NEWS

Geico XV | Week 13

Loosehead Prop,  JP Smith – Los Angeles Giltinis

Smith provided the Giltinis an excellent attacking platform at scrum time forcing Nikoloz Khatiashvili to concede multiple penalties.  On attack he scored two tries from eight carries for 41 meters.  On defense he completed four tackles and had 11 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.

Hooker, Dylan Fawsitt – Rugby United New York

Fawsitt continues to be a major attacking weapon as he burst through the Atlanta defense to set up New York’s first try.  On attack he made 11 carries for 76 meters, two line breaks, three tackle breaks, and an offload.  On defense he completed 11 tackles and had 9 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Tighthead Prop, Paddy Ryan – San Diego Legion

Ryan has begun to come into the same form he had as 2019 MLR Forward of year off his third match since his return for the Legion.  He provided a solid attacking platform from the scrum for San Diego.  On attack he made seven carries for 32 meters.  On defense he completed 13 tackles and had 17 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.

Left Lock, Nate Brakeley – Rugby United New York

Brakeley always finds something to do around the park.  Although he didn’t make a huge impact on attack with 6 carries for 14 meters straight into contact. Of his 17 tackles he most certainly saved a certain try when he tackled Te Rangatira Waitokia.  In the breakdown he made 28 ruck arrivals and had six lineout takes in the air.

Right Lock, Stan South – Old Glory DC

South brought physicality to Old Glory against NOLA on Sunday.  He made nine carries for 32 meters and two tackle breaks.  On defense he completed seven tackles and had 27 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.  In the aerial game he was the primary target with 8 lineout takes and also disrupting NOLA’s stealing a lineout.   

Blindside Flanker, Kyle Breytenbach – Austin Gilgronis

Breytenbach was a physical runner when the ball found his hands seeking and tearing through contact on four carries for 50 meters, two line breaks, and two tackle breaks.  On defense he completed eight tackles and had 19 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.  In the aerial game he came down with two lineout takes. 

Openside Flanker, Joe Johnston – New England Free Jacks

When the Free Jacks needed to break through Seawolves defense, they fed Johnston the ball.  On attack he made 13 carries for 156 meters, two line breaks, eight tackle breaks, and two offloads.  On defense he completed 10 tackles and had 23 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. In the aerial game he disrupted the Seattle lineout eventually coming away with a steal. 

No 8., Dom Akina – Austin Gilgronis

Akina had a great match showing excellent vision and world class burst of pace.  He scored two tries, including a seven-pointer, from 6 carries for 106 meters, two line breaks, 6 tackles breaks, and an offload.  On defense he completed five tackles and had 22 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.  In the air he came down with one lineout take and a lineout steal.   

Scrum-half, Holden Yungert – NOLA Gold

Yungert kept the NOLA attack moving while marshalling the Gold pack around the park. On Sunday he had great service out of the ruck with a zippy pass.  On used his foot to play the territory game with 8 kicks for 240 meters.  On attack he scored five points from a conversion and a penalty, and made three carries.

Fly-half, Harry Bennett – Rugby United New York

Bennett was dangerous with both the ball in hand and as a distributor finding holes in the Atlanta defense. On attack he made eight carries for 39 meters and a tackle break. On defense he completed five tackles.  Where he truly flipped the script was his kicking game making twelve kicks for 456 meters.  

Left Wing,  Suliasi Tamaivena – Seattle Seawolves

Tamaivena slotting into the same left wing slot as his twin Sitiveni, kept the match close against New England on his own by scoring two tries including a seven-pointer. He made five carries for 94 meters, a line break, five tackle breaks, and an offload. On defense he completed six tackles and had six ruck arrivals in the breakdown.  

Inside Center, Tyler Fisher – Utah Warriors

Fisher just cut up through the San Diego defense with 11 carries for 111 meters, three line breaks, 11 tackle breaks, and two  offloads. On defense he completed four tackles and had eight ruck arrivals in the breakdown.

Outside Center, Thomas Morani – San Diego Legion

Morani continues to shred defenses and hit rucks for the Legion since he arrived from DC.  On attack he scored a try from eight carries for 116 meters, a line break, and three tackle breaks.  On defense he completed 10 tackles and had 11 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Right Wing, Mitch Wilson – New England Free Jacks

Wilson’s offensive output was key to New England defeating the Seawolves.  On attack he scored a try from nine carries for 70 meters, two line breaks, and two tacklebreaks.  In the breakdown he completed a breakdown steal and had nine ruck arrivals. 

Fullback, Hanno Dirksen – NOLA Gold

Dirksen was electric against Old Glory, either slippery or a battering ram he was impossible to take down.  On attack he scored a try from 12 carries for 183 meters, three line breaks, 10 tackle breaks, and an offload.  On defense he completed five tackles and had three ruck arrivals in the breakdown.  TO play territory he kicked six times for 114 meters. 

Written by Aaron Castro