLA are boosted by the return of long-time USA Eagles starter Cam Dolan from injury… the 34-year-old lock or No8 will make his first appearance of the season off the bench… he captained the Gold in the 2022 and 2023 campaigns
JP du Plessis joins Jordan Jackson-Hope and Ed Fidow on the Gold sidelines this week… Julian Roberts comes in on the wing and Ross Depperschmidt moves into the midfield

PREDICTION

Anthem are still in search of their first ever franchise victory and field a relatively consistent lineup with only three changes. Defense has been their biggest issue but the week off would have given them time to work on their system. The Gold won their first meeting back in Week 2 at home but are out of form and have lost three games in a row. On paper this is Anthem’s best chance for a win to date, but NOLA remain favorites on the road.

LINEUPS

ANTHEM CAROLINA
1 Jake Turnbull (capt.), 2 Connor Robinson, 3 Joe Apikotoa, 4 Lucas Gramlick, 5 Reagan Leslie, 6 Shneil Singh, 7 Joe Basser, 8 Dylan Fortune, 9 Conor McManus, 10 Oscar Koller, 11 David Still, 12 Junior Gafa, 13 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 14 Cael Hodgson, 15 Cliven Loubser

Replacements: 16 Jack Manzo, 17 Dan Hanson, 18 Stephan Bernal-Wendt, 19 James Rivers, 20 Logan Weidner, 21 Sean Yacoubian, 22 Dom Iacovino, 23 Tomasi Alosio

NOLA GOLD
1 Matt Harmon, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Jarred Adams, 4 Malcolm May, 5 William Waguespack, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha (capt.), 7 Jonah Mau’u, 8 OJ Noa, 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Dorian Jones, 11 Julian Roberts, 12 Rodney Iona, 13 Ross Depperschmidt, 14 Taniela Filimone, 15 Dougie Fife

Replacements: 16 Ale Lopeti, 17 Bart Vermeulen, 18 James Irey, 19 Callum Botchar, 20 Cam Dolan, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Reece Botha, 23 Jack Webster

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, April 27
Venue: Truist Point, High Point
Kickoff: 19:30 local (16:30 Pacific, 18:30 Central)
Weather Forecast: partly cloudy, 65°F (18°C), wind S 4-7mph (6-11km/h)
Broadcasts: YurView Louisiana, The Rugby Network