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The New England Free Jacks can secure their spot in the Eastern Conference Final, complete with home field advantage, with a bonus point victory over the Toronto Arrows in Fort Quincy on Saturday. Realistically they have already done enough, but five competitions points would make it official.
A 50-3 drubbing of NOLA on Sunday harkened back to the last time New England faced the Arrows. It also marked six wins in a row with the last defeat coming by just two points at the hands of the Warriors in Utah. Scott Mathie has rotated his squad and as expected it includes the full return of last season’s MLR Player of the Year.
Beaudein Waaka will run out at fullback, with Jayson Potroz retaining the No10 shirt that Waaka wore in 2022. Ben LeSage is fit to resume at outside center against his former team, and Taniela Filimone gives Paula Balekana his first match day break of the season. Kieran McClea will play scrumhalf with John Poland also sitting out.
Kianu Kereru-Symes will get his first shot at the No1 shirt with his only other start this season coming at hooker. Tevita Sole is a straight swap for Joel Hintz at tighthead, and Semisi Paea starts at lock with Conor Keys on the bench. Mitch Jacobson returns to captain the side on the blindside flank with Sam Fischli absent from the 23.
The last two games for the Arrows have remarkably ended in a draw, though it means they are still carrying a winless streak that has now reached nine games. Incredibly the injury list continues to grow with five of last week’s starters unable to suit up in Boston.
Lolani Faleiva and Tyler Wong are out, with Connor Grindal making his first pro start at loosehead prop and Ramon Ayarza in at hooker. Adrian Wadden failed an HIA but Shay Kerry has made a timely return to fill the gap at lock. Captain Lucas Rumball is back in on the flank with James O’Neill dropping to the bench.
The backline will be without Ross Braude and Mitch Richardson this week. Will Grant steps in at scrumhalf, with last week’s debutante Liam Bowman getting the start at inside center. Kobe Faust gets a chance on the left wing at the expense of D’Shawn Bowen.
Sunshine is on the forecast for kickoff which likely means another sold out crowd at Veterans Memorial Stadium. New England will want to reward their fans with another spectacle of running rugby, and Waaka’s presence is a psychological boost to the side. The Arrows were embarrassed in Toronto six weeks ago and while they have shown improvement lately, it’s not nearly enough to stop the Free Jacks from celebrating in style.
Kickoff is set for 4pm local time, 1pm Pacific. Canadian viewers can watch on TSN’s digital services, with a local broadcast available on NBC Sports Boston. Those located elsewhere domestically and abroad can watch on The Rugby Network.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 2 Mills Sanerivi, 3 Tevita Sole, 4 Semisi Paea, 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Mitch Jacobson (capt.), 7 Slade McDowall, 8 Wian Conradie, 9 Kieran McClea, 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Taniela Filimone, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Beaudein Waaka
Replacements: 16 Andrew Quattrin, 17 Kyle Ciquera, 18 Conor Young, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Cam Davidowicz, 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Spencer Jones, 23 Isaac Olson
TORONTO ARROWS
1 Connor Grindal, 2 Ramón Ayarza, 3 Tyler Rowland, 4 Mason Flesch, 5 Shay Kerry, 6 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 7 Owain Ruttan, 8 Travis Larsen, 9 Will Grant, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 Kobe Faust, 12 Liam Bowman, 13 Tautalatasi Tasi, 14 Ciaran Breen, 15 Shane O’Leary
Replacements: 16 Jack McRogers, 17 Nik Hildebrand, 18 Conan O’Donnell, 19 Hank Stevenson, 20 James O’Neill, 21 Cole Brown, 22 Dawson Fatoric, 23 D’Shawn Bowen
Date: Saturday, May 27
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 16:00 local (13:00 Pacific)
Broadcasts: NBC Sports Boston, The Rugby Network, TSN Digital
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
Assistants: Amelia Luciano (USA) & Jarrod Ford (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2023-04-15 – Toronto Arrows 5, New England Free Jacks 80 (York Lions Stadium)
2022-05-19 – Toronto Arrows 33, New England Free Jacks 18 (York Lions Stadium)
2022-03-12 – New England Free Jacks 21, Toronto Arrows 15 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2021-05-29 – New England Free Jacks 14, Toronto Arrows 12 (Union Point Stadium)
2021-07-10 – Toronto Arrows 17, New England Free Jacks 28 (Lupo Family Field)
