Hounds Chase Five Wins in a Row: Week 11 Preview

News May-9-2024

Hounds Chase Five Wins in a Row: Week 11 Preview

CHICAGO, IL- Coming off the heels of the biggest win in franchise history, Chicago Hounds Head Coach Sam Harris selected his game day 23 to chase the club’s fifth win a row.

Chicago welcomes Old Glory DC to SeatGeek Stadium on Saturday evening for Week 11 action of Major League Rugby. Fans can purchase tickets for the game, slated to kick off at 5 PM, here.

The Forwards

Harris keeps the front row unchanged from week ten’s contest. Loosehead prop Charlie Abel will pair with tighthead prop Paddy Ryan once more while hooker Dylan Fawsitt will earn his 90th cap when he takes the field on Saturday. Fawsitt is enjoying another All-Pro caliber season, highlighted by a team-high seven tries and a 92% tackle success rate (65/71).

George Merrick returns to the starting lineup in the second row and will make his fifth start of the campaign. He’ll combine with fellow Englishman James Scott in the engine room. Scott has been one of the standout forwards for the Hounds this season and is a driving factor behind the improved set piece, among many others. This is the first time the duo are starting together since week four against the New England Free Jacks.

With Merrick moving up from the bench to the second row, breakout forward Mason Flesch slides to the back row, slotting in at blindside flanker. The young Canadian prospect is enjoying his best season to date and has proven to be one of the key acquisitions of last offseason.

Speaking of breakout seasons, Mac Jones is set for his eighth start of the season. The Australian openside flanker grabbed hold of the No. 7 shirt in week three and hasn’t looked back since. He’s always been one of the steadier players on the team, but Jones’ 2024 campaign is tracking to be the best one of his MLR career. He is credited with 105 tackles on defense and already has three tries on the season.

With captain Billy Meakes away on paternity leave (congrats legend), Luke White is promoted to captain for the Week 11 clash. White appeared from the bench in the last two contests and fans should expect some firepower from the game day captain as he gets his first start since week seven.

On the bench, Fred Apulu and Ignacio Peculo will provide relief duty for the props. Replacement hooker Guillermo Pujadas is seeking his first game action since week five against the Seattle Seawolves. Versatile forwards Ben Landry and Conall Boomer slide to the bench after starting the previous two matches together in the back row.

The Backs

Harris opts for three changes in the starting backline. The pivots remain unchanged, however. Jason Higgins and Adriaan Carelse will combine for their fourth start together. Carelse lead all point scorers last weekend with 11 points via a conversion and three penalty kicks.

In the midfield, Cassh Maluia will start the second game of his career from inside center. The former-NFL player pairs with veteran Bryce Campbell. This will be Campbell’s fourth consecutive start and it appears the Indiana University product has locked down the No. 13 shirt for the foreseeable future.

Mark O’Keeffe is set for his first start since week six at New Orleans. The outside back’s been featuring at outside center this season but the coaching staff are starting to give him looks on the wing moving forward. He made an appearance in the second half last weekend and made an immediate impact. Despite only touching the ball twice, the All-Pro back ran for 31 meters and set up multiple scoring opportunities for the Hounds. Nate Augspurger will man the left wing once again.

Dave Kearney returns to the starting lineup after being sidelined due to injury the last few games. The Leinster legend will be the first to tell you, he needs to have a more significant impact for the Hounds as they enter the later stages of the season. His ability and experience could be an invaluable asset for the second-year franchise.

Nick McCarthy will seek his ninth cap from the bench on Saturday. Superstar wing Julian Dominguez slots into the reserves and can see his first game time since week seven. Dominguez only has 13 carries on the year, but he’s racked up over 100 meters (9.0 meters-per-carry), added a pair of tries, and beat four defenders.

Willis Goodwin rounds out the game day roster for Week 11. Goodwin was recently promoted to the Senior team after an impressive fall campaign with the Academy squad. If he takes the field on Saturday, it will be his Major League Rugby debut.