MLR 2022 – ARN Team of the Week – Round 7

There was a full slate of six games in the 7th week of the 2022 Major League Rugby season. Remarkably the away team was victorious in five of them, with LA the only winners at home. In general there seemed to be less standout individuals this week and more team efforts.

1 – Alex Maughan (Rugby ATL) Had a try called back for an obstruction, but found his way back to the line in support of Justin Basson and this time it counted. Worked hard all game at the scrum and the loose. Maughan’s versatility is unique – he was our pick at hooker back in Round 3!

2 – Marko Janse van Rensburg (Rugby ATL) The runaway choice as best at his position in MLR at the moment. Picked up another try for the Ratlers and has suddenly developed a penchant for line breaks.

3 – Isaac Salmon (Toronto Arrows) Quietly putting together a string of impressive performances for the Arrows. Everything from Salmon was class against the Warriors – set piece, support work, tackling, ball carrying. Special mention to Dallas debutant Herman Agenbag who looked sharp in a brief cameo.

4 – Dave Dennis (LA Giltinis) Has put the team on his back this season with so many top players injured. Came within inches of scoring on one of several carries in the win over San Diego. Will Tucker played well for New York but lost points for poor discipline, and Seattle’s Samu Manoa left his mark in Dallas… not least on poor Adriaan Carelse.

5 – Justin Basson (Rugby ATL) A performance befitting the size of the man. Basson was a dominant figure for the Ratlers, scoring once and producing a scintillating offload to Maughan for another. His partnership with Johan Momsen, who was rested this week, is the form second row pairing in MLR. Toronto’s Paul Ciulini was next in line and settles for honorable mention.

6 – Benjamín Bonasso (Rugby New York) The Argentine Eagle is getting more influential for New York with every outing. Against the Gold he was a prominent ball carrier who also linked well with the backs. San Diego’s Rohan O’Regan provided some physicality in his run-on debut.

7 – Joe Johnston (New England Free Jacks) It was another good game for NOLA’s Devin Short, but to the winners go the spoils. Johnston skippered New England to an impressive road win that knocked Austin off the top of the overall ladder. Won a key turnover in the second half when an AG try looked inevitable.

8 – Riekert Hattingh (Seattle Seawolves) As Hattingh goes, so go the Seawolves. Every time they have won this season he has made our weekly selection. Against Dallas he was rampant with ball in hand and scored one try. Also produced one of the hits of the season on opposite Adriaan Booysen.

9 – Harrison Goddard (LA Giltinis) He was only away for a week but he made a noticeable impression in his return against San Diego. Kept the defense guessing on the fringes and the attack was always moving forward with Goddard calling the shots.

10 – Caleb Makene (Utah Warriors) It came down to a choice between the two opposites at Zions Bank Stadium, with Makene getting the nod over Toronto’s Sam Malcolm. Had a searing line break just minutes into the match. Quick delivery to his backline nearly saw the Warriors completing an unlikely comeback.

11 – Brock Webster (Toronto Arrows) Finished off one try with a classic finish to the corner, then returned to the favor to Jack McRogers to secure the bonus point. He looks great as a winger but there remains a lingering desire to see what he can do in the No10 shirt.

12 – Le Roux Malan (New England Free Jacks) Fair dues to New York’s Jason Emery, who scored 15 points in New York’s win over NOLA. Ordinarily that would do the trick, but Malan was just so impressive for New England we couldn’t leave him out. He dominated the gain line, both with ball in hand and defense. That is no easy task up against AG’s captain Bryce Campbell.

13 – Dennon Robinson-Bartlett (Toronto Arrows) Something of an impossible task this week with New England’s Wayne van der Bank, Austin’s Mark O’Keeffe, and LA’s Billy Meakes also excellent. Robinson-Bartlett wasn’t even supposed to start but when he got the call to make his debut before kickoff he delivered in spades. Caused problems with every touch and had three line breaks, one of which saw him running all the way for a try.

14 – Andrew Coe (Rugby New York) In the opening minutes he already had a classic winger’s finish for a try and an intercept that nearly put Will Tucker into the corner. Came inside looking for work and danced his way past defenders on a couple occasions to create space for others.

15 – Cliven Loubser (Utah Warriors) A candidate for Player of the Week after a tremendous outing. Three-for-three kicking for points, scored one try himself and set Connor Burns free for another. The positional switch with Makene seems to be working a charm for the Warriors.