MLR 2024: Houston SaberCats vs Seattle Seawolves

The two top teams in Major League Rugby collide on Saturday night for what could be a preview of the Conference Final. A win for Houston would clinch top spot in the West and home field advantage in the postseason, but the Seawolves are lurking seven points behind and victory would make things very interesting in the last two weeks of the regular season.

CURRENT STANDINGS

12-1-0 (W7) West 1st

10-3-0 (W2) West 2nd

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

1 Rob Cobb replaces Ezekiel Lindenmuth
3 Pono Davis replaces Maks van Dyk
8 Gideon van Wyk replaces Johan Momsen (injury, No6 vs LA)
10 AJ Alatimu replaces Drew Wild (No15 vs LA)
13 Tautalatasi Tasi replaces Dom Akina
14 Christian Dyer replaces Jeremy Misailegalu

5 Mahonri Ngakuru replaces Jean Droste (HIA)

CLUB DEBUTS

(2) – Jackson Zabierek*, Koby Baker*

* – MLR debut

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(2) – Alatimu (Samoa), Dyer (USA)

(7) – Taufete’e, Lopeti, Wenglewski, Rees, Futi (USA), Akuei (Kenya), Rossouw (Namibia)

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Ezekiel Lindenmuth (LH), Maks van Dyk (TH), Johan Momsen (LO/FL), Drew Wild (FB)

– Peter Malcolm (HO), Charles Elton (FL), Kara Pryor (FL), Riekert Hattingh (N8), Tevita Kuridrani (CE)

NOTES

Houston have rested both first choice props this week, with Rob Cobb finally getting a run in his preferred loosehead position after being asked to fill in at tighthead… for Pono Davis it’s a first start of the 2024 campaign and just the second of his MLR career
Johan Momsen sits out after taking a knock to the shoulder early in the win over LA… his back row spot goes to Gideon van Wyk who slots in at No8 with Ronan Murphy switching to flanker
Tautalatasi Tasi sees his first action since early May and partners Louritz van der Schyff for the first time… vice-captain Christian Dyer makes a full return from injury on the right wing
the Seawolves have made just one enforced change to their starting lineup after thrashing Utah last week… Jean Droste is ruled out with an HIA so the No5 shirt goes to Mahonri Ngakuru
two players will make their Seattle and MLR debuts as replacements… hooker Jackson Zabierek and tighthead prop Koby Baker have arrived after playing in Super Rugby Americas with the American Raptors… Zabierek was drafted by LA last year but did not sign with the club… Baker spent three years in the UK playing university rugby for Cardiff Met

PREDICTION

The March contest in Tukwila was a fierce contest played in drizzly weather that was surprisingly high scoring. Since then the SaberCats have lost just once and enter the game on a franchise record seven-game win streak. The Seawolves have had to overcome some injuries to key players but remain a formidable outfit who will be determined to send a message heading into the postseason. Houston are slight favorites at home.

LINEUPS

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Rob Cobb, 2 Pita Anae-Ah Sue, 3 Pono Davis, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt (capt.), 6 Ronan Murphy, 7 Keni Nasoqeqe, 8 Gideon van Wyk, 9 André Warner, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Seimou Smith, 12 Louritz van der Schyff, 13 Tautalatasi Tasi, 14 Christian Dyer, 15 Davy Coetzer

Replacements: 16 Tiaan Erasmus, 17 LaRome White, 18 Val Lee-Lo, 19 Emmanuel Albert, 20 Asa Carter, 21 Carlo de Nysschen, 22 Max Schumacher, 23 Jeremy Misailegalu

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Cameron Orr, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 5 Mahonri Ngakuru, 6 Devin Short, 7 Monate Akuei, 8 Huw Taylor, 9 JP Smith (capt.), 10 Mack Mason, 11 Toni Pulu, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Jade Stighling, 15 Divan Rossouw

Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 18 Koby Baker, 19 Taylor Krumrei, 20 Pago Haini, 21 Ryan Rees, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Lauina Futi

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, June 15
Venue: SaberCats Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 18:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 19:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 90°F (32°C), humidex 97°F (36°C), wind SE 11-16mph (18-26km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 1, The Rugby Network