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The last match of the weekend means little on paper, but both combatants will be throwing everything into a contest that has a chance of being a preview of the Championship Final. Seattle and New England have already booked their spots in the postseason with the Free Jacks also assured of their final ranking and the Seawolves a mere formality at this stage.
Both teams enter on long winning streaks and will be keen to keep that run alive heading into the playoffs. For the Seawolves it’s six games in a row after the hard-fought victory over Utah at Starfire Stadium last weekend. It came at a cost, with Mzamo Majola and Rhyno Herbst suffering what could be season-ending injuries.
Jake Turnbull gets the start at loosehead prop with Dewald Donald stepping up to the bench. James Malcolm rotates in for his namesake Peter Malcolm at hooker. Taylor Krumrei comes in at lock, and Ben Mitchell returns from the injured list to start on the blindside flank with Ben Landry sitting out this week. At No8 it’s a first start this season for Andrew Durutalo with Ronan Foley on the bench.
There is good news in the backline with Duncan Matthews fit again after six weeks on the sidelines. Matthews comes back in at fullback, with Adriaan Carelse among the reserves. AJ Alatimu has shaken off the knock taken against the Warriors to start at flyhalf with Tavite Lopeti starting in the midfield and Jordan Chait left out. Devereaux Ferris is named on the bench after making his return to the squad from Houston during the week.
The Free Jacks have won eight in a row and have two games left to nail down their preferred lineup for the July 1st Eastern Conference Final. Scott Mathie has opted for wholesale changes from the team that blew past ATL last Friday night, with some of his top players given a week off to prepare for next week’s home game against Houston.
Kianu Kereru-Symes and Joel Hintz are the new props, with both Kyle Ciquera and Cole Keith on ice this week. Semisi Paea steps in for Conor Keys at lock, and it’s all change in the back row with Sam Fischli, Joe Johnston, and Cam Davidowicz the starting trio. Regular skipper Mitch Jacobson is on a 6/2 bench along with Canada u20 flanker Ethan Fryer.
John Poland is back in at scrumhalf after two weeks on the sidelines, and the midfield has been switched up with Spencer Jones partnering Wayne van der Bank. Taniela Filimone is on the right wing and Beaudein Waaka starts at fullback.
Perfect conditions await at kickoff with no rain on the forecast. It’s mix-and-match from both teams and with nothing really but bragging rights on the line expect the reserves to come on early in the second half regardless of the score. Fans can expect an even and entertaining contest, with the Seawolves taking the favorites tag on home field advantage.
Kickoff is set for 7:30pm local time, 10:30pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on Roots Sports in Seattle and NBC Sports Boston, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Jake Turnbull, 2 James Malcolm, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Taylor Krumrei, 6 Ben Mitchell, 7 Charles Elton (capt.), 8 Andrew Durutalo, 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Martin Iosefo, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Duncan Matthews
Replacements: 16 Peter Malcolm, 17 Dewald Donald, 18 Mason Pedersen, 19 Nakai Penny, 20 Ronan Foley, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Adriaan Carelse, 23 Conner Mooneyham
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Joel Hintz, 4 Semisi Paea, 5 Reegan O’Gorman, 6 Sam Fischli, 7 Joe Johnston (capt.), 8 Cam Davidowicz, 9 John Poland, 10 Jayson Potroz, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Spencer Jones, 13 Wayne van der Bank, 14 Taniela Filimone, 15 Beaudein Waaka
Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 Foster DeWitt, 18 Conor Young, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Ethan Fryer, 21 Holden Yungert, 22 Isaac Olson, 23 Mitch Jacobson
Date: Sunday, June 11
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 19:30 local (22:30 Eastern)
Broadcasts: NBC Sports Boston, Root Sports, The Rugby Network
Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistants: Brad Schwalger (Canada) & Saro Turner (Canada)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-04-09 – New England Free Jacks 24, Seattle Seawolves 22 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2021-06-13 – New England Free Jacks 25, Seattle Seawolves 21 (Union Point Stadium)
2020-02-29 – Seattle Seawolves 44, New England Free Jacks 29 (Starfire Stadium)
