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The third meeting between the New England Free Jacks and the Utah Warriors takes place at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Both previous meetings have been exciting and closely-fought, but the two sides enter in very different positions this time around.
New England are at the top of their game and sit first place in the Eastern Conference. Their seven consecutive victories equals the Major League Rugby mark set by Glendale in 2018 and Toronto in 2019. Only the Giltinis have managed to stop them this season, and it was by a matter of mere inches.
Despite the apparent gulf in class, Scott Mathie has shown respect to his opponents with only minor changes to the team that beat New York. Reegan O’Gorman is in at lock for Stan van den Hoven, and Joe Johnston tags in for Slade McDowall at openside flanker. Justin Johnson should make his first appearance of the season from the bench after being an unused replacement against the Arrows.
The starting backline shows only one change as Dougie Fife returns from a knock to the ribs to take up his usual fullback spot. Harrison Boyle drops to the bench where there is a new name this week. Zachary Short arrives on loan from the SaberCats to provide scrumhalf cover with both Holden Yungert and Sean Yacoubian currently sidelined.
Utah are at the opposite end of the spectrum with only two wins this season and five consecutive losses, four of them at home. While many of the results have been close at the final whistle, the Warriors have often been forced to play catch-up just to salvage a bonus point.
Nonetheless it’s a near-identical match day 23 that takes the field this week. The only alterations are found among the front row reserves. Youngsters Joey Backe and Emerson Prior make way for Tuvere Vugakoto and Olive Kilifi respectively.
The Warriors are clear underdogs, the question is by how much? New England are stronger defensively and have a superior forward pack. There is more parity in the backline but without Niall Saunders and Paul Lasike in particular Utah just aren’t as threatening. Take the Free Jacks to become record-setters in convincing fashion.
Kickoff is set for 4:30pm local time, 2:30pm Mountain, 1:30pm Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on KJZZ and KSL Sports online in Utah, and NBC Sports Boston. Viewers elsewhere across the USA and abroad can watch on The Rugby Network.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kyle Ciquera, 2 Pieter Jansen, 3 Erich de Jager, 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Jesse Parete, 7 Joe Johnston, 8 Wian Conradie, 9 John Poland, 10 Beaudein Waaka, 11 Paula Balakena, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Dougie Fife
Replacements: 16 Mills Sanerivi, 17 Alex Johnston, 18 Spencer Krueger, 19 Justin Johnson, 20 Slade McDowall, 21 Zachary Short, 22 Harrison Boyle, 23 Isaac Olson
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg, 2 Chad Gough, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 5 Thomas Tu’avao, 6 Mike Gieselman, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Lance Williams, 9 Danny Christensen, 10 Caleb Makene, 11 Mika Kruse, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Connor Burns, 15 Mike Te’o
Replacements: 16 Tuvere Vugakoto, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Saia Uhila, 20 Puna Vuli, 21 Zion Going, 22 Cliven Loubser, 23 Joe Mano
Date: Saturday, April 30
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 16:30 local (13:30 Pacific, 14:30 Mountain)
Referee: George Selwood (England)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Jarrod Ford (USA)
TMO: Luke Rogan (USA)
Broadcasts: KJZZ, KSL Sports, NBC Sports Boston, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2021-04-03 – New England Free Jacks 22, Utah Warriors 21 (Union Point Stadium)
2020-02-15 – Utah Warriors 39, New England Free Jacks 33 (Sam Boyd Stadium)
