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Saturday’s double header at the Coliseum begins in mid-afternoon with the San Diego Legion taking on the New England Free Jacks, the first of four games on offer from Major League Rugby in Week 7. It acts as a curtain-raiser for the ‘main event’ between the LA Giltinis and Old Glory DC.
San Diego’s traditional home of Torero Stadium provided the backdrop for the only previous encounter between the two in February of last year. On that day the Legion were clearly the better side against the first-year Free Jacks but much has changed for both in the 14 months since.
Both teams enter with losing records and fluctuating form. The Legion have understandably found things difficult as they await clearance to make a full return to San Diego. They have also been hit with a dreadful run of injuries that will again significantly affect selection this week.
A double-blow is felt at scrumhalf with both Nate Augspurger and Carlo de Nysschen out. Patrick Madden will start at No9 having debuted as a late replacement against LA. Cole Zarcone gets his first start on the right wing in place of Save Totovosau, and new signing Tiaan Loots jumps straight into the midfield with Ryan Matyas named on the bench.
Up front the entire front row is rotated with Cronan Gleeson, Dean Muir, and Aaron Mitchell in the run-on side. Siaosi Mahoni is ruled out so another new signing, Victor Comptat, partners Ben Mitchell at lock. Flanker Chris Turori and utility back Tai Enosa make their first appearances of the season on the bench.
The Free Jacks will be very disappointed to come away from the Old Glory match with nothing, a game they will have felt was winnable. Despite being at the bottom of the East Conference as a result they remain within five points of first-place Toronto.
There are just two personnel changes to New England’s starting lineup with Vili Toluta’u tagging in for Pieter Jansen at hooker and Joe Johnston returning from suspension at openside flanker. Justin Johnson switches to the blindside flank with captain Josh Larsen back at lock.
On the bench it’s a 6-2 split with Matt Wirken coming in as specialist lock cover and both Tera Mtembu and Evan Giest covering the back row. Sean Yacoubian has recovered from injury to take the place of Tom Brusati as backup scrumhalf.
Ordinarily the long road trip would be a significant advantage for San Diego but playing in LA and with so many disruptions to the lineup likely negates that in its entirety. On form there is little to choose between the two. The accuracy of Toluta’u at the lineout will be tested but the return of Johnston and a more settled lineup suggests that the Free Jacks may sneak this one on the road.
Kickoff is set for 2:30pm local time, 5:30pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on Fox 5 San Diego and NESN in New England with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Cronan Gleeson, 2 Dean Muir, 3 Aaron Mitchell, 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Victor Comptat, 6 Jasa Veremalua, 7 Psalm Wooching, 8 Tevita Tameilau (capt.), 9 Patrick Madden, 10 Santiago González Iglesias, 11 Bjorn Basson, 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Cameron Clark, 14 Cole Zarcone, 15 Cecil Afrika
Replacements: 16 Peter Malcolm, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Travis Larsen, 20 Michael Smith, 21 Chris Turori, 22 Tai Enosa, 23 Ryan Matyas
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Sef Fa’agase, 2 Vili Toluta’u, 3 Erich de Jager, 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Jackson Thiebes, 6 Justin Johnson, 7 Joe Johnston, 8 Wian Conradie, 9 John Poland, 10 Harrison Boyle, 11 Harry Barlow, 12 Aleki Morris-Lome, 13 Dougie Fife, 14 Poasa Waqanibau, 15 Beaudein Waaka
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 18 Quentin Newcomer, 19 Matt Wirken, 20 Tera Mtembu, 21 Sean Yacoubian, 22 Evan Geist, 23 Peceli Rinakama
Date: Saturday, May 1
Venue: Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
Kickoff: 14:30 local (17:30 Eastern)
Referee: Moe Chaudhry (Canada)
Assistants: Austin Reed (USA) & Jacob Gonzalez (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox 5 San Diego, NESN, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
2020-02-23 – San Diego Legion 30, New England Free Jacks 21 (Torero Stadium)
