MLR 2020 – West Conference Preview

Where the East Conference is the home of the newcomers, the West Conference houses every finalist in in Major League Rugby history. Seattle are the two-time defending champions while San Diego came painfully close in 2019, with Glendale (now Colorado) coming second-best in 2018.

As with the East there is a separation in terms of predicted fortunes in the West. Most have Seattle or San Diego as preseason favorites to win the Shield. The others look to be fighting it out for the third playoff spot but there is little agreement in which of the four ‘leftovers’ have the edge.

 

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES

Two MLR seasons, two MLR Shield victories. The Seawolves have unmatched fan support, selling out virtually every game with Starfire Stadium one of the toughest venues in the league for visiting teams. Seattle have added even more quality in 2020 while retaining the bulk of their championship roster.

2019 RECORD: 13-4-1 (Champions) (ALL-TIME: 21-6-1)

HEAD COACH: Coaching is the one area where Seattle have had real problems in their first two seasons. For the first time they enter the season with a settled staff in place. Former Namibia prop Kees Lensing takes over from Richie Walker, joining from Rugby United New York where he was in charge of the forwards. Phil Mack remains an assistant – but this time won’t be lacing up the boots as well.

CAPTAIN: An inspirational figure in the side from Day One has been Shalom Suniula, but he will pass the torch to last season’s vice-captain Riekert Hattingh for the new campaign. The vocal South Africa native plays a similar style to NOLA’s Cam Dolan – prominent at restart and lineouts, and a link man out wide. Dolan also happens to be the man in possession of the Eagles jersey that Hattingh is chasing.

STAR PLAYER: He might be winding down his storied career, but Juan Manuel Leguizamón remains a first class loose forward who brings unrivaled experience and leadership to an already loaded pack. Four World Cups and multiple seasons in each of the Premiership, Top 14, and Super Rugby. That resume speaks for itself.

KEY DEPARTURE: While Samu Manoa is the biggest name in the outgoing column, Api Naikatini had a greater impact over the course of 2019. The Fijian lock proved he still had plenty left in the tank and was a consistent source of possession at the lineout. Naikatini is now playing for DC leaving South African import FP Pelser with big shoes to fill.

SMART SIGNING: Veterans seem to be lining up for glory runs in the USA but Ross Neal is a rare beast. The 24-year-old was in the middle of a Premiership contract with Wasps and opted to gamble on a season with the Seawolves. At 6’5″ (1.96m) he is an imposing outside center who knows his way to the try-line.

ONE TO WATCH: Last year was supposed to be a stepping stone to the World Cup but instead Vili Toluta’u was largely forced to watch after a cruel early-season injury wrecked his campaign. Meanwhile Nakai Penny was outstanding in the No7 shirt and now Andrew Durutalo has joined the fray. Toluta’u saw time at hooker in the preseason. A move to the front row might rekindle his international prospects.

STRENGTHS: The scrum isn’t quite the wrecking machine it was in 2018 – other teams have simply caught up – but the forward pack remains arguably the best overall in MLR with second row Brad Tucker a giant among giants. There is no shortage of beef in the midfield, top talent out wide, goal kickers galore, and the confidence of being two-time champions.

CONCERNS: Is there a chance that complacency might creep in? There were indications that success was taken for granted last season with several come-from-behind wins required after slow starts. Finding their ‘zen’ from the opening whistle will be the goal in the early stage of the season.

OUTLOOK: This team is two-deep at every position – the back row depth particularly frightening. It’s as good a roster as we have seen in MLR heading into the season. As defending champions they will have a big target on their backs but all signs point to another big campaign from the pace-setters.

 

SAN DIEGO LEGION

Bragging rights were just seconds away when the Seawolves crashed over the line in stoppage time to steal away another MLR Shield. The Legion aren’t messing about this season with some big-time additions to their existing Eagle-laden roster.

2019 RECORD: 13-4-1 (Finalists) (ALL-TIME: 18-8-1)

HEAD COACH: It’s a third year in charge for Rob Hoadley, who was the consensus choice for ‘Coach of the Year’ in 2019. Some of that credit must also go to forwards coach Scott Murray, with former Eagles Sevens star Zack Test completing a high quality triumvirate.

CAPTAIN: Taking over the on-field leadership in 2019 was Joe Pietersen. He stepped up into the flyhalf spot and was nothing short of brilliant in every capacity. This season will see him move back to his preferred fullback spot as Australian import Luke Burton brings more class to the No10 shirt.

STAR PLAYER: Until ‘The Best’ was unveiled by DC, Ma’a Nonu was the biggest signing in MLR history. Some might argue he still is. The two-time Webb Ellis Cup winner and All Blacks legend is a household name in rugby circles. Legion fans are hoping he’s not just here on holiday.

