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Just about when ATL and Toronto start running out for the second half, the second Friday night contest will get underway in New Orleans. For a second straight year the Gold start their campaign against the New England Free Jacks at The Gold Mine. Last season the two sides met on three occasions with New England earning a clean sweep.
While the first two of those were competitive, the third was an embarrassing defeat for the Gold in Boston near the end of a disappointing year. A number of reinforcements have arrived this year and they will be keen to make a statement straight away in front of the Metairie faithful.
A trio of New Zealanders feature up front in tighthead prop Jarred Adams, second row Liam Hallam-Eames, and flanker Tom Florence. Kevin Sullivan’s strong preseason form earns a start in the No1 shirt ahead of Matt Harmon, and Cam Dolan is in the back row while Devin Short rests a sore shoulder.
Rodney Iona and the two Jordans – Jackson-Hope and Trainor – will look to inspire the backline. They won’t feature former Free Jack Dougie Fife, who is out with a short-term knee injury, with Jack Webster instead running out on the left wing. Ex-Hurricanes scrumhalf Luke Campbell is named on the bench.
The Free Jacks are coming off a record-setting regular season campaign, culminating in their first ever playoff appearance. Their dreams of a title came up just short against New York and star player Beaudein Waaka packed his bags for Japan in the off-season. It’s a reconstructed side that struggled against Houston in their only preseason run-out 10 days ago.
Despite the changes New England remain a formidable outfit headlined by a back row that features NPC standouts Sam Fischli and Mitch Jacobson. Tongan international Semisi Paea wins the race to partner captain Josh Larsen at lock, and former Arrows loosehead prop Cole Keith will start at tighthead for the first time since the 2020 season.
Waaka’s replacement is Jayson Potroz, who Free Jacks fans are keen to run the rule over. Injuries have ruled out Le Roux Malan and Ben LeSage, but Spencer Jones is fit to make his club debut alongside Wayne van der Bank. Tongan flyer Taniela Filimone is another new name on the wing.
The replacements list shows three new names. Canadian pair Andrew Quattrin and Conor Keys played for Toronto and ATL last season respectively, while Reece MacDonald will act as backup to Potroz. The latter was the leading scorer in Sydney’s Shute Shield competition last year.
Wet conditions are often a feature in New Orleans but Friday night’s forecast is dry. It should set up an exciting contest with the new-look Gold ready to show off their wares. Expect Dolan to contest a Free Jacks lineout short on height, which could throw a wrench in New England’s first phase plans. Take the home side by one score against a game but slightly vulnerable-looking visitors.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on NBC Sports Boston and YurView Louisiana. Viewers located elsewhere can watch on The Rugby Network.
NOLA GOLD
1 Kevin Sullivan, 2 Pat O’Toole, 3 Jarred Adams, 4 Billy Stewart, 5 Liam Hallam-Eames, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Tom Florence, 8 Cam Dolan (capt.), 9 Damian Stevens, 10 Rodney Iona, 11 Jack Webster, 12 Jordan Jackson-Hope, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Harley Wheeler, 15 Jordan Trainor
Replacements: 16 Eric Howard, 17 Matt Harmon, 18 Dino Waldren, 19 Malcolm May, 20 Maciu Koroi, 21 Luke Campbell, 22 Ross Depperschmidt, 23 Cael Hodgson
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kyle Ciquera, 2 Mills Sanerivi, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Semisi Paea, 6 Sam Fischli, 7 Mitch Jacobson, 8 Wian Conradie, 9 John Poland, 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Spencer Jones, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Taniela Filimone, 15 Mitch Wilson
Replacements: 16 Andrew Quattrin, 17 Foster DeWitt, 18 Tevita Sole, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Joe Johnston, 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Zach Bastres, 23 Reece MacDonald
Date: Friday, February 17
Venue: The Gold Mine, New Orleans
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Referee: Cisco Lopez (USA)
Assistants: Allen Alongi (USA) & Rob Halcomb (USA)
TMO: Amelia Luciano (USA)
Broadcasts: NBC Sports Boston, The Rugby Network, YurView Louisiana
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-05-29 – New England Free Jacks 57, NOLA Gold 5 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2022-04-02 – New England Free Jacks 33, NOLA Gold 29 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
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)
