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The Free Jacks head back home on Saturday and welcome the Hounds to Fort Quincy for the first time. New England are smarting a bit after a tough loss to Utah and the news that captain Josh Larsen’s season is over while Chicago have had two heavy defeats following their first franchise victory.
Bad news has also hit the Hounds with front rowers Lindsey Stevens and Paddy Ryan falling to shoulder and ankle injuries respectively last weekend. There is some good news, however, with the timely return of first choice hooker Hugh Roach and flanker Maclean Jones.
Charlie Abel comes in at tighthead prop for Ryan with USA Falcons select Mika Felix set to make his pro debut from the bench. Mike Matarazzo drops to the reserves to make room for Jones, and Sean Yacoubian is handed his first Major League Rugby start at scrumhalf in place of Michael Baska.
It’s not just injury that has affected New England’s selection. One-game suspensions have been handed out to Conor Keys and Wian Conradie. Jesse Parete runs out at lock for Keys, with Sam Fischli starting on the blindside flank and Joe Johnston shifting to the back of the scrum.
Cole Keith sits out with a minor knock with Joel Hintz in at tighthead, and Jayson Potroz gets a bit of a break as Reece MacDonald wears the No10 shirt for the first time as a Free Jack. Paula Balekana is rested and Mitch Wilson is out with concussion, so it’s Taniela Filimone and Zach Bastres on the wings this week. Spencer Jones is nominated at fullback.
Three players make their first appearances of the regular season on the bench. Canadian international Conor Young will make his MLR debut as replacement tighthead. Flanker Ethan Fryer is recalled from the USA Hawks, and Namibian center Le Roux Malan has recovered from a broken thumb to take up a spot among the reserves.
Sunny skies and mild temperatures are on the forecast. Both teams were defeated last week though New England were decidedly more competitive. With Roach and Jones back, Chicago field arguably their strongest XV of the season. The Free Jacks are the more cohesive unit, however, even with several changes to the lineup. Take the home side as favorites.
Kickoff is set for 2pm local time, 1pm Central, 11am Pacific. Fox Sports 1 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming for viewers abroad.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kyle Ciquera, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Joel Hintz, 4 Semisi Paea, 5 Jesse Parete, 6 Sam Fischli, 7 Mitch Jacobson (capt.), 8 Joe Johnston, 9 John Poland, 10 Reece MacDonald, 11 Taniela Filimone, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Zach Bastres, 15 Spencer Jones
Replacements: 16 Mills Sanerivi, 17 Foster DeWitt, 18 Conor Young, 19 Cam Davidowicz, 20 Ethan Fryer, 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Jayson Potroz, 23 Le Roux Malan
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 George Thornton, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 John Cullen, 5 Luke White, 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Michael de Waal, 9 Sean Yacoubian, 10 Chris Mattina, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 14 Mark O’Keeffe, 15 JP Eloff
Replacements: 16 Mason Koch, 17 Timmy Ohlwein, 18 Mika Felix, 19 Sam Peri, 20 Mike Matarazzo, 21 Dacoda Worth, 22 Michael Baska, 23 Luke Carty
Date: Saturday, April 8
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 14:00 local (11:00 Pacific, 13:00 Central)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 1, The Rugby Network
Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Mike Rudzinsky (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
n/a
