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After two exhausting weekends in Las Vegas, the New England Free Jacks continue their west-coast swing in San Diego where the Legion await at Torero Stadium. The home side are a perfect two wins from two while New England suffered their first Major League Rugby defeat at the hands of Utah on Saturday.
There are three changes to the Free Jacks roster, two in the forwards. Tongan international Tolu Fahamokioa is fit to make his debut at loosehead prop with Simon Courcoul dropping to the bench. Conor Kindregan gets a chance to start on the blindside flank with Naulia Dawai switching to No8 and Brad Hemopo settling for reserve duty.
Injury to outside center Liam Steel sees Poasa Waqanibau shift one spot inside. Danny Collins takes the vacancy on the wing for his first start. Four players await their first MLR game time on the bench – flanker Evan Geist, scrumhalf Ollie Engelhart, flyhalf Peceli Rinakama, and winger Christian Adams.
San Diego aren’t interested in messing with a winning formula so have named a near-identical lineup to the team that cruised past Colorado on Sunday. The only alteration to the run-on side sees Nathan Sylvia in at loosehead prop as Oti Pifeleti misses out. Jamie Dever provides cover from the bench.
Two more players will join Dever in making their first appearances of the season as replacements. Keni Nasoqeqe covers lock or back row in place of Lou Stanfill, and Eagles outside back Ryan Matyas takes the spot last occupied by Tai Enosa.
The pundits have unanimously picked San Diego as favorites on their home turf and there’s little reason to argue. New England are certainly capable of putting points on the board but toppling the consensus early-season front runners for the final without four key starters seems a task beyond their ability.
Kickoff is set for 4pm local time, 7pm Eastern. Fox Sports 2 will air the game nationwide. Those located outside the USA can access the live stream on the official MLR Facebook page.
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia, 2 Dean Muir, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Siaosi Mahoni, 5 Joshua Furno, 6 Jasa Veremalua, 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.), 10 Luke Burton, 11 Tira Patterson, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Save Totovosau, 15 Dylan Audsley
Replacements: 16 Peter Malcolm, 17 Jamie Dever, 18 Aaron Mitchell, 19 Ben Mitchell, 20 Devin Short, 21 Ryan Matyas, 22 Devereaux Ferris, 23 Keni Nasoqeqe
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Tolu Fahamokioa, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Donald Brighouse, 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Jackson Thiebes, 6 Conor Kindregan, 7 Zack Stryffeler, 8 Naulia Dawai, 9 John Poland, 10 Timothée Guillimin, 11 Deion Mikesell, 12 Sam Beard, 13 Poasa Waqanibau, 14 Danny Collins, 15 Mitch Wilson
Replacements: 16 Steven Hinshaw, 17 Simon Courcoul, 18 Quentin Newcomer, 19 Brad Hemopo, 20 Evan Geist, 21 Ollie Engelhart, 22 Peceli Rinakama, 23 Christian Adams
Date: Sunday, February 23
Venue: Torero Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 16:00 local (19:00 Eastern)
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Austin Reed (USA)
Broadcasts: Facebook, Fox Sports 2
