MLR Team of the Week

With only four games this past weekend there were less candidates to choose from but we also saw a couple of the strongest individual efforts of the season. Remarkably there are 12 who get their first selections of the seeason with a few previously settling for honorable mentions.

1 – Jean-Pierre Smith (LA Giltinis) Any time a prop forward sneaks through a cheeky grubber that results in a try, they are instantly elevated to the status of folk hero. Smith didn’t stop there, he also grabbed a try on top his set piece duties to earn Man of the Match honors in the win over Old Glory.

2 – Dylan Fawsitt (Rugby United New York) It’s a rare thing for a 35-minute second half replacement to find a spot in these selections, and yet this time it was a no-brainer. Fawsitt had fury steaming out of his ears when he entered the game against Seattle. Within two minutes he had scored and the psychological lift inspired New York to victory when defeat was at hand.

3 – Gastón Cortes (Toronto Arrows) The villain earlier this season showed no signs of ill-discipline against NOLA. Cortes put in several tackles, ripped one ball free, and earned a vital scrum penalty just before halftime. Toronto were still winning when he was replaced in the second half.

4 – Jackson Thiebes (New England Free Jacks) Gets the nod over his opposite Ben Mitchell of San Diego. An industrious effort that included a couple turnovers, one pinched lineout, and a clean break up the middle that resulted in the first Free Jacks try.

5 – Nate Brakeley (Rugby United New York) It was another quality shift from LA skipper Dave Dennis, but New York’s Mr. Consistent was simply outstanding. Three breakdown turnovers, a lineout steal, ball carrying, tackling, acting as a pivot on attack. Indispensable.

6 – Callum Gibbins (Old Glory DC) There wasn’t clear-cut choice here with two or three others in the mix. Old Glory’s back row kept the game from getting too out of hand with a high work rate from the visibly frustrated Gibbins enough to make the grade.

7 – Psalm Wooching (San Diego Legion) On the flipside an obvious choice at openside and one of this week’s best overall. Wooching had a storming match for the Legion, almost single-handedly keeping them from a blowout in a game that they had lost within 15 minutes of kickoff.

8 – Riekert Hattingh (Seattle Seawolves) Stood tallest among others, not least LA powerhouse Langi Haupeakui. Hattingh led the Seawolves to a much-improved showing. Ran strongly from the base, disrupted New York’s throw-ins, and snagged a couple turnovers at the breakdown.

9 – John Poland (New England Free Jacks) MLR’s ‘original’ JP Smith had a positive return for Seattle, while Damian Stevens saved NOLA against the Arrows. Poland gets the tip of the cap though for his two tries and aggressive attacking play for the Free Jacks.

10 – Matt Giteau (LA Giltinis) A bit of a coin toss here with New York’s Dan Hollinshead again showing nerves of steel off the kicking tee. Giteau scored 15 points including a try and was the driving force behind LA’s impressive outing against Old Glory.

11 – Julián Domínguez (NOLA Gold) The best wingers this week were all on the left side with Seattle’s Ross Neal and Argentine Arrow Manuel Montero also highly influential. Dominguez came up with the goods in the second half for NOLA, with two tries and a key tackle that forced a turnover.

12 – Shalom Suniula (Seattle Seawolves) Similar to blindside flanker with no definitive answer here. Tiaan Loots had countless carries in his San Diego debut, but we’ve opted for the steadying influence of Suniula in the Seawolves midfield. His no-look inside pass put Neal through for a try and he filled in at flyhalf when Kieran Joyce went off at the hour mark.

13 – Dougie Fife (New England Free Jacks) A straight choice between LA’s Adam Ashley-Cooper and the Scotsman. Two more tries in what has been a terrific start to his MLR career. Fife’s best position is up for debate but not his status as one of the league’s best finishers.

14 – John Ryberg (LA Giltinis) Poasa Waqanibau went well for the Free Jacks before coming off injured early in the second half. Ryberg has been overshadowed somewhat by his high profile teammates but on Saturday the former Raptors cannon was back at his rampaging best.

15 – Ben Foden (Rugby United New York) Didn’t quite get his cover line right on Neal’s first try but was otherwise steady at the back. Got New York out of trouble on a couple occasions with one notable counter attack in the first half. Hanno Dirksen looked more comfortable as a fullback for NOLA against Toronto.