The show continues for the SaberCats as they welcome the Capital Selects to Constellation Field on Saturday evening. This makes it five weeks on the trot that Houston have suited up in preparation for the Major League Rugby season, and this match represents the halfway point of their preseason campaign with four matches yet to come.

As expected the team has made a few changes from the side that overwhelmed James Bay last weekend. Jack Riley gets his first start at hooker with new recruit Paul Mullen in at tighthead prop after coming in off the bench against the Bays. Robert Meeson shifts to the blindside flank and Justin Allen comes into the second row. Matt Trouville returns to assume the captaincy from Kyle Sumsion who gets to kick his feet up for at least the first half of the match.

In the backs it’s a first start for teenager Kieran Farmer at flyhalf with Sam Windsor on the bench in case of emergency. Conor Mills is also on reserve duty with Osea Kolinisau back in the midfield to partner Dan Paul. Back on the wing is Malacchi Esdale and there is a new name in the replacements list in the giant-sized form of former Houston Cougars defensive end Chauntez Jackson. The 23-year-old has been training at tighthead prop and is set to make his rugby debut in the second half.

The Selects were due to play Stars Rugby in a friendly last weekend but the invitational side was forced to cancel. Two weeks ago they traveled to New Orleans where they met another MLR side, the Gold, in a mostly one-sided match though the Selects had their moments and managed to score three good tries.

Four changes have been made from the match at Gretna Park. Adam Floyd rotates with Guy Lopresti at hooker and there are two new flankers in Eric Hagen and Zach Schell. Norfolk winger Justin Menke is drafted in on the right wing at the expense of Blake Carroll. Fullback Nick Kuhl leads the team with Hagen tabbed as pack leader. Rocky Gorge winger Eugene Becton is added to the bench.

Defense plagued the Selects against the Gold and will have been the hot topic in preparation for the match. They did find some success going forward with No8 Josh Brown proving a handful and strong contributions from second rows Tyler Barberi and Matt Holsopple. Jake Humphrey was a standout in the backs and CJ Burnes showed his pace with a classic winger’s try around the corner.

Even with the changes the SaberCats will prove a step up in competition from the Gold, who were just taking their first steps two weeks ago. Houston will be more organized and are battle hardened at this point. That does not bode well for their guests. Expect a big score by the intermission that might calm down in the second half when the replacements start streaming into the match.

HOUSTON SABERCATS

1 Petey Hepburn, 2 Jack Riley, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Charlie Hewitt, 5 Justin Allen, 6 Robert Meeson, 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Matt Trouville (capt.), 9 Connor Murphy, 10 Kieran Farmer, 11 Josua Vici, 12 Osea Kolinisau, 13 Dan Paul, 14 Malacchi Esdale, 15 Zach Pangelinan

Replacements: 16 Lindsey Stevens, 17 Chauntez Jackson, 18 Adam Macklin, 19 Chris Parker, 20 Kyle Sumsion, 21 Chris Milledge, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Conor Mills, 24 Chris Slater, 25 Andres Diaz

CAPITAL SELECTS

1 Doc Irey, 2 Guy Lopresti, 3 Evan Harkum, 4 Tyler Barberi, 5 Matt Holsopple, 6 Eric Hagen, 7 Zach Schell, 8 Josh Brown, 9 Sean Hartig, 10 Jake Humphrey, 11 CJ Burnes, 12 Campbell Johnstone, 13 Brian Mulloy, 14 Justin Menke, 15 Nick Kuhl (capt.)

Replacements: 16 Eric Sweeney, 17 Adam Floyd, 18 Zack Jessell, 19 Alex Diegel, 20 Kevin Jackson, 21 Vili Siale, 22 Calvin Storey, 23 Eugene Becton

Date: Saturday, February 3

Venue: Constellation Field, Sugar Land

Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)

Broadcasts: MIXLR (audio only)