MLR Team of the Week

Week 2 of the 2019 Major League Rugby season gave us three games to peruse, and given the results it should be no surprise that the NOLA Gold enjoy the greatest representation for the second week running. In the end at least one player from each team managed to squeeze in if only just. With several players away on international duty it gave some different names a chance to put their name in the spotlight.

1 – Hubert Buydens (NOLA Gold) Absent six senior forwards, the NOLA pack needed their remaining vets to hold the fort and Buydens certainly did that. Dominant in the scrum, physical in defense, and an overall calming presence to the youngsters around him.

2 – Matt Harmon (NOLA Gold) One of those young fellas was Harmon, the Collegiate All-American prop who has switched his focus to hooker. With captain Eric Howard away on Canada duty, the 23-year-old stepped in and did an admirable job. Lasted all 80 minutes, hit his lineout targets, and had a couple strong carries into traffic. Zach Fenoglio had a noticeable impact on the game when he arrived at halftime for the Raptors.

3 – Paddy Ryan (San Diego Legion) One of two repeat selections in this week’s team. The Waratahs centurion has thus far delivered the goods both in the loose and at the set piece. On Saturday he contributed to the penalty try at the scrum and was on the spot to deliver the try-scoring return pass to Mike Te’o from a cheeky quick throw-in.

4 – Louis Stanfill (San Diego Legion) Games like the one in San Diego on Saturday are when old school second rows earn their paychecks. Stanfill was born to do the dirty work and he had plenty to do, playing the whole game in the engine room and smashing into rucks and tackles with a couple lineout takes thrown in for good measure.

5 – Brendan Daly (Glendale Raptors) Another workhorse type but in a very different environment at NOLA. Daly was back at his natural position and put in a huge shift around the pitch. Was rewarded with a try but it wasn’t enough against a high-flying NOLA side.

6 – Will Munro (Glendale Raptors) A word for John Sullivan, the Gold flanker who put in a few thumping tackles. His opposite was also quality. Munro was a primary carrier for Glendale and picked up two tries for his efforts. Also a popular target in the lineout.

7 – Vili Toluta’u (Seattle Seawolves) Back to his mercurial best, which on the negative side also included a howling error that eventually cost his team a try. You take the bad with the good when it comes to this fella, and his good was very good again San Diego. It was a shame to see him injured near the end and hopefully the damage is not as serious as it looked.

8 – Kane Thompson (NOLA Gold) He’s a second row through-and-through but the old-timer fared well as a makeshift eightman. Couldn’t replicate the carrying game of Cam Dolan but he did dominate the lineout and defended well. Thompson’s intervention at one Glendale maul in particular likely saved a certain try.

9 – Nick Boyer (San Diego Legion) It was a bad day to be a winger and arguably even worse to be a scrumhalf. Boyer had to contend with atrocious conditions but somehow made the necessary connections and cleaned up when he had to. Holden Yungert went well in picture-perfect New Orleans while Marcelo Torrealba impressed for Austin.

10 – Scott Gale (NOLA Gold) An easy choice and one of the standout performers of the week. His quick and accurate distribution put his backline on the front foot and his left boot kept the Glendale back three guessing. Picked his spots to take on the line and sliced through for a wonderful individual try.

11 – John Ryberg (Glendale Raptors) Scored his second try in as many weeks with a strong finish down the left sideline. Will be disappointed with one knock-on in particular but for the most part had a good game on both sides of the ball that included a charge-down of Tristan Blewett’s clearance attempt.

12 – Tim O’Malley (Utah Warriors) Not an easy call but his leadership in guiding Utah to their first win gives him the nod. O’Malley played the second half at flyhalf and adjusted well, taking on the line and using his kicking game to vary the attack. Chad London was steady for Glendale and George Barton put in an impressive defensive effort for Seattle.

13 – Taylor Howden (NOLA Gold) Put in a terrific performance that caught the Glendale defense unawares for two spectacular solo tries. It wasn’t all offense, however, he completely shackled Mika Kruse and closed down the outside center channel. The two Fiji Sevens caps opposite each other in San Diego – William Rasileka and Jasa Veremalua – both had their moments during the match.

14 – Tristan Blewett (NOLA Gold) Switched to the wing this week and was just as impressive. Scored a try in support of a line break and his defense was outstanding, including a brilliant try-saving cover tackle on Nick Johnson. Mike Te’o picked up a try for San Diego in his return after several months on the sidelines.

15 – Soheyl Jaoudat (Austin Elite) Could have used some more energy from his teammates. Did well under the circumstances, covering Utah’s kicking game and responding with his own. His speed allowed him to cut down the receiver on multiple occasions to help Austin get back on the front foot.