NEWS

Geico XV | Conference Finals

Loosehead Prop,  Chance Wenglewski – Rugby ATL

Provided the edge in the scrum for Atlanta against New York.  When he carried the ball three times for Atlanta he earned 12 bruising meters.  On defense he completed three tackles and had 13 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Hooker, Sama Malolo – Utah Warriors

Scored a seven point try early in the second half putting Utah ahead and granting them hope of a Championship appearance.  On attack he made 16 carries for 75 meters, two tackle breaks, and three offloads. On defense he made eight tackles and had 13 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Tighthead Prop, Samu Tawake – Rugby United New York

Tawake had an immense match in maul defense successfully frustrating Atlanta’s set-piece attack on several occasions.  On attack he made five carries for 17 meters.  On defense he completed 12 tackles and had 10 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.  

Left Lock, Nate Brakeley – Rugby United New York

Alongside Tawake, Brakeley was a key piece of the maul defense for New York which continuously frustrated Atlanta.  On attack he made three carries for  five meters.  On defense he completed 12 tackles and had 10 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.  

Right Lock, Johan Momsen – Rugby ATL

The weapon that Atlanta needed was Momsen, he was a sure fire target in the air coming down with 11 lineout takes and also making a lineout steal against New York.  On attack he made nine carries for 24 meters and four tackle breaks. On defense he completed six tackles and had 14 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.    

Blindside Flanker, Nathan Den Hoedt – Los Angeles Giltinis

Den Hoedt had a sneaky good match for Los Angeles as he was a key piece of their attack in the breakdown with 32 ruck arrivals.  Additionally, he made five carries for 29 meters and a tackle break.  On defense he completed 10 tackles, in the air he came down with five lineout takes and a lineout steal.

Openside Flanker,  Bailey Wilson – Utah Warriors

Wilson laid it all down for Utah on attack making eight carries for 73 meters, two line breaks, a tackle break, and an offload.  He rounded that out with 12 tackles on defense and 10 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.  Continuing to be the surefooted option in the aerial game he came down with five lineout takes and a lineout steal. 

No 8., Corey Thomas – Los Angeles Giltinis

LA needed a hard ball carrier in the forwards and Thomas answered the call with 14 carries for 74 meters and a tackle break.  On defense he completed nine tackles and had 14 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Scrum-half, Harrison Goddard – Los Angeles Giltinis

Goddard’s marshalling of the LA Attack proved important as he saw a lapse from Utah’s defense which allowed Ryan James to score the winning try.  But it was his kicking game which turned that pressure higher making 11 kicks for 369 meters.  On attack he made two carries for 21 meters, and on defense he completed seven tackles.

Fly-half, Hagen Schulte – Utah Warriors

Schulte’s ability to control territory making 11 kicks for 373 meter gave the Warriors a lot of confidence heading into half-time.  He scored six points from two tough penalty kicks and made four carries for 22 meters and a line break on attack.

Left Wing,  DTH van der Merwe – Los Angeles Giltinis

Van der Merwe cut through the Utah defense as he had done in almost every appearance this season.  On attack he made 11 carries for 120 meters, a line break, two tackle breaks, and three offloads.  In the breakdown he made a breakdown steal and had 17 ruck arrivals. 

Inside Center, Bill Meakes – Los Angeles Giltinis

Meakes is the breakdown artist of the mid-field coming up with three breakdown steals and 25 ruck arrivals.  On attack he darted through the Utah defense on nine carries for 102 meters, a line break, four tackle breaks, and an offload. 

Outside Center, Will Leonard – Rugby United New York

Leonard was key for the New York defense disrupting the Atlanta attack with 14 tackles.  On attack he made six carries for 26 meters and two tacklebreaks.  In the breakdown he had 11 ruck arrivals. 

Right Wing, Ryan James – Los Angeles Giltinis

James’ work off the bench won Los Angeles the game, turning on his jets he scored two tries from three carries for 62 meters, a line break, a tackle break, and an offload.  He attacked the breakdown earning a breakdown steal on his only defensive ruck arrival. 

Fullback, Austin White – Rugby ATL

For all the territory New York attempted to control with their kicking game, White was there to answer and return on the ground with 12 carries for 116 meters and an offload.  In the breakdown he had six 6 ruck arrivals.  He also aided Atlanta’s territorial control with three kicks 51 meters. 

Written by Aaron Castro