MLR Team of the Week

Another busy week of Major League Rugby action saw all six teams in action. Unlike previous weeks, only one match was decided by seven points or less. Undoubtedly the top performance was that of the Toronto Arrows, whose tremendous win over New York is rewarded with four selections.

1 – Jamie Dever (Old Glory DC) It all starts at the front and the Old Glory scrum enjoyed their best ever performance against New England. Dever played well into the final quarter of the match and put in his share of tackles on the fringes.

2 – Marko Janse van Rensburg (Rugby ATL) The lineout was much improved against NOLA from the loss to Austin the week before. Janse van Rensburg has proved a savvy addition to the Ratlers with his high work rate in defense also on display against the Gold.

3 – Steven Longwell (Old Glory DC) In the loose it was two-try Dino Waldren from NOLA who impressed most. We just can’t overlook Longwell’s impact at the set piece. The Free Jacks were in retreat at the scrum and it set the stage for a convincing victory for the OG’s.

4 – Nathan Den Hoedt (LA Giltinis) Honorable mention to ATL’s Marno Redelinghuys who was a terror around the pitch with his physicality, particularly in defense. Den Hoedt put in an 80-minute shift and completely dominated the lineout. He carried well and somehow pulled off a sidestep fit for a back.

5 – Isaac Ross (Austin Gilgronis) It was surprising to see his name on the team sheet after an ankle injury suffered the week before. Ross played through the pain and scored two tries against Seattle. Even more impressive was his utter dismantling of the Seawolves lineout. A remarkable performance.

6 – Angus Cottrell (LA Giltinis) Given an early break near the hour mark but the result was long decided by then. Scored a try in the third minute and was never far from the action on both sides of the ball. Callum Gibbins was very strong defensively for Old Glory.

7 – Lucas Rumball (Toronto Arrows) If there was any room for debate as to who is the form flanker before this week, there isn’t one now. Rumball earns his fourth consecutive selection after ruining New York’s Sunday with three breakdown turnovers that shut down potential scoring situations.

8 – Jason Damm (Rugby ATL) Look no further when the Ratlers need some go-forward. Or a tackle. He provided both in abundance against NOLA, and it was his turnover in a tackle – and then burst from the back of a scrum – that created the final try for Redelinghuys. Toronto’s Manuel Diana wasn’t far behind.

9 – Nick Boyer (Houston SaberCats) The SaberCats looked down and out against Utah but clawed back to salvage two bonus points on the road. Boyer played a key part in that, challenging the defense like an extra loose forward. Harrison Goddard continues to be the oil in the LA machine.

10 – Robbie Povey (Houston SaberCats) Hat tricks for flyhalves don’t come often. Povey now has five tries in two games. The Canadian international is proving a master of the show-and-go and his form sees him back in contention for the test side. Tayler Adams was the orchestrator of the Arrow assault.

11 – Manuel Montero (Toronto Arrows) Last week the creator, this week the finisher. Three tries from three different situations for his third consecutive weekly honor. Our only complaint was the unnecessary reaction after the final whistle. DTH van der Merwe bagged a double for LA.

12 – Ned Hodson (Austin Gilgronis) Typically a second-stringer, Hodson enjoyed his finest match in MLR to date. A brilliant offload put Ross in for a try, a searing line break created another for Zinzan Elan-Puttick, and the coup de grace was a highlight-reel finish on full-time.

13 – Ben LeSage (Toronto Arrows) Joins his fellow co-captain Rumball in the side after another stellar match. Won a turnover early on and he was a constant threat on offense. Sent Mieres in for a try with a wonderful miss-pass pass on the fly and was inches short from scoring the final try himself.

14 – Gastón Mieres (Toronto Arrows) Utah’s Mika Kruse wouldn’t look out of place here but Mieres played a vital role in the Arrows win. Pulled off an audacious counter-attack from deep in his own end, prevented New York’s counter-attack with his relentless kick chase, and was rewarded with a second half try.

15 – Mike Te’o (Utah Warriors) An impossible decision with ATL’s Adriaan Carelse and Toronto’s Joaquín Tuculet also worthy of selection. Te’o was almost untouchable against Houston, breaking tackles at will with two tries himself and two more of his making. His combination with Kruse was pure magic.