Team of the Week

It’s an eclectic selection this week with players from eight different competitions named covering three different continents. For Canadian fans it was a particularly good week as the Ontario Arrows notched their first ever victory in an arm-wrestle with the Utah Warriors while several exiles are putting up their hand in various professional divisions.

1 – Rob Brouwer (Ontario Arrows) Alexi Tucci and the Utah front row were given a masterclass in the art of the scrum at Rio Tinto. Brouwer & Co. had their less experienced opponents on skates and it was the tight five who set the platform in a dominant first half. Conversely his untimely yellow card in the second half allowed the Warriors back in the game, but the damage was already done so we’ll forgive him on this occasion. A nod to his replacement Pat Lynott as well, who came on and scored the winning try late in the game. One for the history books.

2 – Cam Falcon (New Orleans Gold) NOLA seem to have him earmarked for prop but we reckon hooker is still his best position. Last week it was teammate Eric Howard who made the grade, this week Falcon started in the middle. He helped himself to a first half try and certainly enjoyed himself as the Gold clobbered Austin Elite. If NOLA can find another tighthead to backup Ben Tarr they could have a deadly one-two punch with Howard and Falcon sharing hooker duties.

3 – Dino Waldren (London Scottish) The Eagles prop was in a try-scoring mood against Rotherham. His first was a front row special on the back of a driving maul, the second a terrific barging run that saw him sidestep and fend his way over the line. Honorable mention to Tom Dolezel who anchored the Arrows pack that made mincemeat of the Warriors scrum in Salt Lake City.

4 – Mike Sheppard (Ontario Arrows) Take a bow captain Shep! The first win in Arrows history came on Friday evening in a match that could have gone either way. It was the Ontario forwards who made the difference in the end, with Sheppard one of the standout performers who also happened to find his way on the score sheet. Next up is the first ever home match against New York on Saturday in Toronto.

5 – Tyler Ardron (Chiefs) The in-form Canadian player made it three-from-three as he produced arguably his best performance to date against the Blues. Injuries and inconsistency – both in selection and form – have slowed his rise to stardom but a change in scenery seems to have worked a charm. Whether he gets to continue his streak this weekend against the Hurricanes will depend on a late fitness test after taking a knock late in the game on the weekend.

6 – Justin Blanchet (Bedford Blues) Back in the lineup against Hartpury and he made his presence felt with some shuddering tackles. Also carried well with one hard charge contributing to the winning try late in the second half. Will the call from Canada come for the June test series? It seems strange that he has yet to appear in any senior convocations.

7 – Facundo Bosch (Agen) We’re not advocating a permanent move to the back row, but the Argentine hooker have an excellent account of himself when asked to fill in against Oyonnax. His all action effort included a try that played a major role in the win to stave off relegation. Sadly an injury late in the game will see him miss the remainder of the season but he has played his part in first French campaign.

8 – Andrew Wilson (Ontario Arrows) The Oakville Crusaders stalwart was handed a start against the Warriors and he delivered a vintage performance. Numerous carries off the back of the scrum put the Arrows on the front foot and he punched holes through the midfield to keep the momentum going. The once-capped Canadian international will long remember that night in Utah.

9 – Juan Manuel Lescano (Ordizia) A one-sided victory over Barcelona was a feature of the weekend in the Liga Heineken. The former Argentina XV halfback has been the form halfback in the competition in his first season with the club. On Sunday he controlled the tempo and slid through a gap to score his 11th try of the season, a mark topped by only three players in Spain’s top division.

10 – Ignacio Ceballos (Lazio) AJ MacGinty made David Flatman’s Premiership team of the week and we agree he had a fine game for Sale in the win over Wasps on Friday. Our choice, however, is Argentine export Ceballos who was outstanding on Saturday. Two tries, four conversions, and one penalty goal for a personal haul of 21 points in the 36-24 win that knocked heavily-favored Calvisano out of top spot in the Italian Eccellenza.

11 – Conor Trainor (Nevers) In just his second game back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines he looked back up to speed on Friday evening. He was named on the bench but an early injury saw him enter the game in the first half and he would go on to score two tries in the win over Charente. With his club safe from relegation but also out of the playoff hunt he’ll have just one more run-out before joining up with the Canadian squad to prepare for the June internationals.

12 – Nicolás de Battista (Cornish Pirates) Maybe it was the new contract with Zebre that inspired him, or maybe he just wanted to leave a lasting impression on the Mennaye faithful. Whatever it was it worked as the Pirates skipper went on a rampage with a hat-trick in the blowout win over Richmond. He’ll get one more chance to entertain the home crowd at the end of the month in the season finale against Ealing.

13 – Paul Lasike (Utah Warriors) A one-man wrecking crew for the Warriors, particularly in the first half. Were it not for his repeated charges through the midfield and several thunderous tackles who knows what the result might have been. He started at inside center but the big man is no slouch – we’re keen to see if he could adapt to the wider channel.

14 – Jeff Hassler (Ospreys) It wasn’t just the length-of-the-field intercept try, Hassler had a whale of a game with several forays into Connacht territory with ball in hand. With his contract up in June, the question is where will he be next season? Another Canadian winger – Dan Moor – got his second run-out with Wasps in the Aviva ‘A’ League and found the try-line against Worcester Cavaliers.

15 – Matt Evans (Cornish Pirates) Couldn’t quite keep up with his captain but he bagged a couple himself in the dream day for Pirates against Richmond. For Evans it was particularly satisfying as he completed back-to-back 80-minute matches for the first time this season after returning from a long-term knee injury. He also had reason to celebrate off the pitch with a new contract that will see him staying in Cornwall for an eighth consecutive season.