MLR Season Preview – Utah Warriors

Opening weekend of Major League Rugby is behind us but there’s still one team yet to take the field. The Utah Warriors have waited patiently and they will finally get their chance to show off their wares on the main stage when they travel to San Diego this weekend.

Followers of American club rugby will recognize the name from elsewhere. The Warriors were part of the now-defunct USA Rugby Super League in 2011, but only lasted a single season before folding. This new franchise has no direct connection to the old side though their function is similar. The new Warriors is an evolution of the Rugby Utah Selects, a high performance program run by the state.

Three warm-up matches came with mixed reviews. Glendale looked a class apart in their first outing, to be expected given their preparation time, while the Arrows also gave Utah problems and left Rio Tinto with a win. The most recent outing was a one-sided beatdown of an under-strength Wolf Pack side that will help confidence somewhat but the real tests are yet to come.

STRENGTHS

Size is definitely not an issue for Utah. There are some big bodies up front and some of the backs are just as big. When it comes to pure power in the contact area this team comes out on top. Winning the gainline via brute force is a key feature of their arsenal.

The loss of Josh Whippy to a broken leg last Friday is a major blow to the team but it’s not all bad news for Utah fans. Arguably their two best players are still to be unveiled – powerhouse No8 David Tameilau and top class goal kicker Kurt Morath, who join the team from professional clubs in France and Japan respectively. Along with Eagles selects Angus MacLellan, Matt Jensen, Paul Lasike, and Tonga winger Fetu’u Vainikolo they have a solid base of international talent.

Squad depth in the loose forwards and outside backs in particular is reasonably good. There is cover within the squad for Whippy – not least Vainikolo and Tonga Sevens rep Tana Afeaki – and competitive options at most positions. They will not be heavily affected during the June test window.

QUESTIONS

As we saw with San Diego against Seattle, it’s hard to get going without a scrum that can hold its own. Utah’s front row options are a little suspect outside of Tonga ‘A’ hooker Lote Tu’ipulotu and Eagles tighthead prop Angus MacLellan. The starting loosehead looks to be Alex Tucci who is impressive with ball in hand but a relative neophyte to the scrum.

Before the arrival of Kurt Morath there were major concerns about goal kicking. Scrumhalf also appears an unsettled position with the Nicholls brothers – Ben and Joseph – competing against sevens expert Don Pati. The lack of a specialist distributor in that area could limit their attack somewhat.

Match fitness could also prove to be their undoing. In the Arrows match several players looked exhausted before halftime and though they recovered at the break, there are questions of whether they are collectively up to 80 minutes of high intensity rugby. We’ll see soon enough if this is fixable with a couple hard weeks of training.

HOME FIELD

The Warriors have hit the jackpot in terms of facilities. Zions Bank Stadium still has that new car smell with the Wolf Pack game being its first ever sporting event. Its capacity of 5,000 is just about right for the team despite bringing in more than 9,000 for their debut at Rio Tinto, which is an equally impressive venue should they outgrow Zions Bank down the road. With access to the state-of-the-art training center next door they have everything they need in one spot.

HEAD COACH

Alf Daniels isn’t a big-name signing but he ticks all the boxes in terms of experience. The New Zealand native has more than 30 years under his belt after retiring from playing at a young age. Most recently he has been in charge of Waikato’s development side and led their u19 squad to a national championship in 2016. Daniels is already familiar with the American rugby landscape after a stint coaching Penn State, and has coached a handful of current Warriors players in the past.

CAPTAIN

Technically there are two captains, at least there has been in the preseason. Saia Uhila is the pack leader, a dynamic ball carrier capable of covering lock or loose forward. Doing most of the talking, however, is Paul Lasike. He arrived with great fanfare from a brief stay in the NFL with the Chicago Bears. Another of New Zealand origin, he was snapped up into the Eagles camp immediately after signing for Utah and made his test debut against Chile. Thus far he has looked every bit as explosive as expected and should easily be among the top midfielders in the competition.

KEY PLAYERS

Without Angus MacLellan the scrum would look very creaky indeed. Having been in and around national selection for some time he has collected a handful of caps but is yet to start his first test. At 25 he is only now approaching his prime. His weakness thus far has been discipline – hardly an anomaly for a front row. If he can avoid the ire of the referee the selectors may come calling again.

If there weren’t enough ball carriers already in the side, Eagles standout David Tameilau has joined the team from Narbonne in France, where he has been an ever-present in the side for the past two seasons. The 28-year-old exploded onto the scene in the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship but has been in and out of the Eagles squad since. At his best he is more than just a big bopper, Tameilau has soft hands with the ability to link with the backs or offload out of a tackle.

Filling the No10 role is a name familiar to rugby fans around the world. Kurt Morath has played in two World Cups for Tonga and has played in New Zealand, Ireland, France, Japan, and of course the USA with the San Diego Breakers. He’s an experienced head with an outstanding kicking game who will punish teams who take penalties anywhere in their own half.

ONE TO WATCH

While Alex Tucci also comes to mind, one who has flown a bit under the radar is Hawaiian wrecking ball Lance Williams. The 24-year-old has switched his Rainbow Warriors linebacker helmet for some thigh strapping and a Utah Warriors shirt. He still has some learning to do in the more technical areas like the breakdown, but Williams has the ferocity and athleticism to make a real impact in Utah’s back row.

OUTLOOK

This is hard team to call and one that could prove the most volatile in terms of performance. Putting point on the board won’t be an issue but conceding them might be. If they can resolve their set piece and fitness issues they will be a shoe-in for the Semi Finals. If not, they could be battling to avoid the basement. Sunday’s result should be a strong indication of which way they’re headed.

 

A detailed roster and fixture list can be seen here.