KEY DEPARTURE: The best signing of the 2018-19 off-season was former Wallabies prop Paddy Ryan. Unfortunately he’s now the best leaver. Ryan has taken up the second part of his contract with Sanix Blues in Japan. He may yet return in 2021, but in the meantime Eagles tighthead Paul Mullen has been signed on to anchor the scrum.

SMART SIGNING: An area of inconsistency for San Diego in 2019 was the second row. Until the late-season arrival of Joshua Furno, the lineout didn’t quite have a go-to man. In former Austin captain Ben Mitchell they have exactly that. He’s not just a set piece operator either – Mitchell is equally good around the park with the mobility and ball skills of a loose forward.

ONE TO WATCH: Others will point at fellow flanker Devin Short, but we’ll direct our interest at Psalm Wooching. A supreme athlete who took big strides ahead in 2019 and wasn’t far off making the World Cup side. In and out of Eagles squads since his debut in February 2018, Wooching’s ferocity in the tackle stands him apart from other contenders.

STRENGTHS: The potential starting lineup for San Diego is as good as any in MLR. Their backline is bristling with internationals, on paper the class of the league. Like Seattle there is competition for spots and no glaring deficiencies on the roster.

CONCERNS: Getting a roster full of stars to play as a team instead of individuals can sometimes be a challenge, though Hoadley looked up to the task in 2019. Staying on target mentally wasn’t always the best last season with the loss to the Arrows at home a nauseating experience for the coaching staff. Front row depth is an issue outside of the match day 23.

OUTLOOK: With stacks of talent out wide and the likes of Peter Malcolm and Tevita Tameilau adding further class to the pack, there’s a lot to love about this team. The Legion look slightly more vulnerable to potential injuries than the Seawolves but otherwise have the goods to take another run at the title.

 

COLORADO RAPTORS

Their home is still in Glendale but the Raptors are now flying the flag for the entire state of Colorado. It’s a positive re-branding, and changes to their coaching staff and playing roster also look promising after a frustrating 2019 but there is no guarantee that it will be enough to challenge the big guns of Seattle and San Diego.

2019 RECORD: 7-7-2 (6th) (ALL-TIME: 15-9-2)

HEAD COACH: With long-time coach Dave Williams shown the door, it’s Peter Borlase who is promoted from the forwards job to top dog. The New Zealander has plenty of professional experience and brings a more player-friendly approach. Borlase has drafted in old Canterbury teammate Stephen Brett to take charge of the attack.

CAPTAIN: Last year’s skipper and scrumhalf Shaun Davies has opted to hang up the boots and pursue a coaching career with Utah. Wearing the armband this season will be last year’s vice-captain Luke White. Previously a prop, the fiery Australian made a permanent switch to lock last year and was the team’s most prominent ball carrier.

STAR PLAYER: If you’re Australian, the answer to this is Digby Ioane. Americans would lean towards Hanco Germishuys. Our pick is former All Blacks winger Rene Ranger, who could have won many more than his 6 test caps had he not been swayed by the lucrative contracts on offer in Europe. Expect him to play in the midfield for the Raptors and win over the fans with his fearsome running and tackling.

KEY DEPARTURE: It was a changing of the guard in the off-season with many Glendale stalwarts retiring or heading elsewhere. Among them is former Eagles hooker Zach Fenoglio, who hangs up the boots at the age of just 30. Despite opting out of test rugby following the 2015 World Cup, he has consistently rated among the nation’s best hookers in the years since.

SMART SIGNING: Colorado needed some experience at scrumhalf with the loss of Davies, and have negotiated the return of Nick Boyer to Glendale. Knocked out of the starting role at San Diego – and effectively the World Cup squad – by Nate Augspurger, Boyer has a point to prove in 2020. He’ll have competition for the No9 shirt in Carlo de Nysschen and Sean Yacoubian but at his best Boyer asks questions of defenses that few halfbacks can match.

ONE TO WATCH: With Fenoglio gone, it’s up to Chad Gough to make the No2 shirt his own. Now 28 years old, the Collegiate All-American can no longer be considered a development player. If he has ambitions of following Fenoglio’s footsteps into test rugby, Gough has to make a splash in 2020. He has extraordinary speed for a front rower but it’s the set piece that separates the best from the rest.

STRENGTHS: If there is a team that can go toe-to-toe with San Diego in the back department, it’s Colorado. Add in John Ryberg and newcomer Mason Emerson to Ioane and Ranger and there is enough firepower to do major damage. The back row also looks quality if slightly low on numbers.

CONCERNS: A quick glance at the roster will tell you where things went wrong with recruitment. There are too many backs and not enough forwards. Given the poor performance of their scrum in 2019, bolstering their tight five ought to have been a priority in the off-season.

