MLR 2024 Playoffs: Seattle Seawolves vs San Diego Legion

This season’s best team on the West Coast will be decided at Starfire Stadium on Sunday evening when Seattle once again collides with old rivals San Diego. The Legion were the better side when the met in the last round of the regular season, but the stakes are much higher now and the Seawolves have fortified their roster as they eye another spot on the Conference Final.

FORM GUIDE

11-5-0, West 2nd, Last 5: 3-2, Streak: Lost 1

11-5-0, West 3rd, Last 5: 4-1, Streak: Won 2

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

2 Joe Taufete’e replaces DaQuan Perry
4 Rhyno Herbst replaces Isaia Lotawa
6 Jean Droste replaces Monate Akuei
9 JP Smith replaces Ryan Rees
11 Toni Pulu replaces Jeremiah Sio
12 Dan Kriel replaces Tavite Lopeti

4 Brandon Harvey replaces Jay Tuivaiti
5 Greg Peterson replaces Charlie Hewitt
9 Connor Tupai replaces Danny Christensen
13 Tiaan Loots replaces James Vaifale (No11 in Week 18)

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

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

(10) – Peterson, Helu, Tameilau, Brache, Ryan, Te’o (USA), Cowan (Scotland), Giteau (Australia), Nonu (New Zealand), Sears-Duru (Canada)

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

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

– Isaac Ross (LO), Ryan James (WI)

NOTES

the two sides split their head-to-head clashes this season, with the home side winning on each occasion… San Diego have recent success at Starfire Stadium having won their last April
the Seawolves welcome back Joe Taufete’e from injury and with the 6’7″ (2.00m) Jean Droste selected on the blindside flank will field their largest forward pack of the 2024 campaign
Toni Pulu also returns from injury and with Lauina Futi preferred on the right wing, there is no place for newly-minted Eagles international Conner Mooneyham or Jade Stighling in the Seawolves lineup, with the latter also affected by match day import restrictions
the Legion have a nearly full strength squad to choose from and have an entire loose forward trio to bring on from the bench though there is no specialist second row in reserve
it’s unclear who is providing cover at scrumhalf should Connor Tupai need to leave the field for any reason… Mikey Te’o has played the position before but only sparingly in recent years

PREDICTION

It will be hard for neutrals not to root for San Diego with the likes of Giteau and Nonu in the final moments of storied careers. On paper they have a team that can put points on the board, but the Seawolves have picked a team suited for the narrow confines of Starfire Stadium. The outstanding kicking game from halfback combo Smith and Mason gives the home side an edge in the tactical department, though this one should come down to the wire. Seattle are slight favorites at home.

LINEUPS

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

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

SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Luke Green, 4 Brandon Harvey, 5 Greg Peterson, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Blair Cowan (capt.), 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Connor Tupai, 10 Matt Giteau, 11 Filimoni Waqainabete, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 Tiaan Loots, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Marcel Brache

Replacements: 16 Cyrille Cama, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Christian Poidevin, 20 Paddy Ryan, 21 Tupou Afungia, 22 Lincoln McClutchie, 23 Mikey Te’o

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday, July 21
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 18:00 local (21:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 79°F (26°C), wind N 9-14mph (14-23km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network