NEWS

Geico XV | Week 8

Loosehead Prop,  Olive Kilifi – Utah Warriors

Kilifi had a great night helping establish an attacking platform for Michael Baska to work from.  On attack he had eight carries for 45 meters and a tackle break. In the breakdown he had 17 ruck arrivals.

Hooker, Pat O’Toole – NOLA Gold

O’Toole helped direct the set piece well for NOLA against the SaberCats.  Individually he scored two tries from 10 carries for 60 meters,  a line break, three tackle breaks, and two offloads. On defense he completed six tackles and had 16 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.

Tighthead Prop, Eric de Jager – New England Free Jacks

De Jager provided the Free Jacks with a hard ball runner to quick carry.  His efforts yielded him a try, five carries for 16 meters and an offload.  Where he truly went to work was in defense with 16 tackles, and in the breakdown with a breakdown steal and 24 ruck arrivals.

Left Lock, Nate Brakeley – Rugby United New York

Brakeley was back to his old self for a physical encounter against Los Angeles making it almost painful for the visitors to be on the pitch.  He was a menace at the breakdown with two breakdown steals and 46 ruck arrivals.  On attack he had six carries for 24 meters, 9 tackles on defense.  In the air he came down with two lineout takes whilst also disrupting LA’s set piece with a lineout steal. 

Right Lock, Aston Fortuin – Utah Warriors

Fortuin put in a huge effort for Utah scoring a try from nine carries for 45 meters, a tackle break, and an offload. Making four tackles on defense he made himself hearn in the breakdown with 33 ruck arrivals.  In the air he was the primary target for Utah coming down with seven lineout takes. 

Blindside Flanker, Tomas de la Vega – Toronto Arrows

De la Vega can be a bit of a mutant.  He has excellent vision with the ball in hand but even better on defense making 14 tackles.  On attack he scored a try from 11 carries for 55 meters, a line break, a tackle break, and an offload.  In the breakdown he had two breakdown steals and 37 ruck arrivals. In the air he was the primary target in the Toronto lineout winning six lineout takes whilst also disrupting Atlanta with two lineout steals. 

Openside Flanker, Hanco Germishuys – Rugby United New York

Hanco was a big part of the physical attacking style for New York against Los Angeles making 13 carries for 60 meters and three tackle breaks. On defense he completed six tackles and he in breakdown he had 19 ruck arrivals and a breakdown steal at a key moment. 

No 8., Jason Damm – Rugby ATL

Damm’s performance on attack was hard won and physical scoring a try from 16 carries for 108 meters, a line break, six tackle breaks, and an offload. On defense he completed nine tackles and in the breakdown he had 25 ruck arrivals with two breakdown steals. In the air he came down with two lineout takes.

Scrum-half, Nicklas Boyer – Houston SaberCats

Since joining the SaberCats Boyer has been a weapon for Houston as he’s pushed the tempo and kept his team in every match.  On attack he scored a try from seven carries for 72 meters,  three tackle breaks, and an offload. On defense he completed seven tackles. He also used his foot to relieve pressure with five kicks  for 168 meters.  

Fly-half, AJ Alatimu – Seattle Seawolves

In his first game marshalling the Seattle Attack he used his boot to control the territory with 19 kicks for 685 meters.  He scored eleven points from the tee from three penalties and a conversion.  Not afraid of getting dirty in the breakdown he came up with two breakdown steals on his four ruck arrivals.  

Left Wing,  Paula Balekana – Houston SaberCats

Balekana was a knife through butter on attack for the SaberCats as he scored two tries from 15 carries for 189 meters, five line breaks, four tackle breaks, and two offloads. On defense he completed five tackles.

Inside Center, Mark O’Keeffe – Rugby ATL

O’Keeffe knows how to cut through and also force his way through a defense.  On Saturday he scored a try from seven carries for 121 meters, a line break, and seven tackle breaks.  On defense he also completed 11 tackles.  

Outside Center, Will Leonard – Rugby United New York

Leonard had an all around match for New York, working hard on attack, defense, and transition.  On attack he made 11 carries for 88 meters and a tackle break. On defense he completed 11 tackles and in the breakdown he had 15 ruck arrivals and two breakdown steals. 

Right Wing, Harry Barlow – New England Free Jacks

Barlow had a breakout match with his performance on attack for New England as he ran almost perfect lines through the Austin defense. He scored two tries from 12 carries for 132 meters, three line breaks, and four tackle breaks.   

Fullback, Mikey Te’O – Utah Warriors

Te’O made it hard for Old Glory to do what they wanted with territory, in fact he made them disappointed.  On attack he made 17 carries for 141 meters and five tackle breaks. He helped control the territory game with six kicks for 191 meters.

Written by Aaron Castro