PRO Rugby Preview – Denver

Americas Rugby News is back at it with our second in a series of five previews, each detailing the roster and outlook for the PRO Rugby teams. This time up is Denver whom were the final team named to the competition, although one of the very first cities that came up in the PRO rumor mill.

As with all of the PRO teams, Denver faces many challenges in this first season of play.

“We probably face a lot of the same challenges of many of the other teams, most of these players have to learn to go from very committed amateurs to professionals who do this for a living,” said Denver Team Manager Kieran Browner. “That is not only a physical change in the training but also in mindset.”

PROP

With three Eagles props in their books Denver have the deepest front row in the competition. Aside from hooker, but we’ll get to that. Chris Baumann didn’t get many chances in the World Cup but is fresh off a starting tighthead role in the Americas Rugby Championship where he made a significant impact both at scrum time and in the loose. He’s not yet 30 and just now hitting his prime.

Ben Tarr might well have gone to the World Cup as well had he not suffered a serious knee injury. He’s now back to full fitness, and should challenge fellow international Nick Wallace for the loosehead spot, though Tarr is also a capable tighthead. Two Australians hail from the Glendale Raptors in Jake Turnbull and Luke White. Both get around the pitch well with the former preferring tighthead and the latter a tall loosehead who also covers lock. Tongan tighthead Soane Leger of the Denver Barbarians is a huge man who has represented his country at ‘A’ level.

HOOKER

While there are a plethora of props available, a knee injury to South African front row Brendan Rams means that World Cup starter Zach Fenoglio is the only specialist left on the roster. Junior All-American captain Hanco Germishuys will get a look there once he returns from Zimbabwe, an interesting move that could prove very beneficial to the Eagles down the line. Baumann looks most likely to cover in the meantime, having played there on several occasions for Santa Monica in the Pacific Rugby Premiership.

LOCK

It’s an easy argument to make that the first choice pair of Ben Landry and Brodie Orth are the best in the competition. After all they just spent several weeks together in the Eagles engine room during the ARC. Big, physical, and deceivingly athletic for their size, they will make the tight five a very formidable unit.

An even bigger unit, Glendale’s Casey Rock, was meant to be on the team but sadly his body is not up to the rigors of professional rugby and he has withdrawn, replaced by two-time Junior All-American standout Christian Wiessing. Just 20 years old, Wiessing’s future is likely on the blindside but this will be a good opportunity for the youngster to get his feet wet in a professional environment.

BACK ROW

Former Springbok loose forward Pedrie Wannenburg is now in the twilight of his career but remains an intelligent player who can contribute both at the lineout and in the loose. He should start most games, most likely as a no8 put also possibly on the blindside.

“Pedrie is our only international addition currently,” said Browner. “He has really done a wonderful job of integrating himself with the lads as just another player, but also at the same time demonstrating his leadership skills by showing them how a professional rugby player acts and behaves.”

The alternative at the back of the scrum is former Colorado State Rams fullback Zac Pauga, who signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans of the NFL but never cracked the game roster. Pauga could be used as a blindside, but it’s as a bruising no8 that he’s most effective, able to punch holes in the toughest defense.

Former Eagles flanker Peter Dahl looks a certainty on the openside, though Germishuys will also see time there. Denver Barbarians workhorse Logan Collins was selected for the old ARC tournament but had to withdraw before making an appearance. Gannon Moore is a highly rated athlete who has made a splash on the domestic 7s scene and has been used both in the back row and on the wing in XVs.

SCRUMHALF

Niku Kruger may suddenly find himself outside the Eagles Elite Squad, but the ARC halfback will still play a major role for Denver. He’s a bit of a throwback scrumhalf, more than happy to boss his forwards and with a strong kicking game. Former Oklahoma Sooners playmaker Bobby Impson will challenge around the fringes, and the competition’s oldest player will be a third option at no9. With the last of his 32 caps coming in 2012, a dozen years after his debut, Mose Timoteo is still marching around the field at the age of 39. What a thrill it will be when he pulls on a Denver jersey for the first time.

