The second half of the Major League Rugby regular season begins in Charlotte on Friday night where Anthem host the Free Jacks. After a string of near-misses the home side are still searching for their first win as a franchise. New England on the other hand look back in championship form with three straight victories including two over top Western Conference contenders.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
0-8-0 (L8) East 6th
5-3-0 (W3) East 2nd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Jake Turnbull | Dan Hanson |
| 4 | Puna Vuli | Alby O’Shannessey |
| 10 | Cliven Loubser | Cam Gerlach |
| 12 | EJ Freeman | Watson Filikitonga |
| 15 | Mitch Wilson | Jason Tidwell |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Malakai Hala-Ngatai | Tevita Sole |
| 3 | Kaleb Geiger | Jone Koroiduadua |
| 8 | Jerónimo Gómez Vara | Wian Conradie |
| 9 | Oscar Lennon | Cam Nordli-Kelemeti |
| 10 | Harrison Boyle | Faletoi Peni |
| 14 | Jack Reeves | Brock Webster |
| 15 | Brock Webster | Harrison Boyle |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(8) – Turnbull, Maughan, Golla, Fricker, Storti, Mooneyham, Wilson (USA), Loubser (Namibia)
(11) – Quattrin, von Dadelszen, LeSage, Webster, Larsen, Keys, Olson (Canada), Geiger (USA), Malan (Namibia), McInerney (Australia), Koroiduadua (Fiji)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Declan Moore (HO), Joe Apikotoa (TH), Junior Gafa (CE)
– Wian Conradie (N8), Jayson Potroz (FH), Wayne van der Bank (CE)
| PREDICTION |
Anthem have bolstered their lineup with the return of Jake Turnbull at loosehead prop and perhaps more importantly Cliven Loubser at flyhalf. That’s balanced however with the loss of suspended tighthead prop Joe Apikotoa, and the continued absence of star midfielder Junior Gafa. The Free Jacks have rotated their squad and look slightly vulnerable at No10 without any of Jayson Potroz, Faletoi Peni, or new arrival Dan Hollinshead, there is more than enough talent to secure another win in Carolina. New England are clear favorites on the road.
| LINEUPS |
ANTHEM CAROLINA
1 Jake Turnbull (co-capt.), 2 Connor Robinson, 3 Alex Maughan, 4 Puna Vuli, 5 Sam Golla (co-capt.), 6 Alejandro Martinez Tapia, 7 Makeen Alikhan, 8 Colin Turner, 9 Ishy Safodien, 10 Cliven Loubser, 11 Toby Fricker, 12 EJ Freeman, 13 Erich Storti, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Mitch Wilson
Replacements: 16 Ethan Howard, 17 Dan Hanson, 18 Stephan Bernal-Wendt, 19 Javon Camp, 20 Alby O’Shannessey, 21 Carlo de Nysschen, 22 Watson Filikitonga, 23 Ashawnty Staples
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Kaleb Geiger, 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Sam Caird, 6 Jed Melvin, 7 Joe Johnston (capt.), 8 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 9 Oscar Lennon, 10 Harrison Boyle, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Jack Reeves, 15 Brock Webster
Replacements: 16 Connal McInerney, 17 Tevita Sole, 18 Jone Koroiduadua, 19 Josh Larsen, 20 Conor Keys, 21 Cam Nordli-Kelemeti, 22 Isaac Olson, 23 Kaipono Kayoshi
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Friday, April 18
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte
Kickoff: 19:30 local (16:30 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 77°F (25°C), SW 9-14mph (14-22km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, NBC Sports Boston, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Mike Lawrenson (USA)
Assistants: Peter Pender (Canada) & Lindsey Oliver (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (2) – New England 2, Carolina 0
2024-06-29 – New England Free Jacks 40, Anthem Carolina 7 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2024-03-03 – Anthem Carolina 13, New England Free Jacks 46 (American Legion Stadium)
The post MLR 2025: Anthem Carolina vs New England Free Jacks – ARN Guide appeared first on Americas Rugby News.
0 Comments