Team of the Week

A delay in access to the full video of the all-Texas derby put our final selections off for a few hours but we got there, and in the end it was worth the wait with two players from that match forcing their way into the picture. This week’s selection seems like a good spread between multiple teams and divisions with the Jaguares taking four spots on the back of their first ever win at Eden Park.

1 – Olive Kilifi (Seattle Seawolves) The home side didn’t get the result they wanted but they sure made a game of it against a formidable Glendale team. Perhaps the most surprising aspect was the dominance of the Seattle scrum. Kilifi had his opposite on skates the whole game, a timely reminder that he isn’t out of the Eagles picture just yet.

2 – Agustín Creevy (Jaguares) Not a straightforward pick with Zach Fenoglio pulling out all the stops in a try-scoring performance for Glendale albeit for a significant portion on the blinside flank. Creevy might have played like an extra loose forward but it was the hooker’s shirt he was wearing as he led his charges to their memorable victory in Auckland.

3 – Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Jaguares) Strong in the scrum, excellent defensively, and even reach double digits in carries. A big part of the Jaguares pack that fronted up against the Blues. Austin’s Mason Pedersen gets honorable mention for dismantling the Houston scrum in impressive fashion.

4 – Matt Jensen (Utah Warriors) Up against his old ARC buddy Siaosi Mahoni, it was Jensen who get the edge between the two giants though Mahoni’s team took the spoils. After a flat start from the Warriors they picked up the slack and Jensen led the way in the pack, a primary source of possession who also disrupted San Diego’s first phase ball.

5 – Guido Petti (Jaguares) Speaking of lineout performances it was another sterling effort from Petti against the Blues, winning ball all day despite being the shortest lock on the pitch. Last year he struggled to bring his Super Rugby form into the test arena. Can he change that this year?

6 – Kyle Sumsion (Houston SaberCats) A true captain’s performance from the heart of the SaberCats pack. Won a turnover early and made several attackers reconsider the wisdom of their decisions. Carried with the same venom, breaking through to create a try. After a disappointing season opener, Sumsion led the charge back to redemption against Austin.

7 – Vili Toluta’u (Seattle Seawolves) One of the questions asked of Major League Rugby was to unearth new talent for the Eagles. Over the past two weeks ‘Mr. T’ has quite literally bolted into the spotlight and has no doubt caught the eye of national selectors. Both his ball carrying and work around the breakdown are outstanding. His physique also suggests a look at hooker, where he has been training, might be of interest to the higher-ups.

8 – Facundo Isa (Toulon) Has shouldered so much of the carrying duties that his body has asked for a timeout. Once again he made the hard yards on the weekend with a number of strong carries in an inspirational performance. Just when it seemed as though a return to the Pumas was imminent… it seems like we’ll have to wait just a little bit longer.

9 – Shaun Davies (Glendale Raptors) It’s not easy to execute the game plan not just behind a retreating scrum but also in dreadful conditions. With the rain piling down in the second half Davies kept his composure and kept the team on track. Fenoglio got the plaudits but Davies was steering the ship.

10 – AJ MacGinty (Sale Sharks) A late Exeter try stretched the scoreline for what was an otherwise very competitive match. MacGinty was his team’s best, putting huge pressure on the Exeter line with a number of strong runs and also fiercely defending his channel. Among the other contenders were two more Eagles contenders – Glendale’s Will Magie and Will Hooley of Bedford Blues.

11 – DTH van der Merwe (Glasgow Warriors) It’s hard to believe what a difference the change in scenery has made to the Canadian winger’s fortunes. After scrubbing the floors at Newcastle for most of the season, van der Merwe is back to doing what he does best – scoring tries. He got two more in the 1872 Cup loss to Edinburgh on the weekend.

12 – Jerónimo de la Fuente (Jaguares) The Jaguares missed his direct running early in the season. There’s a question of whether he’s best suited to pair with the similar Matías Orlando rather than a more creative type but there’s no doubting his value and ability to win the battle on the gainline.

13 – Anthony Salaber (San Diego Legion) One half of an impressive Legion midfield that never allowed their opposites – Paul Lasike in particular – to get going. Salaber stretched his legs for an opportune try and like Toluta’u is someone whose MLR form could push him into Eagles contention.

14 – Sione Fangaiuiha (Austin Elite) Two tries scored, both very different in nature, and a couple clean breaks including one to set Alex Faison-Donahoe free in the second half. Honorable mention to the most popular soon-to-be-free Jeff Hassler who stood out in a middling Ospreys side.

15 – Juan Imhoff (Racing 92) Back at his preferred wing spot but MLR’s best fullback this week was a Fijian so we had to call an audible. Imhoff scored two cracking tries and had a big game going forward in the win over Bordeaux.