OUTLOOK: Colorado did win both their preseason encounters but it’s hard to feel overly confident about their chances with such a glaring weakness at the set piece. They could still make the playoffs with so much talent out wide, but a serious title run is not on the cards this year.

 

UTAH WARRIORS

Reloaded is the tag word for the Warriors in 2020. It’s even been branded onto their jerseys. After a dismal 2019 it’s an appropriate call to action and there’s no doubt that things are looking up. A rough preseason doesn’t spark confidence but there is potential brewing in Salt Lake City.

2019 RECORD: 2-12-2 (8th) (ALL-TIME: 5-18-2)

HEAD COACH: Out goes Alf Daniels and in comes Chris Latham. The long-time Wallabies fullback switched to coaching full-time in 2013 but this is his first appointment as a Head Coach. Latham’s arrival was delayed by the visa-crats and he had to depend on assistants Ben Nicholls, Shaun Davies, and Shawn Pittman to oversee much of the preseason.

CAPTAIN: New to the team this year is Dwayne Polataivao. Samoa’s starting scrumhalf at RWC 2019, the 29-year-old is a significant upgrade from the series of utility players employed by Utah in the No9 shirt over the past two seasons. He prefers to lead by example rather than voice, a trait shared with vice-captain Saia Uhila.

STAR PLAYER: It’s a week past his 35th birthday but Fetu’u Vainikolo is still a key figure on the Warriors roster. The former Tonga winger led the team in tries scored last season and will be hoping for a few more this year with new blood in the midfield ready to open space for the flyers. In a recent interview Latham cited ‘Fets’ as one of his off-field leaders during the preseason.

KEY DEPARTURE: Losing your captain is never ideal and the Warriors have now seen 2018 leader Paul Lasike and 2019 skipper Tim O’Malley snatched up by overseas clubs. The latter was their most consistent performer last season and their leading scorer. As did Lasike, O’Malley leaves a big hole in the No12 shirt but the newcomer is certainly no slouch.

SMART SIGNING: Parachuting straight into the inside center spot is Blake Hohaia. The 24-year-old is a more traditional midfielder who likes to play the game on the gainline, using his footwork and power to punch through. Hohaia arrives after two seasons as a first choice player for Northland in New Zealand’s Mitre 10 Cup.

ONE TO WATCH: Similar to Wooching at San Diego, the time is now for Lance Williams to make his move. The loose forward’s work rate is off the charts and he has the physical qualities to excel. Settling on one position would be a start. Cutting down on a high penalty count will go a long way to attracting attention from the national selectors.

STRENGTHS: Any time the Warriors get the ball wide spells danger for the opposition. Gannon Moore, Tonata Lauti, and Josh Whippy among others can make something out of nothing. The influx of talent – coaches included – has created a buzz around the team that was absent last season.

CONCERNS: Latham’s late arrival was not ideal and the team is now playing catch-up. The preseason showed that it will take time to gel with so many starters new to the team. Depth in the forwards is also a bit thin, especially at hooker where only Veremalua Vugakoto has any notable experience.

OUTLOOK: This promises to be a more enjoyable campaign for the Warriors but that doesn’t necessarily translate into a heap of wins. A slow start is likely but they should be on par with Colorado and the Texan teams come the second half of the season.

 

HOUSTON SABERCATS

Crushing lows to start the 2019 season were eventually replaced by the highs of a four-game win streak to end it. It will be a very different team tasked with carrying on the momentum, however, with big changes to the staff and two thirds of the starting lineup completely new. This looks very much like a rebuilding year for the SaberCats.

2019 RECORD: 6-10 (7th) (ALL-TIME: 7-17)

HEAD COACH: Paul Emerick took over in an interim capacity from Justin Fitzpatrick last year but Paul Healy is in charge from the start this year. That’s a good thing for both Houston and Emerick, who will get to learn from a coach with professional and international experience across the globe. Healy has assembled a decent roster since arriving on the job in November.

CAPTAIN: With Matt Trouville opting to call it a day at the end of last season, it’s a new player who takes the captaincy. De Wet Roos has a season of Super Rugby on his resume and several years of experience in the top divisions of Australian rugby. He will be a critical figure both as an inspirational leader and dynamic attacking scrumhalf.

STAR PLAYER: Vice-captain Diego Magno is easily the most experienced test international on the roster but it’s Fiji’s Olympic gold-winning captain Osea Kolinisau who is the most recognizable figure. Emerick moved him from the midfield to fullback last season where Kolinisau’s vision and playmaking skills proved highly effective.

KEY DEPARTURE: Houston were stripped down to bare bones in the off-season, losing almost all of their recognizable international talent. Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz was an unknown when he arrived but his huge power from the base of the scrum earned him an Eagles debut in short order. He and another gainline bender – Thretton Palamo – have both shipped off to DC.

