Free Jacks Look To Hold Position Atop Eastern Conference Against Utah Warriors

New England Free Jacks vs Utah Warriors

Presented By DUDE Wipes

When: Sunday, June 16, 2024, 3pm EST

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy, MA

Watch: FS1, The Rugby Network (Outside the USA)

Match Preview: 

The Free Jacks are back at home this week, as they welcome the Utah Warriors after an important win on the road against DC in round 15. Entering this weekend, New England remains atop the Eastern Conference with a 9-4 record after the thrilling 31-30 win last Saturday. They are 7 table points above 2nd placed NOLA, and 14 over both Chicago and DC.

Against DC, Jayson Potroz led the team with 14 points, including the game-clinching try, while running for the most meters (108). In the pack, there were three standout performers: Andrew Quattrin, who led the team in carries (11), and made 10 tackles; Martín Sigren, with 11 carries and 10 tackles; and former DC lock Kyle Baillie, who put on a tremendous shift with 13 tackles, 3 of them dominant.

Back in Quincy, the Free Jacks will look to extend their win streak to 3 in front of their home crowd, as they hope to solidify the number 1 spot in the Eastern Conference.

Scouting

Utah is on the road again this week after a 68-29 loss in Seattle in Round 15.

The Warriors currently sit 5th in the Western Conference with a record of 4-9, and a total of 28 points (9 points behind 4th place Dallas). 

Utah is a skilled team that likes to play an attack-focused brand of rugby. They have a heavy pack full of aggressive ball carriers such as lock Frank Lochore and back rower Thomas Tu’avao. In the backs, English flyhalf Joel Hodgson likes to use attacking kicks all over the field, and with ball in hand is always looking to spread the ball wide to his speedster Michael Manson, who leads the league in running meters with 1349.

All time against Utah Warriors

2-2