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The Dallas Jackals will face off against the New England Free Jacks for the first time on Saturday. Veterans Memorial Stadium will see its second match of the year as the visitors look to put an end to their record-breaking losing streak.
Circumstances might have been much different had last week’s game in Chicago ended in the 75th minute. As it was the Jackals missed out on a first ever win by only two points. This week they welcome back one returning player but have lost two others to injury.
Martín Elías is back a week early from his suspension and starts at flyhalf, one of three changes to the backline. Alejandro Torres replaces Juan Pablo Aguirre at inside center, and Lui Sitama gets his first start of the season on the right wing in the absence of Eric Naposki.
Up front the only change is at hooker. Tomás Baravalle was hurt in his Dallas debut last week but Dewald Kotze is fit to return in his place. The only other alteration to the match day squad sees midfielder Patrick Medina selected in place of winger Aaron Gray.
New England have put the disappointing loss to San Diego behind them with two strong wins over Eastern Conference rivals. Scott Mathie has opted to freshen up his lineup with six changes in all, giving first starts to four players who have waited patiently.
Three of those are in the front row where British Columbia’s Foster DeWitt packs down alongside Hawke’s Bay duo Kianu Kereru-Symes and Joel Hintz. Mitch Jacobson takes over for Cam Davidowicz on the flank and is named captain for the first time.
Kieran McClea gets his chance to put pressure on the in-form John Poland at scrumhalf. Mitch Wilson is rested this week so Taniela Filimone is recalled on the right wing. Zach Bastres could see his first action since the opening round of the season.
Light rain and brisk temperatures are on the forecast which could make for a more tactical engagement. Dallas’ first choice pack has impressed and the combination of Elías and Torres gives them both right and left-foot kicking options. The Free Jacks though are hitting their stride and feature a significantly more experienced bench. Expect the home side to pull away in the final quarter.
Kickoff is set for 4:30pm local time, 3:30pm Central, 1:30pm Pacific. A local broadcast will be available on NBC Sports Boston with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Foster DeWitt, 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 3 Joel Hintz, 4 Semisi Paea, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Mitch Jacobson (capt.), 7 Joe Johnston, 8 Wian Conradie, 9 Kieran McClea, 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Taniela Filimone, 15 Reece MacDonald
Replacements: 16 Andrew Quattrin, 17 Kyle Ciquera, 18 Cole Keith, 19 Sam Fischli, 20 Cam Davidowicz, 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Spencer Jones, 23 Zach Bastres
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Nicolás Revol, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 4 Sam Golla, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara (capt.), 7 Conrado Roura, 8 Adriaan Booysen, 9 Nazareno Valentini, 10 Martín Elías, 11 James Vaifale, 12 Alejandro Torres, 13 Tomás Malanos, 14 Lui Sitama, 15 Marcos Moroni
Replacements: 16 Liam Murray, 17 Connor Robinson, 18 Kyle Steeves, 19 Carson Shoemaker, 20 Cameron Nelson, 21 Danny Christensen, 22 Campbell Johnstone, 23 Patrick Medina
Date: Saturday, March 25
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 16:30 local (13:30 Pacific, 15:30 Central)
Broadcasts: NBC Sports Boston, The Rugby Network
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
Assistants: Jarrod Ford (USA) & Mike Rudzinsky (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
n/a
