MLR Team of the Week

The results weren’t good for the teams at the bottom of the table, with the separation from the top six already widening. Sunday’s match at San Diego was the pick of the weekend with two quality teams showing their wares. Some new players impressed this week with six players earning our stamp of approval for the first time this season.

1 – Rob Brouwer (Toronto Arrows) Another week at the coalface, this time asked to hold on for a full 80 minutes. Put in a number of tackles around the pitch and had a good battle with Paddy Ryan before taking his poor replacement to scrum school. Has made his World Cup intentions clear and if he keeps up in this vein of form might find himself on a plane to Japan in September.

2 – AJ Quattrin (Toronto Arrows) No blood stains this week thankfully, but not for lack of effort. Admittedly Toronto’s lineouts were a problem, though it seemed to be more a timing issue and maybe San Diego figuring out their calls. Quattrin’s contributions in the scrum and the loose, however, more than make up for it. His line break in the second half was a thing of beauty. Zach Fenoglio had a strong game for the Raptors.

3 – Paddy Ryan (San Diego Legion) It’s a bit unusual to have two props who went head-to-head in the team, but the San Diego scrum did well enough in the first hour. Around the pitch Ryan was his usual self, with a huge number of carries and tackles. He just doesn’t seem to have an off-day.

4 – Brendan Daly (Glendale Raptors) We’re cheating a bit with this one. By rights his captain Luke White or Utah’s Saia Uhila should be packing down in the engine room. Daly only played the last 15 minutes at lock, he was otherwise on the blindside, but we felt his efforts deserved a spot in the team. His powerful ball carrying kept Austin on the back foot and he bashed his way over for a try in the first half. Showed his commitment with a remarkable cover tackle on Soheyl Jaoudat that held the speedster up in-goal.

5 – Jérémy Lenaerts (Seattle Seawolves) A halftime replacement for Api Naikatini, the Belgian berserker hurled himself into the battle from the kickoff. His clearouts were brutal and he clattered into the line, bouncing defenders who stood in his way. Lenaerts scored a try in the middle of a lineout drive and smashed Sam Windsor behind the gainline to create a key turnover. The question now is does he reprise his impact role next game, or has he earned a start?

6 – Matt Hughston (Rugby United New York) Normally an openside who enjoys a wide-open attacking game, Hughston put his blindside boots on against Utah and put in a number of carries into heavy traffic on the snowy grounds. New York’s forwards did a number on the Warriors and the former NOLA star was one of their best. Eric Duechle showed well for Seattle. Had he grounded the ball on his line break in the first half he might have convinced us to pick him instead

7 – Moe Abdelmonem (Austin Elite) Something of a late bloomer at 26 years old but what a way to introduce yourself to the American rugby public. Abdelmonem proved that the hype from Halifax wasn’t just hot air. The openside nabbed four turnovers on debut and was an almighty nuisance at the breakdown. Also grabbed himself a try, because why not. Performances like that will get you noticed by the national selectors in a hurry.

8 – Ross Deacon (Rugby United New York) Another who made the hard yards, but then that’s more his modus operandi. Deacon wasn’t just graft though, he even made a lung-bursting effort to make a try-saving tackle on Angus MacLellan. His opposite number, John Cullen, scored twice and was Utah’s best in the cold. Seattle’s Riekert Hattingh also put his hand up.

9 – Mickey Bateman (Glendale Raptors) Forced into action mid-way through the first half when Carlo de Nysschen was injured, Glendale’s third string scrumhalf rolled up his sleeves and did the business. Bateman’s service was crisp and accurate, and he got himself out of jail a couple times with quick feet and quicker thinking. What’s most remarkable about his performance was that he had played only 11 minutes total in two substitute appearances heading into the game. Job well done.

10 – Joe Pietersen (San Diego Legion) Must have wondered what happened in a torrid final half-hour, but San Diego’s captain had been the star of the show for the first 50 minutes. His flat pass put Jordan Manihera over in the first minute, and he constantly probed the Arrows cover defense. Perfect from the tee and he even knocked over a cheeky drop goal to start the second half.

11 – John Ryberg (Glendale Raptors) Can anyone stop this man? The match had barely started and he was already hurtling down the sideline and only desperation defense stopped a try. He would get one soon after anyway, running through players who had no interest in being the next trample victim. Left wing had numerous options this week with New York’s Connor Wallace-Sims, San Diego’s Conor Kearns, and another chap we’ll be mentioning shortly all in the running.

12 – JP du Plessis (San Diego Legion) An essential figure in the Legion’s midfield. He is incredible effective at making the gainline with his ability to either bump off defenders or use his footwork to find half-gaps. He also acts like an extra flanker in defense, evidenced by his excellent turnover at the breakdown that halted an Arrows attack deep in San Diego territory. Robbie Petzer was an influential figure for Glendale.

13 – Mark O’Keeffe (Rugby United New York) Started the game at inside center but pushed out one when Cathal Marsh was forced off. By then he had already busted through to put Wallace-Sims away, and then scored a long-range intercept try. Gifted an easy run-in for his second try but it was just rewards for a game full of running.

14 – Avery Oitomen (Toronto Arrows) There’s a bit of a log-jam on the left side and Oitomen had to be in the team, so we’ll draft him over to the right wing. A couple months ago few outside of Canada would have even heard the 19-year-old before, and less knew he had signed for the Arrows. Today Oitomen the talk of the town with his two-try performance against Glendale putting him on five for the season. Suffice to say this lad is going places.

15 – Dylan Taikato-Simpson (Glendale Raptors) No tries this week but at his creative best on offense. Had a brilliant one-handed take of Petzer’s offload to keep the attacking move alive for the first try. Brought out his now-trademark backhander to Harley Davidson for a try early in the second half. DTS even stepped in at halfback a couple times. Toronto’s Shawn Windsor showed his skills with his own backhanded pass and a raking kick against San Diego.