Rugby

MLR 2024: Utah Warriors vs Houston SaberCats – ARN Guide

May 5, 2024

It’s another home game for Utah on Saturday night as they welcome old rivals Houston to Zions Bank Stadium. Both teams have won their last two outings, with the Warriors holding off Old Glory last Friday and the SaberCats scorching San Diego last Saturday.

CURRENT STANDINGS

4-4-0 (W2) West 5th

7-1-0 (W2) West 1st

LINEUP CHANGES

5 Saia Uhila replaces Bailey Wilson (No7 vs DC)
12 Lopeti Aisea replaces Alesana Pohla (injury)
18 Angus MacLellan replaces Tonga Kofe
19 Onehunga Havili replaces Louis Conradie
20 Bailey Wilson replaces Kalisi Moli
22 Robbie Povey replaces Lopeti Aisea

2 Seth Smith replaces Tiaan Erasmus (suspension)
5 Nathan Den Hoedt replaces Johan Momsen
7 Emmanuel Albert replaces Marno Redelinghuys
10 AJ Alatimu replaces Davy Coetzer
16 Brian Flamenco replaces Seth Smith
17 Frikkie de Beer replaces LaRome White
20 Johan Momsen replaces Emmanuel Albert

CAPPED INTERNATIONALS

(9) – Mullen, Jensen, Tu’avao, Mano, M Kruse, MacLellan, Wilson (USA), Havili (Tonga), Povey (Canada)

(3) – Lindenmuth, Alatimu (Samoa), Dyer (USA)

CLUB DEBUTS

(1) – Brian Flamenco*

* – MLR debut

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Paul Lasike (CE), Spencer Jones (CE)

– Pita Anae-Ah Sue (HO), Tiaan Erasmus (HO), Maks van Dyk (TH), Davy Coetzer (FH)

NOTES

this is the 12th meeting between the two sides since the inaugural 2018 season… home field advantage has counted for little with the visitors winning 5 times… clashes between Utah and Houston are historically very close, with the average margin of victory 7 points
despite being named club captain again prior to the season, Bailey Wilson is again left on the bench by Warriors coach Greg Cooper with Joel Hodgson continuing as on-field skipper
Lopeti Aisea makes his first start in Utah colors and just the second of his MLR career… the Warriors are struggling to keep centers on the field this season with Paul Lasike, Spencer Jones, Tomasi Tonga, and Alesana Pohla all ruled out with injury
Houston have handed a first start to Seth Smith, who at 18 years, 10 months, and 10 days becomes the youngest player to start an MLR game… he surpasses the previous record set by Toronto Arrows fullback Brenden Black against Utah last season, who was 17 days older at the time… Smith replaces Tiaan Erasmus who has been suspended for one week… 20-year-old High School All-American Brian Flamenco is set to make his pro debut as Smith’s replacement
Davy Coetzer sits out for the first time this season with AJ Alatimu coming in at flyhalf for the SaberCats… in the three previous Alatimu starts Coetzer lined up at fullback
Nathan Den Hoedt will captain Houston for the second time this season with regular skipper Johan Momsen left on the bench… Den Hoedt partners Justin Basson in the second row for the first time, his previous two starts were alongside Momsen

PREDICTION

In their first meeting of the campaign back in Week 1 the SaberCats were convincing winners, with two late tries salvaging a bonus point for the Warriors. Since then it’s been mixed results for Utah, while Houston are on top of the overall league standings. The Warriors could hold the edge in the scrum with the SaberCats missing Maks van Dyk, and they will put young Smith’s throwing to the test at the lineout. This could be closer than some might predict, but Houston are favorites on the road.

LINEUPS

UTAH WARRIORS
1 Emerson Prior, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Matt Jensen, 5 Saia Uhila, 6 Frank Lochore, 7 Dylan Nel, 8 Thomas Tu’avao, 9 Kieran McClea, 10 Joel Hodgson (capt.), 11 Joe Mano, 12 Lopeti Aisea, 13 Mika Kruse, 14 Michael Manson, 15 Caleb Makene

Replacements: 16 Phil Bradford, 17 Franco van den Berg, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Onehunga Havili, 20 Bailey Wilson, 21 Zion Going, 22 Robbie Povey, 23 Isaia Kruse

HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2 Seth Smith, 3 Rob Cobb, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Nathan Den Hoedt (capt.), 6 Keni Nasoqeqe, 7 Emmanuel Albert, 8 Ronan Murphy, 9 André Warner, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Line Latu, 12 Sam Hill, 13 Tautalatasi Tasi, 14 Christian Dyer, 15 Drew Wild

Replacements: 16 Brian Flamenco, 17 Frikkie de Beer, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Tomi Agbongbon, 20 Johan Momsen, 21 Carlo de Nysschen, 22 Max Schumacher, 23 Dom Akina

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, May 4
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman
Kickoff: 19:00 local (18:00 Pacific, 21:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: cloudy, 66°F (19°C), wind S 12-19mph (19-30km/h)
Broadcasts: KMYU, KSL Sports, Space City, The Rugby Network