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The last weekend without the international tourists in attendance gave a few different players a chance to make their mark, with a certain Utah scrumhalf earning our applause. At the same time some of the usual suspects also showed their class with the playoff picture now all but sorted.
1 – Franco van den Berg (Utah Warriors) Very busy in the loose in his first start in a month. He delivered several tackles in the fringes, and enjoyed a fun battle against countryman Wikus Groenewald in the scrum. Also fit in a handful of effective carries into heavy traffic.
2 – James Malcolm (Seattle Seawolves) Not the easiest position to select this week with several in contention, not least New York’s Dylan Fawsitt and Utah hat-trick hero Sama Malolo. Malcolm scored a double for the Seawolves and excellent at the set piece.
3 – Samu Tawake (Rugby United New York) Won the scrum battle decisively and very active in the loose. Scored a first half try that contributed to the blowout win over Houston. Old Glory’s Steven Longwell also came into consideration.
4 – Johan Momsen (Rugby ATL) What a season the South African is having again for the Ratlers. Scored two tries against Utah, one on a scorching outside-in line and another from a kickoff that the Warriors let bounce. Prominent in the lineout and busy in defense.
5 – Apisai Naikatini (Old Glory DC) The old fella is enjoying a purple patch in the late stages of the campaign. Remarkably he put in another 80 minute shift, setting up a try for Josh Brown and scoring one himself. LA’s Luke White threw himself about with reckless abandon in defense.
6 – Ben Landry (Seattle Seawolves) His best performance since the build-up to the 2019 World Cup. After a long hiatus Landry looks to be enjoying his rugby again, putting in several thumping tackles against NOLA. Vili Helu was also in the mix with a strong game for ATL.
7 – Mungo Mason (Old Glory DC) A tip of the cap to Toronto’s Tomas de la Vega for his brave effort, and also to LA’s hard-working Sean O’Brien. Mason had arguably his best game of the season for DC, tearing up the pitch with one of the best solo tries of the season while also dominant in defense.
8 – Locky McCaffrey (Austin Gilgronis) Absolutely everywhere for the AG’s. Scored a first half try from a maul, and ripped two ball clean out of LA hands in contact. Might want to reconsider his new-found love of kicking, just about the only negative on his copybook.
9 – Danny Christensen (Utah Warriors) Honorable mentions to Austin’s Pele Cowley and Seattle’s JP Smith, but the occasion tips the scales in Christensen’s favor. In his first MLR stars the 31-year-old enjoyed a fine match, scoring a brace of tries albeit in a losing effort. The Warriors couldn’t have asked for more from the local product.
10 – Bautista Ezcurra (Rugby ATL) Another excellent all-around performance for the Argentine, who shifted to inside center when Kurt Coleman came on in the second half. Controlled field position with his left boot and his distribution was sublime. Only knock against was a couple missed kicks at goal.
11 – DTH van der Merwe (LA Giltinis) Back after a three-week break and reminded us what an impact he makes. A menace with ball in hand, and his tackle that sent Nick Johnson flying into touch was just as impressive despite the harsh call from the referee.
12 – JP du Plessis (NOLA Gold) His teammates looked to be suffering from an energy dump after the win over LA but du Plessis kept his standards high. Without his go-forward the scoreline might have been even worse. LA’s Bill Meakes was a contender after another dominant defensive effort.
13 – Ryan Nell (Rugby ATL) Made a dramatic return from a long-term knee injury and looked as though he had never left. A first half line break set up a try for Vili Helu, and his defense was rock solid. New England’s Poasa Waqanibau impressed against the Arrows.
14 – Jeremy Misailegalu (Rugby ATL) ‘The Missile’ was firing against his old team in Salt Lake. Went looking for work and had numerous carries which resulted in two line breaks. Kept the ball alive with two offloads from contact.
15 – Cecil Afrika (San Diego Legion) Ended the season in excellent form with another high-flying performance against Old Glory. Scored a try at the end of a flowing attacking move in the first half, and he put Bjorn Basson away with a line-break that set up a textbook two-on-one.
