MLR 2023 – ARN Team of the Week – Round 2

The second week of the 2023 Major League Rugby season saw the Seawolves fending off a scrappy ATL side, and the Jackals putting up a serious fight against the Warriors. NOLA and Toronto had forgettable days while the Legion made a statement against the Free Jacks.

1 – Alex Maughan (Rugby ATL) All grit for his side, Maughan got through heaps of dirty work in an excellent 74-minute performance. He even switched sides in the scrum for the last 15 minutes of his day.

2 – Dewald Kotze (Dallas Jackals) Dylan Fawsitt had two tries against the Arrows, though it was a bit of an armchair ride behind his pack. Ramón Ayarza meanwhile made a huge impression for Toronto in the second half. There was no flashy stuff from Kotze, but his set piece work was accurate and he was a workhouse around the pitch on both sides of the ball.

3 – Nathan Sylvia (San Diego Legion) It was a good battle in the scrum that went San Diego’s way early, though New England later fought back. Sylvia is readjusting well in his switch back to tighthead, but it’s his loose play that gets the thumbs up this week.

4 – Nate Brakeley (New York Ironworkers) The Arrows were heavily outgunned but the game isn’t played on paper. New York’s pack did a number on them and captain Brakeley was in the thick of it. He even got a rare breakaway try early in the second half.

5 – Isaac Ross (San Diego Legion) Dominant in the lineout, and certainly made his mark in the loose with a bone-rattling hit on Paula Balekana early in the first half. Justin Basson also had a strong match for ATL.

6 – Johan Momsen (Rugby ATL) Given a chance to pack down in the back row this week, and he was every bit as present as he normally his. Crashed over for a try in the first half and kept his team moving forward to ultimately secure a losing bonus point.

7 – Tom Florence (NOLA Gold) Another forgettable day at the office for many of his teammates, but Florence is absolutely delivering on expectations. Scored both of NOLA’s tries as he battled away in an attempt to keep his team in the game.

8 – Gideon van Wyk (Houston SaberCats) Numerous ball carries that put his team over the gainline, and a pair of well-taken tries to show for his efforts. Riekert Hattingh also grabbed a double for the Seawolves.

9 – JP Smith (Seattle Seawolves) A commanding performance. Scored a breakaway try and orchestrated two more. Controlled field position with his left boot. Smith ticked all the boxes this week.

10 – Josh Henderson (San Diego Legion) Denied a week ago by the outstanding Jordan Chait. This week we’re flipping the two around, with Henderson getting the nod. He scored a fine solo try and added one conversion and a penalty goal.

11 – Nate Augspurger (San Diego Legion) Vereniki Tikoisolomone showed MLR that he means business in his first appearance for the SaberCats. In the finishing department, however, Augspurger was a step ahead. His second try, in stoppage time, secured the bonus point for the Legion.

12 – Paul Lasike (Utah Warriors) A one-man wrecking machine for the Warriors. Dallas defenders wanted nothing to do with the big man, who scored one try himself and created two others. His deft grubber for Joe Mano to run onto caught everyone by surprise.

13 – Fa’asiu Fuatai (New York Ironworkers) Started in the midfield, but ended up playing most of the last 20 minutes as a flanker due to injuries. While moonlighting as a forward Fuatai even grabbed a try.

14 – Eric Naposki (Dallas Jackals) Dangerous last week, deadly this time. Naposki touched down twice late in the game, his second freezing Joe Mano completely with a superb bit of footwork.

15 – Drew Wild (Houston SaberCats) Kick the ball towards this fella at your peril. NOLA learned that the hard way on the weekend, as the speedster created one try for Vereniki Tikoisolomone and very nearly sent him in for a second.