Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Miami will look to shake off the rust – and a three-game losing streak – when they travel to New England on Sunday afternoon. The Sharks have had a week off to ruminate over their shortcomings, while the Free Jacks are coming off an inspirational comeback win on the road over Utah and will be determined to build on that momentum in front of the Fort Quincy faithful.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
3-3-0 (W1) East 3rd
2-4-0 (L3) East 4th
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 2 | Andrew Quattrin | Connal McInerney |
| 3 | Jone Koroiduadua | Kaleb Geiger |
| 6 | Jed Melvin | Kyle Baillie |
| 10 | Faletoi Peni | Harrison Boyle |
| 11 | Paula Balekana | Killian Coghlan |
| 15 | Harrison Boyle | Simon-Peter Toleafoa |
|
IN | OUT |
| 2 | Kirby Myhill | Sean McNulty |
| 3 | Reinaldo Piussi | Tau Koloamatangi |
| 6 | Benjamín Bonasso | Federico Gutiérrez |
| 11 | Giuseppe du Toit | Marcos Young |
| 15 | Martín Elías | Marcos Eliçagaray |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(11) – Quattrin, von Dadelszen, Webster, Keys, Larsen, Olson (Canada), Koroiduadua (Fiji), Conradie, Malan (Namibia), McInerney (Australia), Geiger (USA)
(11) – Myhill (Wales), Piussi, Ardao, Inciarte (Uruguay), Casares, Bonasso, McNulty (USA), Cubelli, Orlando (Argentina), O’Leary, du Toit (Canada)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(0) – none
(1) – Murray
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Sam Caird (LO), Jayson Potroz (FH), Simon-Peter Toleafoa (FB)
– Santiago Videla (FH/FB), Marcos Young (WI)
| PREDICTION |
The Free Jacks have seen their form fluctuate to start the season with some key injuries proving a distraction. Jayson Potroz won’t be back any time soon, and his stand-in Dan Hollinshead only just arrived this week. Faletoi Peni however impressed in his second-half cameo against Utah. Miami welcome back Reinaldo Piussi and Ben Bonasso, but they have yet to put in a convincing performance this season. New England are favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Tevita Sole, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Jone Koroiduadua, 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 6 Jed Melvin, 7 Joe Johnston (capt.), 8 Wian Conradie, 9 Cam Nordli-Kelemeti, 10 Faletoi Peni, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Brock Webster, 15 Harrison Boyle
Replacements: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Kaleb Geiger, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Josh Larsen, 21 Oscar Lennon, 22 Isaac Olson, 23 Jack Reeves
MIAMI SHARKS
1 Alec McDonnell, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Reinaldo Piussi, 4 Tomás Casares, 5 Mauro Rebussone, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Ronan Foley, 9 Tomás Cubelli (capt.), 10 Shane O’Leary, 11 Guiseppe du Toit, 12 Matías Orlando, 13 Tomás Inciarte, 14 Tomás Malanos, 15 Martín Elías
Replacements: 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Ma’ake Muti, 18 Alex Tucci, 19 Braemar Murray, 20 Marques Fuala’au, 21 Lautaro Soto Ansay, 22 Tomás Bekerman, 23 Josh McAdam
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Sunday, April 6
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 14:00 local (11:00 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: partly cloudy, 54°F (12°C), wind W 7-17mph (11-27km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Fan Duel Florida, NBC Sports Boston, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Greg Gilliam (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (2) – New England 1, Miami 1
2024-05-25 – Miami Sharks 15, New England Free Jacks 13 (AutoNation Field)
2024-04-06 – New England Free Jacks 25, Miami Sharks 3 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
