Team of the Week

This past week didn’t quite follow the recent trend. Three Major League Rugby matches yielded few eligible contenders with the standard of rugby noticeably lower than in previous weeks. The first round of the Nations Cup was played in dreadful conditions but Uruguay still managed to impress with a convincing win over the Fiji Warriors.

In France two Americas stalwarts were Top 14 winners with Castres and the Argentina u20s played two matches, losing to England but defeating Scotland. A handful of players stood out and three have made our weekly nomination. With the June test series beginning this coming weekend the competition for spots will be kicked up a notch.

1 – Mateo Sanguinetti (Uruguay) Los Teros hammered Fiji in the scrums with Sanguinetti in particular doing considerable damage against his considerably heavier opposite. He also made himself known in the loose with some good support play and a couple crunching tackles.

2 – Germán Kessler (Uruguay) In the middle of the scrum and very prominent in the loose. His first lineout throw was a disaster that ended in a Fijian try but he rolled up his socks and redeemed himself thereafter. Had one highlight reel tackle in the first half. Dylan Fawsitt impressed for Glendale and just misses out after his very lively effort in the loose.

3 – Paddy Ryan (Austin Elite) Utah opted to field their regular hooker at loosehead prop and it’s fair to say the gamble did not pay off. Ryan obliterated the Warriors scrum, completely removing any hope of front foot set piece and setting the platform for Pedrie Wanneburg to score. Juan Echeverría was also very good in a dominant Uruguay front row.

4 – Salvador Ochoa (Argentina u20) Considerably lighter than the other Pumitas locks but mobile and hard working. He was the primary target in the lineout, equally effective getting up quickly in the front or high in the middle. Ignacio Dotti and Manuel Leindekar were dominant figures for Los Teros.

5 – Rodrigo Capó Ortega (Castres) Injury to Thibault Lassalle meant that the club captain started this week after coming off the bench in the Semi Final. Capo Ortega was a pillar of strength, a battering ram on slow ball and a rock in defense. It’s the second Bouclier de Brennus for the Uruguayan legend.

6 – Leandro Segredo (Uruguay) He made his first appearance in a Uruguayan senior side a good one. Abrasive and in constant motion, he put in some big hits and generally made himself a nuisance around the park. If he can continue to improve the World Cup might well be in his future.

7 – John Quill (Glendale Raptors) Back to full fitness and in the starting side for the Raptors as they crushed the Gold in New Orleans. Quill grabbed one try and was never far from the action. Now set to start for the Eagles with Tony Lamborn unavailable.

8 – Bautista Pedemonte (Argentina u20) Like Ochoa, not a mass monster like so many others in the tournament. Pedemonte’s determination is his point of difference. When the Pumitas scrum got sloppy against England he simply picked up from the back and forced his way through three tacklers to score. Will need more bulk for test rugby but one to watch.

9 – Santiago Arata (Uruguay) Los Teros scored more point after he came off but it was in large part due to his efforts in keeping the tempo high to tire the Fijians in the final quarter. Arata was also very keen to get involved in defense, chopping down several much larger opponents.

10 – Benjamín Urdapilleta (Castres) We are spoiled for choice this week with Uruguay’s Felipe Berchesi, Glendale’s Will Magie, and Juan Bautista Daireaux of the Pumitas all impressing. Lifting the biggest prize in French rugby is a laudable feat, however, and Urdapilleta was the dominant figure in a tactical game with his kicking from hand and the tee earning his club a champagne-filled evening.

11 – Nicolás Freitas (Uruguay) Not a great day to be a winger but don’t tell that to Freitas, whose dogged running caused problems for Fiji with every touch. He also completely shut down the outside channel in defense, taking away one of Fiji’s most potent attacking options.

12 – Andrés Vilaseca (Uruguay) Looks to be in peak physical condition. He scored two tries, the first an interception and the second a lovely bit of footballing skill to grubber his way over in full-time. An automatic selection for Los Teros who gives them multiple options on attack.

13 – Bryce Campbell (Glendale Raptors) The two best midfielders of the weekend were both wearing No12 so we drafted Campbell to the outside center spot. Another who had a two-try performance, he also showed off his skill with a neat little kick and regather to score his second. Juan Pablo Castro impressed with the Pumitas with his defense and angles of running.

14 – Tonata Lauti (Utah Warriors) In the absence of Mike Te’o has become arguably the most lethal stepper in Major League Rugby. Gives defenders fits with every touch. Against Austin he scored one himself and created another for Iniki Fa’amausili.

15 – Santiago Carreras (Argentina u20) A very impressive young talent, the latest in a long line of top quality outside backs being churned out by Argentine rugby. Showed great awareness, speed, handling ability, just about everything you want from a fullback and even put in the hit of the weekend with a rib tickler on England’s Tom Parton. Zinzan Elan-Puttick scored twice for Austin but his defense wasn’t quite at the same standard of his attacking game.