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Saving the best for last? The San Diego Legion are coming off an unbeaten campaign and were favorites to lift the MLR Shield had the season run its course. Unfortunately for their dedicated fans – known as ‘The Cohort’ – nature intervened. With so many changes, including a temporary relocation to Las Vegas, the team can’t simply be ordained as champions-to-be in 2021.
2020 RECORD: 5-0 (1st West, 1st overall)
HEAD COACH: Despite his success Rob Hoadley was let go at the end of the season. Sharing the duties this season are his former assistants Scott Murray and Zack Test. It’s an odd situation and the plot thickened with confirmation that England supremo Eddie Jones has been hired as an advisor from abroad.
CAPTAIN: The Legion have yet to confirm their captain this season but Joe Pietersen is the incumbent keeper of the armband. At 36 years old he is on the downslope of his career but remains in remarkable physical condition. Set for a return to flyhalf following the departure of Luke Burton to LA.
STAR PLAYER: One of the biggest names to arrive in MLR during the offseason is former England skipper Chris Robshaw. The long-time Harlequins flanker has a chance to experience life on the Pacific as he begins a new chapter in his career. Robshaw will act as a mentor for rising talent Psalm Wooching and Michael Smith.
KEY DEPARTURE: It’s disappointing for Legion fans that Ma’a Nonu has returned to Toulon after just one season with San Diego. The All Blacks great did not rest on his laurels in MLR and his midfield partnership with JP du Plessis was the best in MLR. Both are now gone along with Burton and San Diego are forced to rebuild their backline.
SMART SIGNING: Attempting to find a like-for-like replacement for Nonu would have been a fruitless effort. Instead the team has signed their first South American player in Pumas and Jaguares veteran Santiago González Iglesias. The 32-year-old is capable of playing flyhalf but is as it his best as a distributer and kicking option at inside center.
ONE TO WATCH: A nominee for World Sevens Player of the Decade, Cecil Afrika is an outrageously talented attacking player in space. The legendary Blitzboks playmaker will operate at fullback for the Legion. He has played XVs sparingly in recent years and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to the pressure and a potential barrage of high balls sent in his direction.
STRENGTHS: San Diego’s back row is stacked with talent even without counting Robshaw. The backline has both depth and flexibility, with Eagles Dylan Audsley and Ryan Matyas each capable of covering multiple positions. That applies to Canadian international Jake Thiel as well.
CONCERNS: The amount of turnover particularly in the backs is disruptive, not to mention the coaching change. Moving operations to Vegas even more so. In general the age profile of the team is a little high with several in their mid-30s. Joshua Furno’s loan deal to Biarritz leaves the side without their best lineout jumper at least until May.
OUTLOOK: Look for the Legion to be in the top half of the West Conference. It’s a more competitive pool than a year ago, however, with their new California rivals LA and a revamped Austin side particularly set on sliding into the Semis ahead of San Diego. Whoever emerges as the best of the three will be favored to bring home the biggest prize on offer.
