Western Contending Sabercats Travel To Quincy For First Time For Regular Season Finale

New England Free Jacks (13-2) vs Houston SaberCats (10-5)

When: Sunday June 18, 2023 1:30pm EST

Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy, MA

Watch: FS2, The Rugby Network

 

Match Preview:

Fresh off a hard-fought 34-26 win at Seattle, the Free Jacks are back in Quincy as they host the playoff-bound Houston Sabercats for the final game of the regular season.

New England, who clinched the first spot in the Eastern Conference two weeks ago, have had a perfect record at home so far this season. Meanwhile, Houston currently sits in 3rd place in the Western Conference with a 10-5 record. With a bye week guaranteed before hosting the conference final, the Free Jacks host their last regular season game against the Sabercats in what should be a very physical encounter.

There will be changes to the lineup that faced off against Seattle, starting with the tight five, where four changes occur with the return of props Kyle Ciquera (#1) and Cole Keith (#3) and hooker Mills Sanerivi (#2) getting the start, while Conor Keys (#5) joins them from the second row. In the back row, Slade McDowall (#7) and Wian Conradie (#8) are also back in the 23. There’ll be a few changes to the backline too, most notably Beaudein Waaka starting at fly-half this week, replacing Jayson Potroz, with the likes of Ben LeSage (#13), Mitch Wilson (#14) and Reece Macdonald (#15) joining him as well in the backs. On the bench, props Foster Dewitt (#17) and Joel Hintz (#18) are the two new additions to the 23 this week to face Houston.

 

Scouting

The Houston Sabercats currently sit third in the Western Conference and have already clinched the playoffs, where they will head to Seattle to face the Seawolves. They are coming off a 31-7 win at home against Old Glory DC where they secured their playoff spot.

The Sabercats have one of the biggest forward packs in the competition, with players like 6’8″ 275 lb USA Eagle CC Mahoni and 235 lb flanker Gideon Van Wyk. In the backs, Davy Coetzer is one of the most in-form players in the MLR. While Dom Akina, Christian Dyer and Drew Wild are all dangerous playmakers in the outside channels.

 

All time against Houston

1-0

 

Free Jacks Match Day Roster

  1. Kyle Ciquera
  2. Mills Sanerivi
  3. Cole Keith
  4. Semisi Paea
  5. Conor Keys
  6. Mitch Jacobson
  7. Slade McDowall
  8. Wian Conradie
  9. John Poland
  10. Beaudein Waaka
  11. Paula Balekana
  12. Le Roux Malan
  13. Ben LeSage
  14. Mitch Wilson
  15. Reece Macdonald
  16. Andrew Quattrin
  17. Foster Dewitt
  18. Joel Hintz
  19. Sam Fischli
  20. Joe Johnston
  21. Holden Yungert
  22. Spencer Jones
  23. Cam Davidowicz

Houston SaberCats Match Day Roster:

  1. Alex McDonnell
  2. Dean Muir
  3. Valdermar Lee-Lo
  4. Siaosi Mahoni
  5. Emmanuel Albert
  6. Daniel Barrett
  7. Keni Nasoqeqe
  8. Jacobus Germishuys
  9. Carlo De Nysschen
  10. Kian Meadon
  11. Zachary Pangelinan
  12. Robert Povey
  13. Kainoa Lloyd
  14. Nicklas Boyer
  15. Gerhardus Labuschagne
  16. Axel Zapata
  17. Frederick De Beer
  18. William Vakalahi
  19. Wynand Grassmann
  20. Asa Carter
  21. Gideon Van Wyk

 

Standing Room Tickets Only