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The Free Jacks have an opportunity to secure the first overall ranking at the midpoint of the Major League Rugby season when they host the NOLA Gold at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday. New England currently occupy the top spot but only two points separates them from Rugby ATL.
It’s been an impressive start to the campaign for the Free Jacks, with five of their six wins coming on the road. They will now play seven of their last nine games at home, which marks them as favorites to not only book their first spot in the post-season but also to win the Eastern Conference outright.
Scott Mathie has made just two changes to the team that defeated Rugby ATL last weekend. Cam Davidowicz brings mobility to the back row at the expense of size with Reegan O’Gorman swapping to the bench. Out wide Mitch Wilson’s spot on the right wing goes to speedster Zach Bastres, who makes his first start as a professional.
The Gold have bounced back from a disappointing start to the campaign with three wins in their last four games. Having lost to the Free Jacks in the season opener at home, they will be keen to repay the favor in Quincy. They’ll have to make the trip absent six players due to injury.
Five of those players are forwards. Matt Harmon, Pat O’Toole, Brian Nault, Ignacio Dotti, and Devin Short are all ruled out. Eric Howard makes a timely return from a head knock to start at hooker, and it’s all change in the second row as Taylor Krumrei pairs up with Billy Stewart. Cam Dolan moves to his preferred No8 spot with Malcolm May coming in on the blindside flank.
In the backs it’s a straight swap at fullback with JP Eloff in for Carl Meyer. There are just two in reserve in scrumhalf Devereaux Ferris and the versatile Nick Feakes.
The Free Jacks were convincing winners two months ago and have only improved since then. They have momentum, home field advantage, and are relatively injury-free. A full-strength NOLA side might have offered a bigger challenge but without those forwards, and particularly Meyer’s boot at the back, they are spread thin. Take the home side as firm favorites.
Kickoff is set for 4:30pm local time, 3:30pm Central, 1:30pm Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on YurView in New Orleans and NBC Sports Boston, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kyle Ciquera, 2 Pieter Jansen, 3 Erich de Jager, 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Stan van den Hoven, 6 Cam Davidowicz, 7 Slade McDowall, 8 Joe Johnston, 9 John Poland, 10 Beaudein Waaka, 11 Harry Barlow, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Zach Bastres, 15 Dougie Fife
Replacements: 16 Mills Sanerivi, 17 Foster DeWitt, 18 Tevita Sole, 19 Reegan O’Gorman, 20 Jesse Parete, 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Harrison Boyle, 23 Jack Reeves
NOLA GOLD
1 Kevin Sullivan, 2 Eric Howard, 3 Dino Waldren, 4 Taylor Krumrei, 5 Billy Stewart, 6 Malcolm May, 7 Moni Tonga’uiha, 8 Cam Dolan (capt.), 9 Damian Stevens, 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Ross Depperschmidt, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Harley Wheeler, 15 JP Eloff
Replacements: 16 George Sharpe, 17 Kavika Peniata, 18 James Irey, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Maciu Koroi, 21 Osaiasi Tonga’uiha, 22 Nick Feakes, 23 Devereaux Ferris
Date: Saturday, April 2
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 16:30 local (13:30 Pacific, 15:30 Central)
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Jarrod Ford (USA)
TMO: Davey Ardrey (USA)
Broadcasts: NBC Sports Boston, The Rugby Network, YurView
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-02-05 – NOLA Gold 13, New England Free Jacks 24 (The Gold Mine)
2021-06-26 – New England Free Jacks 9, NOLA Gold 17 (Union Point Stadium)
2021-04-17 – NOLA Gold 30, New England Free Jacks 29 (The Gold Mine)
2020-03-07 – NOLA Gold 31, New England Free Jacks 22 (The Gold Mine)
