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Major League Rugby returns from a two-week international break to kick off the 2024 playoffs at Fort Quincy on Saturday. Old Glory DC head north to face the defending champion New England Free Jacks in the first Eastern Conference Semi Final.
| FORM GUIDE |
11-5-0, East 1st, Last 5: 4-1, Streak: Won 1
7-7-2, East 4th, Last 5: 3-2, Streak: Won 1
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai replaces Kyle Ciquera
3 John-Roy Jenkinson replaces Kaleb Geiger
1 Jack Iscaro replaces Cali Martinez
2 Facundo Gattas replaces Martín Vaca
6 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz replaces Collin Grosse
9 Connor Buckley replaces Ethan McVeigh
11 John Rizzo replaces Axel Müller
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(12) – Quattrin, Baillie, Keys, von Dadelszen, DeWitt, Keith, Larsen, Fryer, LeSage (Canada), Malan (Namibia), Geiger, Wilson (USA)
(12) – Iscaro, Fa’anana-Schultz, C Daniel, Boni, McVeigh (USA), Gattas, Dotti (Uruguay), Harley, Hoyland (Scotland), Martinez, Rowland, Bowd (Canada)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Kyle Ciquera (LH), Mitch Jacobson (FL), Martín Sigren (FL/N8), Wian Conradie (N8), John Poland (SH)
– Martín Vaca (HO), Collin Grosse (FL), Axel Müller (WI)
| NOTES |
- both regular season matches between the two sides were decided by a single point… and both were won by the visitors
- New England remain without captain Mitch Jacobson due to injury… regular loosehead prop Kyle Ciquera is also out this week… Martin Sigren is captaining Chile against Scotland in Santiago
- Ethan Fryer made his test debut for Canada last weekend, earning Man of the Match honors in the win over Romania… that gives the Free Jacks seven capped internationals on the bench
- Old Glory have five full internationals in reserve… Cali Martinez won his first Canada cap against Romania, and Ethan McVeigh debuted for the Eagles against Scotland
- DC are without Collin Grosse and Axel Müller… while Uruguay’s Facundo Gattas is preferred over Martín Vaca at hooker… Ignacio Dotti has returned to the squad 10 days after playing for Los Teros against France
| PREDICTION |
While the Free Jacks were clearly the better side over the course of the season, both head-to-head clashes were razor thin. Opposing No10s Jayson Potroz and Jason Robertson will be key figures, both acting as primary playmakers for their sides. Wayne van der Bank has been in superb form and brings x-factor to the midfield, while the Free Jacks also have a deeper bench. New England are favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 4 Kyle Baillie, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Piers von Dadelszen, 7 Jed Melvin, 8 Seta Baker, 9 Oscar Lennon, 10 Jayson Potroz (capt.), 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Toby Fricker, 15 Reece MacDonald
Replacements: 16 Foster DeWitt, 17 Cole Keith, 18 Kaleb Geiger, 19 Josh Larsen, 20 Ethan Fryer, 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Ben LeSage, 23 Mitch Wilson
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Facundo Gattas, 3 Steven Longwell, 4 Rob Harley, 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Lautaro Bavaro, 9 Connor Buckley, 10 Jason Robertson, 11 John Rizzo, 12 Tommaso Boni, 13 John Powers, 14 Perry Humphreys, 15 Damien Hoyland
Replacements: 16 KoiKoi Nelligan, 17 Cali Martinez, 18 Tyler Rowland, 19 Ignacio Dotti, 20 Brady Daniel, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Gradyn Bowd, 23 William Talataina
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, July 20
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 17:00 local (14:00 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: sun and cloud, 86°F (30°C), wind SW 9-13mph (14-21km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Jarrod Ford (USA) & Miles McIvor (USA)
TMO: Cam Russell (Canada)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (9) – New England 7, DC 2, STREAK New England +1
2024-06-08 – Old Glory DC 30, New England Free Jacks 31 (Maryland SoccerPlex)
2024-03-09 – New England Free Jacks 34, Old Glory DC 35 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2023-07-01 – New England Free Jacks 25, Old Glory DC 7 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2023-05-14 – Old Glory DC 24, New England Free Jacks 42 (Segra Field)
2023-03-11 – New England Free Jacks 34, Old Glory DC 31 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2022-05-07 – New England Free Jacks 26, Old Glory DC 20 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2022-02-18 – Old Glory DC 25, New England Free Jacks 41 (Segra Field)
2021-06-06 – New England Free Jacks 38, Old Glory DC 34 (Union Point Stadium)
2021-04-25 – Old Glory DC 35, New England Free Jacks 22 (Segra Field)
