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Dallas returns to Veterans Memorial Stadium with an eye on an upset after losing by a single point to New England last season. The Jackals need points to keep ahead of Utah in the playoff race, while the Free Jacks are looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss in Miami.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
7-4-0 (L1) East 1st
5-6-0 (W1) West 4th
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
3 John-Roy Jenkinson replaces Cole Keith
7 Martín Sigren replaces Seta Baker (injury)
9 Holden Yungert replaces Cam Nordli-Kelemeti
11 Paula Balekana replaces Isaac Olson
13 Wayne van der Bank replaces Ben LeSage
15 Reece MacDonald replaces Danyon Morgan-Puterangi
1 Liam Murray replaces Joaquín Horcada
3 Juan Pablo Zeiss replaces Kyle Steeves
8 Sam Tuifua replaces Makeen Alikhan (No7 vs Seattle)
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(10) – Quattrin, Baillie, Keys, DeWitt, von Dadelszen, LeSage (Canada), Sigren (Chile), Malan (Namibia), Wilson, Geiger (USA)
(5) – Murray, Richardson, Steeves (Canada), Zeiss, Imhoff (Argentina)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(1) – Jed Melvin*
* – MLR debut
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Josh Larsen (LO), Mitch Jacobson (FL), Wian Conradie (N8), John Poland (SH)
– Sam Golla (LO), Makeen Alikhan (FL), Vaughen Isaacs (FB)
| NOTES |
- the Free Jacks welcome back star fullback Reece MacDonald who has made a rapid recovery from a dislocated shoulder… he was a late scratch against Miami last week
- Jayson Potroz will skipper New England for the first time… he is the fourth player to captain the Free Jacks this season following Josh Larsen, Mitch Jacobson, and Ben LeSage
- Holden Yungert is rewarded for his strong performance off the bench with his first start of the season for New England… it’s his first MLR start since the 2022 campaign
- new signing Jed Melvin is set to make his MLR debut as a replacement… the 23-year-old New Zealander plays provincially for North Harbour… he was due to join the New York Ironworkers before they folded just ahead of the season
- the only changes to the Jackals lineup are in the forwards… Juan Pablo Zeiss is back from a one-game suspension at tighthead prop which allows Liam Murray to return to the No1 shirt
- Makeen Alikhan is missing from the Dallas match day squad for the first time since the season opener… Ronan Foley switches to flanker with Sam Tuifua recalled at No8
| PREDICTION |
Unlike last year’s wet and windy encounter, conditions are expected to be ideal on Sunday. That will suit the Free Jacks, and particularly the mazy running of MacDonald from the back. Dallas will be rested and are coming off an historic win over Seattle, but the injury to Vaughen Isaacs leaves their attack missing a bit of spark. New England are favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kyle Ciquera, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 4 Kyle Baillie, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Ethan Fryer, 7 Martín Sigren, 8 Cam Davidowicz, 9 Holden Yungert, 10 Jayson Potroz (capt.), 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Reece MacDonald
Replacements: 16 Foster DeWitt, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Kaleb Geiger, 19 Piers von Dadelszen, 20 Jed Melvin, 21 Cam Nordli-Kelemeti, 22 Ben LeSage, 23 Danyon Morgan-Puterangi
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Liam Murray, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 4 Daemon Torres, 5 Lucas Bur, 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara (capt.), 7 Ronan Foley, 8 Sam Tuifua, 9 Pedro Imhoff, 10 Martín Elías, 11 Nic Benn, 12 Tomás Cubilla, 13 Mitch Richardson, 14 Tomás Malanos, 15 Nazareno Valentini
Replacements: 16 Connor Grindal, 17 Tomás Bekerman, 18 Kyle Steeves, 19 Kyle Breytenbach, 20 Ronnie McElligott, 21 Brock Gallagher, 22 Marques Fuala’au, 23 Jason Tidwell
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Sunday, June 2
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 14:00 local (11:00 Pacific, 13:00 Central)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 79°F (26°C), wind SW 4-5mph (6-8km/h)
Broadcasts: NBC Sports Boston, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Scott Green (USA) & Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Chris Assmus (Canada)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (1) – New England 1, Dallas 0
2023-03-25 – New England Free Jacks 10, Dallas Jackals 9 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
