MLR 2024: RFC Los Angeles vs Miami Sharks

Only a win will do for the two teams colliding for the first time in Carson on Sunday afternoon. Both Miami and Los Angeles are currently outside the playoff picture and a loss would see their hopes of a postseason appearance fading considerably.

CURRENT STANDINGS

3-7-1 (L1) West 6th

4-7-0 (W2) East 5th

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

7 Matt Heaton replaces Max Katjijeko
8 Semi Kunatani replaces Theo Vukasinovic (injury, No4 vs San Diego)
12 Jason Emery replaces Brooklyn Hardaker (No14 vs San Diego)

2 Kirby Myhill replaces Sean McNulty
3 Tau Koloamatangi replaces Alec McDonnell
6 Tomás Casares replaces Manuel Ardao (suspension)
11 Marcos Young replaces Avery Oitomen
15 Matías Freyre replaces Santiago Videla (No10 vs New England)

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(9) – Maughan, Damm (USA), O’Gorman, Heaton, Coe, Young (Canada), Kunatani (Fiji), Rebolo (Brazil), Katjijeko (Namibia)

(9) – Evans, Myhill (Wales), Koloamatangi (Tonga), Bonasso (USA), Cubelli (Argentina), Etcheverry, Inciarte (Uruguay), Grigg (Scotland), du Toit (Canada)

CLUB DEBUTS

(1) – Tau Koloamatangi*

* – MLR debut

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Jurie van Vuuren (LO), Ben Mitchell (LO), Theo Vukasinovic (LO), Dan Hollinshead (FH), Jordan Chait (FH), Rory van Vugt (FB)

– Reinaldo Piussi (TH), Manuel Ardao (FL/N8), Santiago Videla (FH/FB), Shane O’Leary (FH/FB), Matías Orlando (CE)

NOTES

LA have received a boost with the return of midfielder Jason Emery, whose suspension was reduced by one week… he slots in at inside center with James Stokes playing fullback for the first time this season… vice-captain Matt Heaton is also back from a week off for an HIA
a dislocated shoulder suffered by Theo Vukasinovic sees Jason Damm moving up into the second row… LA’s lock stocks are also absent Jurie van Vuuren and Ben Mitchell
Tas Smith continues to deputise at flyhalf in the absence of injured duo Dan Hollinshead and Jordan Chait… Emery looks to be the backup plan with no halfbacks named on the bench
new arrival Tau Koloamatangi will make his MLR debut at tighthead prop for Miami… the 29-year-old represented Tonga at the 2023 World Cup and before that played one test for Hong Kong… regular starter Reinaldo Piussi has two games left on his six-week suspension
Manuel Ardao has been suspended for two weeks which Ben Bonasso assuming the pack leadership for Miami… Tomás Casares is rewarded for his match-winning effort against New England with a start on the blindside flank
Chilean international Santiago Videla is rested this week with Felipe Etcheverry moving back to the flyhalf position… Matías Freyre gets his third start of the season at fullback

PREDICTION

LA have been hit hard by injuries all season but have put together a reasonably competitive lineup thanks to the returns of Heaton and Emery. The absence of a true flyhalf remains a concern against a side who are very adept at the kicking game. Koloamatangi should shore up the Sharks scrum and the visitors are confident after upsetting the defending champs. Miami are slight favorites on the road.

LINEUPS

RFC LOS ANGELES
1 Dane Zander, 2 Ben Strang, 3 Alex Maughan, 4 Jason Damm, 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Michael Amiras, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Semi Kunatani, 9 Niall Saunders (capt.), 10 Tas Smith, 11 Jack Shaw, 12 Jason Emery, 13 Will Leonard, 14 Andrew Coe, 15 James Stokes

Replacements: 16 Bruce Kauika-Petersen, 17 Wilton Rebolo, 18 Conor Young, 19 Max Katjijeko, 20 Bruce Yun, 21 Austin White, 22 Seth Purdey, 23 Brooklyn Hardaker

MIAMI SHARKS
1 Rob Evans, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Tau Koloamatangi, 4 Rick Rose, 5 Stan van den Hoven, 6 Tomás Casares, 7 Roelof Smit, 8 Benjamín Bonasso, 9 Tomás Cubelli (capt.), 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Marcos Young, 12 Nick Grigg, 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Michael Hand, 15 Matías Freyre

Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Alex Glover, 18 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 19 Alec McDonnell, 20 Michael Etete, 21 Nicolás Elewaut, 22 Guiseppe du Toit, 23 Avery Oitomen

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday, June 2
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson
Kickoff: 15:00 local (18:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 70°F (21°C), wind SW 12-18mph (19-29km/h)
Broadcasts: Bally Sports Florida / SoCal, The Rugby Network