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The New England Free Jacks are Major League Rugby champions for the first time after a pulsating 25-24 victory over the San Diego Legion on Saturday. More than 10,000 fans, an MLR Final record, took in the occasion at the neutral SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago and were treated to an instant classic with the game in the balance until the final whistle.
A mistake from the Legion conceded the first points of the game. Will Hooley’s pass to Ma’a Nonu caught the New Zealander off-guard and he left the ball behind him, with Mitch Jacobson on hand to snatch up the loose ball and sprint home for five points. Jayson Potroz made it a full seven with five minutes played.
The Legion then suffered another blow as loosehead prop Faka’osi Pifeleti was forced off with an arm injury, replaced by Nate Sylvia. They would turn their fortunes around just seconds later, however, when Richard Judd found a weakness on the short side of a ruck and offloaded to Christian Poidevin for a try. Will Hooley’s conversion drew the scores level.
San Diego coughed up possession after the restart and New England took advantage through the boot of Potroz to take a 10-7 lead. Nonu then held on too long at a tackle after Potroz had found a hole on a counter-attack, giving away another kickable penalty. Potroz made no mistake from 40 meters on the angle to stretch the lead to six.
Nonu put Nate Augspurger into space on first phase from a scrum. With San Diego on advantage Nonu attempted to repeat his Conference Final drop goal but is skewed off the side of his boot. The Legion opted for the corner but they overthrew the lineout. It was only temporary relief for New England, as Augspurger broke a tackle from the ensuing throw-in and slid over the line, with Hooley’s extras putting the Legion ahead by one.
A handling error gave John Poland a chance to hack the ball downfield, leaving San Diego under pressure for several minutes before halftime. They held on, however, and pushed back into New England territory. Soon after Hooley took three points to leave it 17-13 in favor of the Legion at the intermission.
Early in the second half Luke Green and Ben Grant collided, with both players sent for an HIA from which they would not return. Potroz then set Malan free with an inside ball, the center in turn offloading to Joe Johnston. Reece MacDonald was next in support and he was stopped just short, but Poland spotted Paula Balekana in space and a huge cutout pass found the winger for an acrobatic finish in the corner. Potroz nailed the sideline conversion and the Free Jacks were ahead by three.
A huge double-hit on Tevita Tameilau turned the ball over, and the Free Jacks poured on the pressure. After attacking wide left, it game back to the right and Wian Conradie stormed past two would-be tacklers. The ball was recycled and Mitch Jacobson crashed over the line but he was held up and the Legion survived the onslaught.
After a 15-minute stalemate the Legion got sustained possession in Free Jacks territory. New England’s defense initially drove them backwards but eventually the Legion would solve the puzzle. Michael Smith’s offload set up a two-on-one for Poidevin to set Augspurger free, the left winger matching Balekana with his own diving finish. Hooley was inch-perfect from the sideline and San Diego were back in the lead.
That would be Hooley’s final act, as the flyhalf limped off with a tight hamstring and was replaced by Josh Henderson. The latter would have a long-range crack at goal after Nonu caught MacDonald on a counter-attack leading to a breakdown penalty from Poidevin. Henderson had the distance but not the accuracy and the flags stayed down.
New England won a scrum penalty on halfway to set up the decisive score. A long sequence of attack followed with the Legion pushed back to their doorstep. Nonu shot out of the line looking for an intercept but missed, and instead Malan surged through the gap to score for a one-point lead and set up a grandstand finish.
The restart was misjudged by Sam Fischli and the ball went straight back to San Diego in scoring position. Henderson dropped back into the pocket but then changed his mind and attacked the short side to no avail. When the ball was spun wide right Henderson’s intended pass to Nonu bounced off the turf before being knocked on. The Free Jacks won the scrum and Potroz hammered the ball into the stands to start the celebrations.
SCORING
SAN DIEGO 24
Tries (3) – C. Poidevin (9′), N. Augspurger 2 (29′, 60′)
Cons (3) – W. Hooley 3/3 (10′, 30′, 61′)
Pens (1) – W. Hooley 1/1 (40’+2′), J. Henderson 0/1
DG (0) – M. Nonu 0/1
NEW ENGLAND 25
Tries (3) – M. Jacobson (4′), P. Balekana (45′), L. Malan (76′)
Cons (2) – J. Potroz 2/3 (5′, 46′)
Pens (2) – J. Potroz 2/2 (14′, 18′)
TEAMS
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti (17 Nathan Sylvia 9′), 2 Sama Malolo (16 Shilo Klein 58′), 3 Luke Green (18 Chris Baumann 43′), 4 Ben Grant (20 Isaac Ross 43′), 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Christian Poidevin, 7 Tupou Afungia (19 Chris Turori 71′), 8 Tevita Tameilau (21 Michael Smith 52′), 9 Richard Judd, 10 Will Hooley (22 Josh Henderson 61′), 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 Marcel Brache (capt.), 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Mikey Te’o
Not used: 23 Ryan Matyas
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kianu Kereru-Symes (17 Kyle Ciquera 52′), 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 Mills Sanerivi 52′), 3 Joel Hintz (18 Cole Keith 52′), 4 Semisi Paea (19 Sam Fischli 21′-30′, 56′), 5 Conor Keys, 6 Mitch Jacobson (capt.), 7 Joe Johnston (20 Cam Davidowicz 68′), 8 Wian Conradie, 9 John Poland, 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Mitch Wilson (23 Zach Bastres 61′), 15 Reece MacDonald
Not used: 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Spencer Jones
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Joe James (England)
Assistants: Cam Stone (New Zealand) & Lex Weiner (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
Attendance: 10,103
