Match Preview: New England Free Jacks vs Seattle Seawolves

MLR Championship: New England Free Jacks vs Seattle Seawolves

When: Sunday, August 4, 2024, 4pm EST

Where: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA

Watch: FOX (In the US), The Rugby Network (Outside the US)

Match Preview: 

The Free Jacks are playing for the MLR Championship for the second year in a row this weekend, where they’ll face the Western Conference Champions Seattle Seawolves. New England is headed to the final in San Diego after winning the Eastern Conference Championship 23-17 against the Chicago Hounds at Veterans Memorial Stadium last weekend.

In the Conference Final, Kiwi fullback Reece Macdonald had another ‘player of the match’ performance, scoring 2 key tries, and running for a team-high 156 meters. South African center Wayne Van der Bank had another busy game, in which he carried the ball 8 times for 102 meters. In the pack, back rower Seta Baker had an outstanding performance carrying the ball 16 times for 96 meters, while leading the team with 10 tackles.

Against Seattle, look for in-form players Reece Macdonald, Andrew Quattrin, and Wayne Van der Bank to be heavily involved in the game plan as the Free Jacks try to break down the Seawolves defense early.

Expect an evenly matched championship final this weekend at Snapdragon Stadium, after the Free Jacks lost to the Seawolves 21-29 during the regular season in a close matchup at home back in April.  

Scouting

In the Western Conference Final, the Seawolves beat the Dallas Jackals 28-25 in a thrilling contest at Starfire Stadium, in which Namibian international Divan Rossouw ran for 272 meters.

Seattle finished the regular season 2nd in the Western Conference with 57 table points and a record of 11-5. They beat San Diego in the Conference Semi-Final 30-28, before facing the Jackals last week.

The Seawolves are a big and physical team up front, with strong ball carriers like USA Eagle hooker Joe Taufete’e, and flanker Pago Haini. In the backs, they have experienced international players on the outside, with Namibian international Divan Rossouw at fullback and former Super Rugby player Tony Pulu at wing. New USA Eagle J.P Smith, and Aussie Mack Mason, like to keep teams pinned in their own-half through their kicking game. Expect a fast-paced and highly competitive encounter in San Diego this Sunday.