The Houston SaberCats host the San Diego Legion on Sunday, April 28 at 6 pm CT (7 pm ET) at Dyer Stadium. Tickets are available with first responders getting 50% off. The match is being broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
The Houston SaberCats have been playing some excellent rugby in recent week, but in the closing minutes have given up decisive scores which have lost several matches. They would like to change this pattern and to pressure the legion from the start.
San Diego moved into second place and with the tight race for the four playoff spots, will want to leave with a win.
Match Comments
Houston SaberCats Head Coach Justin Fitzpatrick has made three changes with Mateo Sanguinetti at loosehead prop, Matt Trouville at lock, and Cecil Garber at flanker.
San Diego Legion Head Coach Rob Hoadley has made four changes with Pat Blair at hooker, Paddy Ryan at tighthead prop, Keni Nasoqeqe returning at lock, and JP Duplessis at inside center. Sione Tuihalamaka joins the roster in the reserves.
The teams played each other on February 9 with the Legion edging the SaberCats 17-13. The SaberCats perform best when they can use tactical kicking to spend time in their opponent’s territory. Their scrum is a close second in the league and they take points at goal when opponents commit infractions. The Legion average 10 penalties per match, which is third in the league, while the SaberCats are in 8th at 8.4.
San Diego’s defense is ranked first in the league. Their line speed on defense pressures opponents.
Squads with Player Article Links
Houston SaberCats: 1 Mateo Sanguinetti 2 Pat O’Toole 3 Paul Mullen 4 Diego Magno 5 Matt Trouville (C) 6 Luke Beauchamp 7 Cecil Garber 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz 9 Connor Murphy 10 Sam Windsor 11 Malacchi Esdale 12 Thretton Palamo 13 Osea Kolinisau 14 Deion Mikesell 15 Zach Pangelinan 16 Amro Gouda 17 Jamie Dever 18 Charlie Connolly 19 Victor Comptat 20 Chris Coyle 21Alejandro Nieto 22 Max Tacket 23 Joe Kelly + Head Coach Justin Fitzpatrick
San Diego Legion: 1 Faka’osi Pifeleti 2 Pat Blair 3 Paddy Ryan 4 Lou Stanfill 5 Keni Nasoqeqe 6 Jasa Veremalua 7 Psalm Wooching 8 Jordan Manihera 9 Nate Augspurger (VC) 10 Joe Pietersen (C) 11 Ryan Matyas 12 JP Duplessis 13 Dylan Audsley 14 Nick Boyer15 Mike Te’o16 Sione Tuihalamaka17 Nathan Sylvia 18 Aaron Mitchell19 Devin Short 20 Drew Gaffney 21 Tai Enosa 22 Nick Lupian 23 Kyle Rogers + Head Coach Rob Hoadley
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