MLR Season Preview – New Orleans Gold

Another completely new franchise and one that promises to bring a bit of flair to Major League Rugby is the New Orleans Gold. There is some local talent in the side but also a large number brought in from elsewhere including a couple Canadians and handful of Ohio Aviators alumni.

Their seven-game preseason started off a little rocky but ended in a very good place with dominant home-and-away wins over Austin Elite. A couple key signings and selection changes look to have turned their fortunes around but a serious injury has also rocked them in recent days.

STRENGTHS

NOLA can field an all-international front row should they choose with Hubert Buydens, Eric Howard, and Ben Tarr on the books while USA Select XV rep Cam Falcon has seen time at both hooker and tighthead prop. Between the four it’s a solid unit that that shouldn’t take too many backward steps.

Up until a few days ago their back row was potentially the best in the competition but a cruel Achilles injury to Vince Jobo almost certainly rules him out for the season. John Sullivan will slide out of the second row and into his preferred flanker spot to fill in. He isn’t as explosive as Jobo but maintains the exceptionally high work rate set by Matt Hughston and Sebastián Kalm.

Halfbacks Holden Yungert and Taylor Howden are starting to form a good understanding and the new-look midfield of Eagles pair JP Eloff and Tim Maupin has coincided with the team’s new-found success. Their ability to move the point of contact and attack space quickly will keep defences on their toes.

QUESTIONS

Depth in the tight five has to be a concern. The first choice front row looks good and in Chilean international Nikola Bursic they have one strong lock but the rest is up for debate. A new second row is reportedly on the way but they could also do with an experienced front rower to help them out. Perhaps Bursic or Kalm have a Chilean friend they could recommend?

The backline has multiple options, perhaps too many. There is a bit of a patchwork feel to it with several players who fall into the ‘utility’ category and not many specialists. Some of the less-heralded outside backs will have to put their hand up to make an impression.

Several of their players are fringe internationals and may or may not get the call for the June tests. In a ‘worst case’ scenario they could lose a third of their best players for the matches against San Diego and Utah which would severely cripple their chances.

HOME FIELD

As with Houston and Austin, the Gold will play at a temporary venue of sorts in 2018. They should still be at Archbishop Shaw Field in the future, only it will become Archbishop Shaw Stadium ahead of the 2019 season. The dusty surface should be sorted in time for the regular season home opener against Seattle on May 12, and the current seating capacity site at around 2,500 which is the smallest in the league.

HEAD COACH

Nate Osborne left his native Australia more than a decade ago and has been in the USA since, first as a player with the Denver Barbarians but it’s as a coach where he’d made his greatest impact. After six years in charge at Metropolis and a trip to the 2015 World Cup as backs coach for the Eagles he has landed in New Orleans. Osborne is highly regarded for his attack-minded approach and that style should fit nicely with the players at his disposal.

CAPTAIN

Lending an experienced hand at flyhalf is New Zealand native Taylor Howden, perhaps best known for his work as a coach with Tiger Rugby but also as a player with the Aviators in PRO Rugby. He has the strengh to take the ball to the line but also the skill to drop a short kick over a rush defense. Howden isn’t in the side to be a star, he’s there to make good decisions and give his backline quick ball on the gainline.

KEY PLAYERS

The job of pack leader and vice-captain has been given to Canadian international Eric Howard. His low center of gravity and bowling-ball physique are tricky enough to deal with, but he also has surprising pace and agility for a front row forward. After being surprisingly overlooked for the Americas Rugby Championship the 24-year-old will be looking to convince selectors that his set piece is as strong as his ability in the loose.

Just about everyone who has seen him play is a fan of Sebastián Kalm. A star at Lindenwood and voted the Most Valuable Player of the 2016 PRO Rugby season, his preseason form suggests he’ll be in the running in MLR 2018. Kalm’s engine is what sets him apart from everyone else. An international up to u20 level for his native Chile, he is now qualified for the USA on residency and many feel it’s just a matter of time before the Eagles come calling.

Early preseason action identified a pressing need for an incisive attacker in the midfield. Enter Tim Maupin. With seven Eagles caps under his belt as a winger, the 29-year-old has reinvented himself as a center after a couple years plying his trade in Ireland. The move looks to be a good one, with his hard line running in the outside channel a perfect compliment for JP Eloff’s distribution on his inside.

ONE TO WATCH

Followers of American Collegiate Rugby will recognize his name from his days with St. Mary’s. Die-hards might also recall his selection to the USA Select XV for the Americas Pacific Challenge. Holden Yungert should soon be a name to many more with his sharp passing skills and accelaration off the mark making him a very influential part of the NOLA attack. Another who didn’t get the call for the ARC but at 24 the time is now for him to make a serious run at a World Cup spot.

OUTLOOK

This is a hard team to figure out, and a bit of a gamble any way you look at them. On one hand they appear fragile and undermanned in key areas, on the other they have a dynamic attacking game that can give problems to anyone. They are still a couple reinforcements short of challenging for the very top – especially after losing Jobo – but if they can avoid any more serious injuries they should be in the running for a spot in the Semi Finals.

 

A detailed roster and fixture list can be seen here.