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Two teams that began their Major League Rugby accounts in 2020 will meet for the first time in Marietta on Saturday. Rugby ATL were due to host the New England Free Jacks just a few days after the season was cancelled last year and fans will be hoping the forthcoming battle lives up to its potential.
ATL conjured a winning score with the clock in the red against Toronto last Saturday. It was their first game back from a bye which was preceded by a strong victory over the NOLA Gold. With no travel in the past month there has been plenty of time to work on problem areas.
Chance Wenglewski starts in the No1 shirt in the only change to the pack. Manasa Saulo returns to the bench with Jonas Petrakopoulos covering loosehead prop this week. Alex Maughan sits out entirely to rest the sore back that took him out of the Toronto game early.
The backs are a bit of a merry-go-round with nobody wearing the same number as last week. Ryan Rees replaces Rowan Gouws at scrumhalf with Adriaan Carelse running out in the No10 shirt for the first time. Robbie Petzer and Austin White start at inside center and left wing respectively with Bautista Ezcurra and Jeremy Misailegalu resigned to reserve duty.
New England recovered from a slow first half to defeat Austin in Weymouth last weekend. It builds on the dominant showing against San Diego and they are now in a dead heat with ATL, just three points behind East Conference leaders New York.
There are just two changes to the match day 23. Poasa Waqanibau returns on the wing with Peceli Rinakama dropping to the bench and Danny Collins missing altogether. Injury rules out Sean Yacoubian so it’s another St. Mary’s product who covers scrumhalf in Tom Brusati.
Both sides have shown a preference to a fast, attacking style of rugby so there is every reason to believe this will be a barn-burner. A point of difference for ATL may be the scrum where the absence of Sef Fa’agase is a blow to New England. While the travel is relatively minimal, home field advantage also suggests the Ratlers should be favorites in a very close contest.
Kickoff is set for 8pm local, 5pm Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on WATL in Atlanta and NESN in New England with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
RUGBY ATL
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 3 Wikus Groenewald, 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton (capt.), 8 Jason Damm, 9 Ryan Rees, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 11 Austin White, 12 Robbie Petzer, 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 15 Rory van Vugt
Replacements: 16 Neethling Gericke, 17 Manasa Saulo, 18 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Ross Deacon, 21 Jeremy Misailegalu, 22 Bautista Ezcurra, 23 Duncan van Schalkwyk
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Quentin Newcomer, 2 Pieter Jansen, 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 Vili Toluta’u, 17 Spencer Krueger, 18 Kyle Ciquera, 19 Matt Wirken, 20 Tera Mtembu, 21 Tom Brusati, 22 Evan Geist, 23 Peceli Rinakama
Date: Saturday, May 15
Venue: Lupo Family Field, Marietta
Kickoff: 20:00 local (17:00 Pacific)
Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Cisco Lopez (USA) & Dave Edwards (USA)
Broadcasts: NESN, The Rugby Network, WATL
Historical Results
n/a
