Austin Gilgronis hosts Rugby United New York at Bold Stadium on Saturday, May 15 at 7 pm local (8 pm ET). It is military appreciation night and the tickets are $5 and free with a military ID.
For those who can’t attend, the match is being broadcast on KBVO, MSG Plus, and streamed domestically and internationally on The Rugby Network.
Austin Gilgronis have a 4-3 record and are currently in 3rd place in the MLR Western Conference, just two points behind Utah. The Warriors face the first-place LA Giltinis on Saturday, so a win potentially could move them into second place. The Gilgronis also will be facing the Giltinis on Wednesday, May 19 on short rest.
Rugby United New York travels to Austin in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-2 record and 23 points and trail NOLA Gold, with 24 points and a 4-2-1 record. RUNY knocked the Giltinis from the unbeaten list 18-16 on Sunday and will want to sweep Adam Gilchrist’s other team. RUNY will return home and will face the New England Free jacks in an Eastern Conference match on Sunday, May 23.
Austin Gilgronis enters the match after losing last Saturday to the New England Free Jacks 22-18. head Coach Sam Harris has made five changes in the starters swapping the hooker and tighthead prop with Hugh Roach, and Paddy Ryan, with Dominic Akina at blindside flanker. Kurt Morath and Rodrick Waters are at the inside center and right-wing, respectively.
Reserve changes include LaRome White at prop, Moe Abdelmonem at back-row, Kyle Breytenbach at back-row, Cole Davis at wing, and Ruben de Haas, likely making his MLR debut at scrumhalf.
Rugby United New York Head Coach Marty Veale has made one change in his starters with Evan Mintern taking the place of the injured Juan Manuel Leguizamon at No.8. Chris Mattina also joins the matchday 23 as a utility back.
The Austin Gilgronis is the MLR leader in conceding the fewest points, 111. New York is capable of playing a defensive match, just view last week’s win over the Giltinis, but is not reflected when examining their statistics to date. RUNY does have an advantage in scoring more points than the Gilgronis.
A key contributor is flyhalf Dan Hollinshead, who is the league’s total points leader with 78. He is tied for first in penalty goals (12) and is 4th in conversions (14). Austin Gilgronis Mack Mason is also a capable kicker and is 5th in conversions (12) and 4th in penalty goals (9).
Rugby United New York has an edge in scrums won and the Gilgronis has a slight edge in lineouts won. RUNY’s lineouts won has increased with the addition of Nick Civetta, who like Austin’s locks, Isaac Ross and Sebastian de Chaves are 6’8″ tall.
Look for New York to play a fast game offloading the ball and trying to find gaps. The team tends to hold onto the ball but utilizes tactical kicking to play within their opponent’s territory.
With the win over LA Giltinis last week, Rugby United New York was the MLR Team of the Week.
Photo: Paul Salazar
Squads with Player Article Links
Austin Gilgronis: 1 Jamie Mackintosh 2 Hugh Roch 3 Paddy Ryan 4 Sebastian de Chaves 5 Isaac Ross 6 Dom Akina 7 Maclean Jones 8 Michael de Waal 9 Pele Cowley 10 Mack Mason 11 Ned Hodson 12 Kurt Morath 13 Bryce Campbell (C) 14 Rodrick Waters 15 Conner Mooneyham 16 Robbie Coetzee 17 Mason Pedersen 18 LaRome White 19 Cam Dodson 20 Moe Abdelmonem 21 Ruben de Haas 22 Kyle Breytenbach 23 Cole Davis
Rugby United New York: 1 James Rochford 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Sak Taulafo 4 Nate Brakeley 5 Nick Civetta 6 Hanco Germishuys 7 Kyra Pryor 8 Evan Mintern 9 Andy Ellis (c) 10 Dan Hollinshead 11 Quinn Ngawati 12 Will Leonard 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai 14 Joel Miranda 15 Troy Lockyear 16 Wilton Rebolo 17 Anthony Parry 18 Samu Tawake 19 Charlie Hewitt 20 Ben Bonasso 21 Conor McManus 22 Harry Bennett 23 Chris Mattina
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