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MLR Top 15 For Week 2

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MLR Top 15 For Week 2

The MLR Top 15 for Week 2

Major League Rugby named its top 15 for Week 2; Old Glory DC and LA Giltinis led the way with three players apiece recognized for their outstanding positional play last weekend. 

The Austin Gilgronis landed two players on the GEICO XV, including number one overall pick in the 2020 US Collegiate draft Conner Mooneyham. This coming weekend the MLR schedule is highlighted with matches contested in New England, Austin, Washington DC and Atlanta.

Loosehead Prop, Jamie Mackintosh – Austin Gilgronis

Mackintosh set up the Austin scrum and set-piece to be strong against San Diego throughout the match. Making hard quick carries off the ruck or at first receiver he scored Austin’s loan try and made 22 meters from six carries.  

Hooker, Mikey Sosene-Feagai – Old Glory DC

Sosene-Feagai has to be putting himself in Eagles contention with the darts he throws in the lineout around the park he had 17 carries for 116 meters, four tackle breaks, and an offload. At the breakdown he had 18 ruck arrivals and completed one break down steal.  

Tighthead Prop, Steven Longwell – Old Glory DC

After struggling in week one in the scrum, Longwell came back with a 74-minute performance providing an attacking platform. With the ball in-hand he gained 40 meters from six carries, a line break and a three tackle breaks. At the breakdown he led the team with 29 ruck arrivals and completed one break down steal. 

Left Lock, Aston Fortuin – Utah Warriors

Fortuin had a monster match, notably in the aerial game where he had six lineout takes and then proved to be a menace on every lineout for Toronto as he made two lineout steals and disrupted numerous others. Around the park he had nine carries for 66 meters, a line break, and three offloads. In the breakdown he had 11 ruck arrivals.  

Right Lock, Luke White – LA Giltinis

White was a workhorse machine for Los Angeles around the ruck with 19 ruck arrivals. In the open field he was a difficult runner to subdue as he scored a try and had nine carries for 70 meters, a line break, four tackle breaks and an offload. In the aerial game he proved a sure target with four lineout takes. 

Blindside Flanker, Justin Johnson – New England Free Jacks

Johnson, the 6th overall pick in the 2020 US Collegiate Draft, has been an immediate impact for the Free Jacks in making key tackles against the SaberCats while on defense. On attack he scored a try, made nine carries for 49 meters, and two tackle breaks. Around the breakdown he had 15 ruck arrivals; and in the aerial game he made three lineout takes.  

Openside Flanker, Mungo Mason – Old Glory DC

Mason had sharp vision with the ball in hand as he carried 13 times for 73 meters and three tackle breaks. He completed eight tackles in defense, but at the breakdown he had 25 ruck arrivals and completed one break down steal.

No 8., Cam Dolan – NOLA Gold

Dolan put in the work to complete four lineout takes for the Gold and just be a complete disruption to New York’s lineout. He scored a try, had three carries for 39 meters, and a tackle break. On defense he completed nine tackles and had 25 ruck arrivals at the breakdown. 

Scrumhalf, Harrison Goddard – LA Giltinis

Goddard directed the pace of the Giltinis attack with rapid speed achieving a 74% quick ball percentage helping complete 52 rucks in three seconds or less. He was opportunistic near the goal line scoring three tries from four carries for 15 meters, a line break, and one offload. He helped keep Seattle at bay with his kicking game, gaining 156 meters from five kicks.   

Flyhalf, Hagen Schulte – Utah Warriors

Schulte controlled the match with his boot putting up pinpoint kicks into gaps in Toronto’s line that facilitated the home side in controlling the territory for all of the match. He had 14 kicks for 490 meters. With the ball in-hand he made accurate passes finding wide open teammates to exploit holes in the Arrows line. He scored 14 points on four conversions and two penalties.    

Left Wing, Conner Mooneyham – Austin Gilgronis

The number one overall pick in the 2020 US Collegiate draft has shown he was MLR ready from day one. In his second start he was able to find holes in the San Diego defense to make 73 meters from six carries, a line break, and four tackle breaks. 

Inside Center, Veramu Dikidikilati – Houston SaberCats

Not much went right for Houston except for Dikidikilati being the workhorse for a struggling SaberCats attack. He made 19 carries for 182 meters, three line breaks, five tackle breaks, and four offloads.

Outside Center, Adam Ashley-Cooper – LA Giltinis

Ashley-Cooper, the grizzled Wallaby veteran picked apart the Seattle defense early and often. He made 11 carries for 90 meters, four tackle breaks, three offloads with one being a try assist. In the mid-field he made 13 tackles on defense and had 14 ruck arrivals at the breakdown.  

Right Wing, Jojo Tikoisuva – NOLA Gold

Tikoisuva was electric in his 70 minutes for the Gold as he ball-hawked and scored two tries off intercept and added a third on attack. He made 164 from four carries, four line breaks, and two tackle breaks. On defense he went to work making 15 tackles. 

Fullback, Dougie Fifi – New England Free Jacks

Fife turned it on in the second half helping the Free Jacks get out of their first half funk. He went on to score two tries, one right under the posts, he finished with six carries for 164 meters, three line breaks, and one tackle break. 

— Breakdowns by Aaron Castro for MLR