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The 2023 Major League Rugby finalists will renew acquaintances at Fort Quincy on Saturday afternoon when the Free Jacks take on the Legion. New England are feeling confident again after back-to-back wins, while it’s the opposite for San Diego who have dropped two in a row after their red-hot start.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
4-3-0 (W2) East 3rd
5-2-0 (L2) West 2nd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 5 | Sam Caird | Jerónimo Gómez Vara |
| 13 | Ben LeSage | Wayne van der Bank |
|
IN | OUT |
| 5 | Zak Farrance | Brandon Harvey |
| 6 | Vili Helu | Jimmy Hokafonu |
| 10 | Ethan Grayson | Lincoln McClutchie |
| 14 | Tomas Aoake | Rhian Stowers |
| 15 | Rhian Stowers | Ethan Grayson |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(11) – Quattrin, von Dadelszen, LeSage, Webster, Larsen, Olson (Canada), Koroiduadua (Fiji), Conradie, Malan (Namibia), McInerney (Australia), Geiger (USA)
(10) – Telea-Ilalio, Helu, James, Lopeti, Brache, Klein, Sylvia, Tameilau, Ryan (USA), Holloway (Australia)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Jayson Potroz (FH), Wayne van der Bank (CE), Simon-Peter Toleafoa (FB)
– Jimmy Hokafonu (N8), Lincoln McClutchie (FH)
| PREDICTION |
While the Legion weren’t dominated against Chicago, the edge in form certainly goes to the Free Jacks. Wet and windy weather also favors the home side – if anybody – though it’s worth noting that Zak Farrance and Ethan Grayson are both very familiar with those conditions from playing in Europe. The timely returns of Sam Caird and Ben LeSage from injury help the home side, and the travel at the very least doesn’t help the Legion. New England are slight favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Tevita Sole, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Jone Koroiduadua, 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Sam Caird, 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 Ben LeSage, 14 Brock Webster, 15 Harrison Boyle
Replacements: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Kaleb Geiger, 19 Josh Larsen, 20 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 21 Oscar Lennon, 22 Isaac Olson, 23 Jack Reeves
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Darcy Breen, 4 Jed Holloway, 5 Zak Farrance, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Christian Poidevin, 8 Brad Wilkin (capt.), 9 Richard Judd, 10 Ethan Grayson, 11 Ryan James, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Rhian Stowers
Replacements: 16 Shilo Klein, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Oliver Kane, 19 Tevita Tameilau, 20 Cassh Maluia, 21 Paddy Ryan, 22 Tiaan Loots, 23 Connor Tupai
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, April 12
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 14:00 local (11:00 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: light rain, 39°F (4°C), wind NE 21-31mph (34-50km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, KUSI, NBC Sports Boston, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Jarrod Ford (USA) & Aaron Davis (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (5) – New England 3, San Diego 2
2024-05-19 – San Diego Legion 23, New England Free Jacks 24 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2023-07-08 – New England Free Jacks 25, San Diego Legion 24 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2023-02-26 – San Diego Legion 29, New England Free Jacks 12 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2021-05-01 – San Diego Legion 17, New England Free Jacks 33 (LA Memorial Coliseum)
2020-02-23 – San Diego Legion 30, New England Free Jacks 21 (Torero Stadium)
