Week 5 First XV

March 10, 2020 - Major League Rugby (MLR) News Release

1. Loosehead Prop, Jamie Mackintosh (Austin Gilgronis)

Mackintosh played a long game and made 12 dominant carries around the ruck for 26 meters and a tackle break. Leading the front row he held the composure of the front row together as they began to dominate.  On defense he completed 8 tackles and in the break down he has 39 ruck arrivals.

2. Hooker, Tiaan Erasmus (Austin Gilgronis)

Erasmus proved wholly reliable for Austin earning a try from a maul and second with a quick carry out of the break down, he gained 16 meters on those two carries.  On defense he completed seven tackles. In the breakdown he 20 attacking ruck arrivals and four defensive ruck arrivals.

3. Tighthead Prop, Dino Waldren (NOLA Gold)

Waldren anchored a strong scrum against Donald Brighouse.  He made four carries for 13 meters, he found a gap in the line and surged over for a try.  In the break down he had 21 ruck arrivals.

4. Left Lock, Johan Momsen (Rugby ATL)

Momsen willed Atlanta forward in this match with his eight powerful carries for 44 meters and an 1 offload.  On defense he completed 16 tackles. In the break down he had 19 ruck arrivals. Where he shined for Atlanta was in the aerial game with 15 lineout takes and  two lineout steals.

5. Right Lock, Joshua Furno (San Diego Legion)

Furno disrupted New York's lineout through the match, also proving reliable for San Diego's aerial game with nine lineout takes.  On attack he scored San Diego's go ahead try also making seven carries for 32 meters and a tackle break. On defense he made 11 tackles and in the break down he had 27 ruck arrivals.

6. Blindside Flanker, Tomas de La Vega (Toronto Arrows)

De La Vega was a force for the Arrows making 10 hard carries around the break down for 27 meters, a tackle break, and two offloads.  On defense he completed twelve tackles. At the break down he had 18 attacking ruck arrivals and 12 defensive ruck arrivals. In the aerial game he was the main option for the Arrows with 10 lineout takes and massive lineout steal.

7. Openside Flanker, Mungo Mason (Old Glory DC)

Mason put in high mileage with 14 carries for 79 meters, two line breaks,two tackle breaks, and an offload.  On defense he got to work with 17 tackles. In the break down he had 29 attacking ruck arrivals and six defensive ruck arrivals.

8. No 8, Riekert Hattingh (Seattle Seawolves)

Hattingh kept the Seawolves settled in for the long match with a huge interception for a try early and his second try shortly after.  On attack he made 13 carries for 63 meters. On defense he completed 18 tackles. In the break down he went to work with 33 total ruck arrivals.

9. Scrum-half, John Poland (New England Free Jacks)

Poland marshalled the Free Jacks attack at a brisk pace putting pressure on the Gold defense finding overloads to pass out to.  He made six carries for 41 meters, an offload and scored two tries. At the break down he had six attacking ruck arrivals.

10. Fly-half, Jason Robertson (Old Glory DC)

Robertson proved key as a distributor for Old Glory and also important from the tee accounting for 16 of Old Glory's 31 points.  On attack he made 11 carries for 70 meters and three offloads. He hit the break down 13 times. He made seven kicks for 251 meters that kept pressure on the Rugby ATL attack all evening.

11. Left Wing, Tira Patterson (San Diego Legion)

Patterson was an excellent finisher for the Legion scoring two tries from his four carries for 56 meters as he found space in the New York defensive line.  On defense he completed nine tackles and seven ruck arrivals in the break down.

12. Inside Center, Robbie Petzer (Colorado Raptors)

Petzer's boot was needed throughout the night scoring 12 of the Raptors 22 points going four from five with penalty conversions.  On attack he continued to showcase his distribution while also making six carries for 35 meters and a tackle break. On defense he completed 10 tackles and eight ruck arrivals in the break down.  He forced the Arrows to gain hard territory with five kicks for 231 meters.

13. Outside Center, Tyler Fisher (Utah Warriors)

Fisher had a busy night, finding the ball often with 12 carries for 98 meters, a line break, two tackle breaks, and two offloads. He scored the Warriors first try of the second half and the final score that won the match.  On defense he completed 11 tackles and had 13 ruck arrivals in the break down.

14. Right Wing, Declan O'Donnell (Old Glory DC)

O'Donnell, the red mullet, was everywhere, if ball was passed it may have found his hands as he carried the ball 15 times for 151 meters, a line break, five tackle breaks, and an offload.  He scored a try right under the posts to set up the DC victory. On defense he completed four tackles and had 10 ruck arrivals in the break down.

15. Fullback, Dylan Taikato-Simpson (Old Glory DC)

Always dangerous with the ball in hand, the opposition never knows if he'll cut through or put the ball in play.  He made nine carries for 89 meters, two line breaks, two tackle breaks. His try kickstarted the Old Glory attack to end the first half.    In the break down he made 13 attacking ruck arrivals, he also put the ball in play with two kicks for 96 meters.

Written by Aaron Castro

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