FLYHALF

Who exactly gets the nod as first choice pivot has yet to be seen, as this team has options. Former Junior All-American skipper Will Magie is probably the odds-on favorite, but he’ll have former Eagles international Ata Malifa there to keep him on his toes. Versatile Glendale goal kicker Armandt Peens is another in the running, though he could just as likely be used in the midfield or at fullback. Former USA XV rep Maximo de Achaval has plenty of experience both at no10 or at fullback, though it’s the latter he looks most likely to be contesting.

CENTER

The midfield is also not short of options. Eagles ARC duo Mike Garrity and Chad London are most likely the starting pair. They both offer size and huge physicality, and London emerged as a real find for the Eagles in the latter stages of the competition. Justin Pauga – older brother of Zac – is another imposing runner, just as damaging if not more so in the contact area. Former Oklahoma captain Michael Al-Jiboori brings something different, real pace and offloading ability. He could see time in the outside backs in a congested midfield.

WING

Don’t be surprised to see Al-Jiboori used here, and this is also most likely the position you’ll find Australian dual-international Timana Tahu. Used mostly as a center during his relatively brief stay in rugby union, Tahu’s 1-on-1 strength is best suited for the wing, where he found his most success in rugby league.

Glendale’s Dustin Croy is another with utility value who can cover all across the outside backs. A creative attacker, he should see time at both wing and fullback. Martin Knoetze is a new addition whose father, Martin Sr., played for a World XV against the All Blacks in 1992. Martin Jr. is normally a center but has been used as a wing recently by Glendale and has been picked up as an option out wide for the professional franchise.

FULLBACK

With no out-and-out specialist this should be a contested position with de Achaval, Peens, and Croy all in the mix, or possibly Malifa. Al-Jiboori has also played the position at collegiate level. Expect the experience and kicking game of de Achaval to get the nod in the early goings.

OUTLOOK

On paper, Denver looks like the team to beat in the inaugural season of PRO Rugby. They have an experienced and talented pack, loads of experience, and some bruising runners in their back line. Their roster boasts 137 test caps and that is a stat that cannot be overlooked in a competition where the majority of players have little to no professional experience. They should also benefit from their intimate stadium setting that should produce some of the most consistent crowds in the competition. While all of the teams in the competition project to be competitive, Denver may have the right mix and depth to take the title.

“We have a number of players and especially coaches who have come from previous professional environments and they are all taking time both on and off the field to show the other lads how to approach every aspect of their training, game and lifestyle,” added Browner.

HOME FIELD

Denver will play out of Glendale’s Infinity Park, a small stadium specifically geared for rugby with a capacity of 4,000. It opened in 2007 and has since hosted three US Eagles test matches – Russia in 2010, Canada in 2011, and Georgia in 2012. It also regularly hosts collegiate rugby matches as well as the annual Serevi RugbyTown Sevens tournament.

COACHING STAFF

Ireland export Sean O’Leary takes charge as Head Coach. The Director of Rugby at the University of Notre Dame since 2007, he also spent four years at Northeastern. He was an Assistant Coach with USA u19 from 2002 to 2005, and Head Coach of the national u17 program immediately following from 2005 to 2008.

His chief assistant in the forwards will be former Crusaders prop Peter Borlase, who joined the Denver Barbarians as Head Coach in 2014 after one season in the same role with Gernika in Spain. He also played with with Canterbury, Munster, Connacht, and Hawke’s Bay. Most recently he was scrum coach for the Junior All-Americans who defeated Canada in Texas.

Guiding the backs will be David Williams, formerly the Strength & Conditioning Coach for both the Eagles and Junior All-Americans. A native of England, as a player he represented the USA in both 7s and XVs, winning 11 test caps as a reserve scrumhalf between 2004 and 2007.

