Geico XV | Week 14

Loosehead Prop,  Nicolas Solveyra - Houston SaberCats

Solveyra’s work in the scrum gave the SaberCats the dominant platform throughout the first half which is what kept Atlanta at bay.  On attack he made four carries for fifteen meters. On defense he completed 11 tackles and had 19 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Hooker, Hugh Roach - Austin Gilgronis

Roach’s lineout throwing gave the Austin set-piece an advantage early on in the match against the Seawolves.  His work around the breakdown on his 10 ruck arrivals helped lead to several turnovers.  On attack he scored two tries from four carries for 35 meters and an offload.  On defense he completed 14 tackles.  

Tighthead Prop, Manasa Saulo - Rugby ATL

When Saulo came onto the pitch for Atlanta, Solveyra had someone to contend with.  The Atlanta scrum problems were immediately fixed as it then became a great attacking platform for the home team.  On attack he made a carry for 13 meters. On defense he completed four tackles and had 13 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Left Lock, Matt Jensen - Utah Warriors

Jensen has been key to the Utah set-piece since returning to the lineup and was key versus New York as he was Sama Malolo’s primary target in the air coming down with eight lineout takes.  He was also important to the breakdown for the Warriors with his 15 ruck arrivals.

Right Lock, Rhyno Herbst - Seattle Seawolves

Herbst had a massive impact on Seattle acting second main ball carrier making 17 carries for 59 meters.  Key to establishing the ruck with his 35 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. In the aerial game he was the primary target with 8 lineout takes while also helping disrupt the Austin set-piece with one lineout steal.  

Blindside Flanker, Angus Cottrell - Los Angeles Giltinis

There are players that can sense shifts in momentum, and then there are players that force the shift in momentum.  Cottrell forced that shift in momentum when he scored a try against San Diego.  On attack he made 15 carries for 57 meters and two tacklebreaks. On defense he completed six tackles in the breakdown he completed a breakdown steal and had 19 ruck arrivals.  In the aerial game he came down with four lineout takes. 

Openside Flanker, Billy Meakes - Los Angeles Giltinis

Meakes didn’t know he would be playing openside until 8AM on Sunday, and what he did at the breakdown made it seem like he cut his teeth in Rugby by hitting rucks. At the breakdown he completed three breakdown steals and had 23 ruck arrivals.  On attack he made nine carries for 70 meters, a line break, and two tackle breaks. On defense he completed seven tackles. 

No 8., Jason Damm - Rugby ATL

Damm continues to be dominant as a scoring and attacking machine scoring two tries, including a seven-pointer, from 11 carries for 51 meters.  On defense he completed 10 tackles and had 19 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Scrum-half, Harrison Goddard - Los Angeles Giltinis

When Goddard wants to make the Los Angeles attack move like lightning, it does. He switches the direction of the attack almost on a whim, making the Giltinis difficult to defend. On attack he made two carries for 28 meters, a line break, and a tackle break. On defense he completed four tackles and had six ruck arrivals in the breakdown. He used his foot to help control the territory with six kicks for 163 meters. 

Fly-half, Harry Bennett - Rugby United New York

Bennett continues to make the most of this opportunity to run the New York attack and find holes in the opposition defense acting as a distributor or with the ball in hand.  He scored nine points from a try and two conversions.  He created control of territory with six kicks for 232 meters.

Left Wing,  Julian Dominguez - NOLA Gold

Dominguez is probably the most powerful left side wing when he gets the ball in his hands as he just churns his legs when he gets into contact.  Against Toronto he scored a try from four carries for 98 meters, two line breaks, four tackle breaks, and an offload.  On defense he completed four tackles and had eight ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Inside Center, JP du Plessis - NOLA Gold

Du Plessis was a key cog in the NOLA attack as he made 10 carries for 76 meters, a line break, two tacklebreaks, and three offloads.  On defense he completed 12 tackles and in the breakdown he completed a breakdown steal and had 13 ruck arrivals. 

Outside Center, Ben LeSage - Toronto Arrows

LeSage was another key piece in the battle against the Gold.  He made every one of his nine tackles count on defense.  On attack he scored a try from 9 carries for 48 meters, a line break, and three offloads. 

Right Wing, Lauina Futi - Seattle Seawolves

Futi was all that for Seattle as he had the perfect sidestep leaving a would-be tackler on the ground while he was on his way to scoring three tries including a seven pointer.  On attack he made 20 carries for 181 meters, four line breaks, and eight tackle breaks.  In the breakdown he had nine ruck arrivals. 

Fullback, Sam Windsor - Houston SaberCats

Windsor was able to use his strong foot to control the territory against Atlanta on Sunday kicking 12 times for 417 meters giving the SaberCats great field position.  He also was their only form of offense accounting for all 15 points from kicking five penalties. 

Written by Aaron Castro