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The SaberCats ownership didn’t wait until the end of the 2019 season to make changes. Once they knew they needed to go in a different direction, they put Paul Emerick in charge of the team and the decision paid off with a nice winning streak to close out the campaign. The form didn’t quite carry over to 2020 but it’s not hard to see why.
A number of top players left the side while the vastly experienced Paul Healy was brought in to help mentor Emerick. With their home ground now settled in, the mood in the camp was positive though it was clear the team wasn’t quite ready to start challenging the big guns.
RESULTS
After a couple of challenging preseason matches, the team got the regular season off to a winning start against Colorado in the home opener. A brief trip to Las Vegas didn’t quite work out, though the Cats recovered from a poor first half to very nearly topple Toronto in stoppage time.
The three-game home stand did not go to plan. Unforced errors cost them against both DC and New York. Houston got off to a cracking start against Austin but would then concede the match and the Texas Cup to the Gilgronis with discipline again the culprit. On this occasion the 10 minutes on either side of halftime proved decisive.
TOP PERFORMERS
Sam Windsor continues to be the driving force for Houston. Major League Rugby’s all-time leading scorer formed an effective partnership with new captain De Wet Roos. Shifting over the the wing this season, Zach Pangelinan looked youthful despite being on the wrong side of 30. A decade his junior, Kieran Farmer was also used on the wing to get valuable game experience.
Diego Magno and Luke Beauchamp provided leadership in the pack. The scrum remained an effective weapon with tighthead prop Charlie Connolly picking up on where he left off in 2019. Behind him was the workhorse Kyle Breytenbach with the other engine room spot split by Robert Meeson and Victor Comptat.
NEW NAMES
Roos and Breytenbach were outstanding among the 15 players making their franchise debuts in 2020. So too Diego Fortuny, the Argentine hooker who outshone his countrymen Nicolás Solveyra, Matías Freyre, and Thomas Morani. The two backs showed their class at times but struggled to remain fit.
Valdemar Lee-Lo returned from the rugby wilderness and showed he still has Eagles potential, with former New Zealand age grade reps Tim Cadwallader and Boyd Wiggins also contributing in the front row. Adriaan Booysen was a fearsome ball carrier off the back of the scrum and Tiaan Loots was the pick of the midfield backs.
MISSING MEN
Two players were unexpectedly relocated in the preseason as prop Jamie Dever went to San Diego and second row Charlie Hewitt to New York. Otherwise the team had their full complement to pick from though bumps and bruises required a mix-and-match backline more often than not.
HOME BASE
There are still expansion plans in the future, but as it stands AVEVA Stadium is already one of the best venues in MLR. With Infinity Park now out of the picture, it is also the only purpose-built rugby stadium in the league. Houston fans are fortunate to have a place to call home for now and the future.
WISH LIST
After so much movement in the 2019 off-season, the SaberCats would be best served by some stability. On the retention front, most should be expected to stay though one wonders if Magno will be tempted by the Súper Liga and how much longer Osea Kolinisau intends to carry on.
More bodies up front are required. At least one experienced prop and a couple big bodies who can cover lock would go a long way. The backline has room for a younger outside back though Zack Godfrey may be ready to step up. With Taylor Howden now in his senior years another center may also be in order.
OUTLOOK
This short season wasn’t exhilarating but was always going to be a prelude to the future. With the staff now in place and the spine of the team in decent shape, the 2021 campaign will have higher expectations. If they can flesh out the roster in the off-season a first-ever playoff appearance is up for grabs.