ROSTER

NAME	POS	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	COUNTRY
Baumann, Chris	PR/HO	1.88 6-2	122 270	May 18 1987	9	USA
Leger, Soane	PR	1.90 6-3	155 340	Oct 3 1986	–	Tonga
Tarr, Ben	PR	1.80 5-11	113 250	Mar 17 1994	2	USA
Turnbull, Jake	PR	1.89 6-2	118 260	Jul 17 1993	–	Australia
Wallace, Nick	PR	1.85 6-1	114 250	Oct 16 1989	15	USA
White, Luke	PR/LO	1.90 6-3	114 250	1991	–	Australia
Fenoglio, Zach	HO	1.88 6-2	112 245	Jul 29 1989	17	USA
Germishuys, Hanco	HO/FL	1.86 6-1	105 230	Aug 24 1996	1	USA
Landry, Ben	LO	1.98 6-6	123 270	Mar 26 1991	4	USA
Orth, Brodie	LO	2.01 6-7	120 265	1982	4	USA
Rock, Casey	LO	2.05 6-9	124 275	Mar 9 1987	–	USA
Wiessing, Christian	LO	1.93 6-4	104 230	Sep 28 1995	–	USA
Collins, Logan	FL	1.90 6-3	104 230	Sep 23 1986	–	USA
Dahl, Peter	FL	1.88 6-2	102 225	Nov 11 1984	12	USA
Moore, Gannon	FL/N8	1.87 6-2	101 220	Jun 2 1990	–	USA
Pauga, Zac	N8	1.87 6-2	114 250	Feb 25 1988	–	USA
Wannenburg, Pedrie	N8	1.95 6-5	112 245	Feb 1 1981	20	South Africa
Impson, Bobby	SH	1.72 5-8	78 170	1992	–	USA
Kruger, Niku	SH	1.72 5-8	80 175	Oct 9 1991	6	USA
Timoteo, Mose	SH	1.72 5-8	85 185	Sep 7 1976	32	USA
Magie, Will	FH	1.85 6-1	85 185	Feb 23 1992	–	USA
Malifa, Ata	FH	1.78 5-10	84 185	Sep 10 1985	4	USA
Peens, Armandt	FH/CE	1.85 6-1	95 210	Aug 23 1993	–	South Africa
Al-Jiboori, Michael	CE	1.83 6-0	93 205	1993	–	USA
Garrity, Mike	CE	1.88 6-2	104 230	Jan 11 1989	2	USA
London, Chad	CE	1.85 6-1	101 220	Sep 27 1988	5	USA
Pauga, Justin	CE	1.81 5-11	107 235	1986	–	USA
Croy, Dustin	WI	1.83 6-0	84 185	Feb 18 1990	–	USA
Knoetze, Martin	WI	1.87 6-2	102 225	Aug 31 1991	–	South Africa
Tahu, Timana	WI	1.85 6-1	102 225	Oct 16 1980	4	Australia
de Achaval, Maximo	FB	1.80 5-11	86 190	Apr 29 1985	–	USA

FIXTURES

DATE	PDT	MDT	EDT	HOME	AWAY
Sun, Apr 17	13:00	14:00	16:00	Denver	Ohio
Sun, Apr 24	15:00	16:00	18:00	San Francisco	Denver
Sun, May 1	15:00	16:00	18:00	San Diego	Denver
Sun, May 15	15:00	16:00	18:00	Sacramento	Denver
Fri, May 20	18:00	19:00	21:00	Denver	San Francisco
Sun, Jun 5	17:00	18:00	20:00	San Diego	Denver
Sun, Jun 19	14:00	15:00	17:00	Denver	Ohio
Sun, Jun 26	14:00	15:00	17:00	Denver	Sacramento
Sun, Jul 10	14:00	15:00	17:00	Denver	San Diego
Sun, Jul 17	14:00	15:00	17:00	Denver	Sacramento
Sun, Jul 24	15:00	16:00	18:00	San Francisco	Denver
Sun, Jul 31	12:00	13:00	15:00	Ohio	Denver