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Seattle’s three-game losing streak to start the season is the main talking point as the two-time defending champions host the expansion New England Free Jacks on Saturday evening. A combination of injuries, visa delays, and shortage of form have left the Seawolves in uncharted territory.
The good news is that one of their key starters is fit to play after recovering from concussion. Ben Cima returns to the No10 shirt with David Busby taking over for the injured Jeff Hassler at outside center. Peter Tiberio comes straight out of ‘retirement’ to the left wing.
Tiberio’s spot comes at the expense of Brock Staller. Not fully fit, the Canadian kicker is named on the bench for the first time in his Major League Rugby career. There is no specialist halfback reserve with Shalom Suniula covering both Cima and JP Smith.
Injury to Jake Ilnicki sees Tim Metcher restored to the No3 jersey with John Hayden fit enough to provide cover on the bench. Otherwise the forward pack that faced the Arrows remains intact.
New England have their own injury concerns with six players knocked out though five could be back in the picture as early as next week. In the meantime Josh Smith has made just one change to the starting side that came up short in San Diego.
Jackson Thiebes is taking the weekend off so Conor Kindregan moves to lock, with Brad Hemopo taking the vacant blindside flanker spot. Naulia Dawai retains his position despite Hemopo wearing the No8 shirt in the first two matches of the season.
Tongan prop Tolu Fahamokioa is at last declared fit to take up a spot among the reserves. Second row Ronan McCusker and versatile back Peceli Rinakama await their first action this season, the latter an unused replacement against the Legion.
After their storming debut against New York, the Free Jacks have dropped two straight so neither team enters the contest with any kind of momentum. Both are below full strength but Seattle’s greater depth shows in the reserves. Look for the Seawolves to finally get one in the win column at home.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 10pm Eastern. The match will be broadcast nationwide on Fox Sports 2. Those located outside the USA can access the live stream on the official MLR Facebook page.
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 3 Tim Metcher, 4 Jérémy Lenaerts, 5 Brad Tucker, 6 Eric Duechle, 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 Ben Cima, 11 Peter Tiberio, 12 Shalom Suniula, 13 David Busby, 14 Siti Tamaivena, 15 Mat Turner
Replacements: 16 Mike Shepherd, 17 Kellen Gordon, 18 John Hayden, 19 Taylor Krumrei, 20 Vili Toluta’u, 21 Brock Staller, 22 George Barton, 23 Joey Iosefa
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Simon Courcoul, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Donald Brighouse, 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Conor Kindregan, 6 Brad Hemopo, 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 Tolu Fahamokioa, 18 Quentin Newcomer, 19 Ronan McCusker, 20 Owen Hundt, 21 Erik Thompson, 22 Peceli Rinakama, 23 Ollie Engelhart
Date: Saturday, February 9
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 19:00 local (22:00 Eastern)
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada) & Denny Russell (USA)
Broadcast: Facebook, Fox Sports 2