SMART SIGNING: Arriving just a week ago were two Argentine front rowers. Diego Fortuny is a capped international hooker but the lesser-known Nicolás Solveyra is just as important. The loosehead prop has been a regular starter for the Argentina XV in the Americas Rugby Championship and is both a scrummager and ball carrier, a similar profile to the man he replaces – Mateo Sanguinetti.

ONE TO WATCH: Wingers with genuine pace are strangely a rarity in the Eagles squad at the moment. One who will be watched closely this season is Malacchi Esdale. The 24-year-old was an accomplished wide receiver in gridiron and has the size and strength to compete at the next level. Esdale recently made his international debut with the USA Sevens development side.

STRENGTHS: Houston’s tight five were a formidable unit before the arrival of the Argentines, and are sure to cause problems for opposing scrums. Halfbacks Roos and Sam Windsor are experienced operators, and there are versatile attacking options out wide in Zach Pangelinan and newcomer Matías Freyre.

CONCERNS: It’s a recurring theme in MLR’s West Conference this season – another roster heavy on backs but light on forwards. Houston are painfully low on numbers up front, with barely enough cover beyond a match day roster. With so many new players and more likely to arrive yet, team cohesion will be an issue.

OUTLOOK: The individual parts are there for the SaberCats to press for a playoff spot but fitting the puzzle together isn’t something that can be achieved overnight. They can start by building their still-shiny AVEVA Stadium into a fortress. Road wins will be more difficult to come by.

 

AUSTIN GILGRONIS

Austin’s story gets weirder by the day. In the span of six months the team has gone from the Elite at Dell Diamond to the Herd at Round Rock Multipurpose Complex and finally the Gilgronis at Bold Stadium. The good news is the team hit rock bottom last season so there’s only one way for the pendulum to swing.

2019 RECORD: 0-16 (9th) (ALL-TIME: 3-21)

HEAD COACH: Todd Clever took over from Alain Hyardet for the final match of last season and Brent Semmons was hired in the off-season. Whatever their official titles are now, Mick Byrne is the new number one in Austin. A world-renowned skills coach, ‘Mick the Kick’ is a major score for the Gilgronis who will ensure the players improve each and every day.

CAPTAIN: Stepping up to the captaincy for at least the first part of the season is Zinzan Elan-Puttick. South African-born but a long-time USA resident, the 26-year-old has been a top performer in the past two seasons while mostly playing fullback. He’s been filling in as a flyhalf in the preseason but with the impending arrival of Kurt Morath it’s anyone’s guess where Elan-Puttick settles.

STAR PLAYER: Austin haven’t even publicly confirmed his signature yet but Adam Ashley-Cooper will the biggest name by a distance when he arrives. Only two players have more caps for Australia and he is 12th all-time in Super Rugby appearances. Ashley-Cooper brings real toughness to the side beyond his extensive resume.

KEY DEPARTURE: Just like their fellow Texans, Austin were hit hard in the off-season. Peter Malcolm, the Larsen bros, Andrés Vilaseca. All were starters who found the exit door. The biggest loss was captain Ben Mitchell, whose towering presence in the second row has not been replaced.

SMART SIGNING: Good front rowers are worth their weight in gold and Wilton Rebolo fits the bill and then some. The Brazilian behemoth is a destructive scrummager at hooker or tighthead prop. Opposing packs might soon be wondering why the 24-year-old is playing in Texas instead of Europe.

ONE TO WATCH: Packing down on the left side of the scrum is LaRome White. After serving an apprenticeship with Seattle in 2018, White moved to Austin last season and got his shot midway through the campaign. His success in making hard yards with ball in hand was a rare positive for the side.

STRENGTHS: The starting front row of White, Rebolo, and Juan Echeverría is a fearsome unit. That alone will give them confidence and the ability to run strike plays off the set piece. Speed is also in abundance, both in the loose forwards and across the backline.

CONCERNS: Finding bodies to fill out the second and back rows is a problem right now. It’s a near-identical situation to Houston where even a single serious injury would be a major problem. The delayed arrival of a half-dozen reinforcements leaves the team exposed to start the season.

OUTLOOK: Just a month ago we wondered if Austin was staring down the barrel of another winless season. The changes since have been dramatic, but until the cavalry arrives the Gilgronis will be hanging on for dear life. Once they do get settled in this could be the surprise package of 2020.

 

PREDICTION

Seattle and San Diego are the top two sides in the West, of that there is no doubt. The extra depth in the Seawolves pack suggests they have a slight edge. After them it’s daylight to the rest. Any of the four remaining sides could conceivably take the third spot. Colorado fared based in the preseason and were the highest-ranked in 2019 so they get the nod for now.

1. Seattle Seawolves, 2. San Diego Legion, 3. Colorado Raptors