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The New England Free Jacks square off against Rugby New York for the third time this season on Friday night. This time the match takes place in Free Jacks territory with the home side looking for a clean sweep after New York dropped both games at JFK Stadium.
New England have already clinched first overall and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They did so in dominant fashion last Sunday against NOLA Gold. With a bye week ahead before the Eastern Conference final, Scott Mathie has taken the opportunity to rest some players though it remains a formidable New England lineup.
Cam Davidowicz checks in on the blindside flank with Terrell Peita shifting to No8. Second row Javon Camp is set to make his Major League Rugby debut with club captain Josh Larsen left on the bench this week. Reserve hooker Steven Hinshaw is in line to make his first appearance since the 2020 season.
In the backs Holden Yungert swaps in for John Poland at scrumhalf, and Jack Reeves comes into the midfield with Le Roux Malan drawing bench duty for the first time. Wayne van der Bank switches from outside to inside center to accommodate Reeves.
New York piled on 59 points against Old Glory on Sunday though they also conceded 49. They are in a dead heat with Rugby ATL in competition points but with the Ratlers holding an insurmountable lead in scoring differential, New York have opted to rest several leading players with an eye towards next weekend’s playoff match.
Chance Wenglewski takes over from Nic Mayhew at loosehead prop and Benjamín Bonasso is asked to pack down at lock for the second time in three weeks. He is joined by Charlie Hewitt in the engine room, with Dylan Fawsitt and Joe Basser named on the flanks. Reserve prop Peter Reyes could make his second appearance of the season while flanker Victor Evans is set for his MLR bow as a replacement.
It’s all change at the halfbacks with Connor Buckley partnering Andy Ellis. Sam Windsor moves out one spot to inside center, with Quinn Ngawati starting at outside center. Andrew Coe comes in for Ed Fidow on the left wing, with Ishmail Shabazz and John Powers called up to the bench.
Cloud and drizzle are on the forecast for game time. Ordinarily that might play into New York’s hands, but their set piece could struggle with Hewitt the only true second row in the squad. New England had the better of New York on the road and are yet to taste defeat at Fort Quincy. Take the Free Jacks against a makeshift visiting lineup.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 4pm Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on MSG Network in New York and NBC Sports Boston, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Quentin Newcomer, 2 Mills Sanerivi, 3 Erich de Jager, 4 Javon Camp, 5 Stan van den Hoven, 6 Cam Davidowicz, 7 Joe Johnston (capt.), 8 Terrell Peita, 9 Holden Yungert, 10 Beaudein Waaka, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 13 Jack Reeves, 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Dougie Fife
Replacements: 16 Steven Hinshaw, 17 Kyle Ciquera, 18 Tevita Sole, 19 Josh Larsen, 20 Wian Conradie, 21 John Poland, 22 Le Roux Malan, 23 Harrison Boyle
RUGBY NEW YORK
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Kaleb Geiger, 3 Kalolo Tuiloma, 4 Benjamín Bonasso (capt.), 5 Charlie Hewitt, 6 Dylan Fawsitt, 7 Joe Basser, 8 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 9 Connor Buckley, 10 Andy Ellis, 11 Andrew Coe, 12 Sam Windsor, 13 Quinn Ngawati, 14 Waisake Naholo, 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder
Replacements: 16 Wilton Rebolo, 17 Peter Reyes, 18 Sakaria Taulafo, 19 Victor Evans, 20 Brendon O’Connor, 21 Conor McManus, 22 John Powers, 23 Ishmail Shabazz
Date: Friday, June 3
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 19:00 local (16:00 Pacific)
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Jarrod Ford (USA)
TMO: Miles McIvor (USA)
Broadcasts: MSG Network, NBC Sports Boston, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-04-24 – Rugby New York 26, New England Free Jacks 29 (John F. Kennedy Stadium)
2022-03-06 – Rugby New York 29, New England Free Jacks 38 (John F. Kennedy Stadium)
2021-07-03 – New England Free Jacks 22, Rugby United New York 6 (Union Point Stadium)
2021-05-23 – Rugby United New York 29, New England Free Jacks 19 (Cochrane Stadium)
2020-02-09 – New England Free Jacks 34, Rugby United New York 14 (Sam Boyd Stadium)
