MLR 2024: New England Free Jacks vs Chicago Hounds – ARN Guide

The top two teams in the Eastern Conference will collide at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy on Sunday afternoon. New England were the better side when they met at SeatGeek Stadium in March, but Chicago have raised their game in recent weeks and enter the match with a three-game win streak.

6-2-0 (W1) East 1st

4-3-1 (W3) East 2nd

4 Josh Larsen rotates with 19 Kyle Baillie
6 Piers von Dadelszen replaces Mitch Jacobson (injury)
11 Paula Balekana replaces Reece MacDonald (injury, No15 vs LA)
16 Mason Koch replaces Sean Ralph
23 Ethan Fryer replaces Zach Bastres

22 Mark O’Keeffe replaces Caolan Dooley
23 Cassh Maluia replaces Michael Baska

(10) – Quattrin, Larsen, von Dadelszen, DeWitt, Baillie, LeSage (Canada), Sigren (Chile), Malan (Namibia), Wilson, Geiger (USA)

(9) – Quattrin, Baillie, DeWitt, Larsen, LeSage (Canada), Sigren (Chile), Malan (Namibia), Wilson, Geiger (USA)

– Mitch Jacobson (FL), Wian Conradie (N8), John Poland (SH), Reece MacDonald (FB)

– Zura Zhvania (LH), Lucas Rumball (FL), Julián Domínguez (WI), Dave Kearney (FB)

• New England have announced they will be wearing their red jerseys at home for the first time this season… they typically sport their blue kits when in Quincy
• Josh Larsen is restored to the Free Jacks captaincy with Mitch Jacobson nursing a minor injury… Piers von Dadelszen comes in on the blindside flank
• the Free Jacks have opted for a 6/2 split on the bench… Zach Bastres makes way for an extra flanker in Ethan Fryer… Fryer is dual-eligible, having represented Canada at u20 level but also turned out for the USA Hawks last year
• the only personnel change to New England’s backline is Paula Balekana back in on the left wing, with Danyon Morgan-Puterangi shifting to fullback… Balekana replaces Reece MacDonald, who dislocated a shoulder scoring a try against LA… the Free Jacks say it’s too early to say when MacDonald will be back, but they are confident his season isn’t over
• Sam Harris has rewarded his team by selecting a nearly identical match day squad… the only changes to the 23 are to the backs reserves, where Mark O’Keeffe and Cassh Maluia come in for Caolan Dooley and Michael Baska
• Chicago has one former Free Jack in their ranks… Ben Landry played for New England in 2020, but made just one appearance before the pandemic ended the season early

The loss of MacDonald, in addition to John Poland and Wian Conradie, is a significant blow for the Free Jacks but their depth is as good as any in MLR. After a slow start to the season Chicago are on a roll, but this is a clear step up in terms of opposition. The defending champs will be desperate to make up for their poor showing in their last game at Fort Quincy. New England are favorites at home.

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 4 Josh Larsen (capt.), 5 Jackson Thiebes, 6 Piers von Dadelszen, 7 Seta Baker, 8 Martín Sigren, 9 Cam Nordli-Kelemeti, 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Mitch Wilson, 15 Danyon Morgan-Puterangi

Replacements: 16 Mason Koch, 17 Foster DeWitt, 18 Kaleb Geiger, 19 Kyle Baillie, 20 Cam Davidowicz, 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Ben LeSage, 23 Ethan Fryer

CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Charlie Abel, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Ignacio Péculo, 4 Mason Flesch, 5 James Scott, 6 Ben Landry, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Conall Boomer, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 11 Nate Augspurger, 12 Billy Meakes (capt.), 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Noah Brown, 15 Luke Carty

Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Fred Apulu, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 George Merrick, 20 Luke White, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Mark O’Keeffe, 23 Cassh Maluia

Date: Sunday, May 5
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 12:00 local (09:00 Pacific, 11:00 Central)
Weather Forecast: cloudy, 54°F (12°C), wind SE 9-14mph (14-24km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network

Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Cisco Lopez (USA) & Eanna O’Dowd (Ireland)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)

HEAD-TO-HEAD (2) – New England 2, Chicago 0
2024-03-24 – Chicago Hounds 17, New England Free Jacks 22 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2023-04-08 – New England Free Jacks 31, Chicago Hounds 19 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)