NEWS

Geico XV | Week 16

Loosehead Prop,  Sef Fa’agase – New England Free Jacks

Fa’agase put in a long shift against New York helping provide an attacking platform in addition to going hard at their defense with six carries for 34 meters. On defense he completed five tackles and had 22 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Hooker, James King – Old Glory DC

King put together a great performance throwing bullets in the lineout to direct that attacking platform.  On attack he scored a try from seven carries for 51 meters and a tackle break.  On defense he completed eight tackles and had 14 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Tighthead Prop, Paddy Ryan – San Diego Legion

Ryan put in another strong performance to help lead the Legion at scrum time.  On attack he made seven carries for 33 meters. On defense he completed 10 tackles and had seven ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Left Lock, Mike Sheppard – Toronto Arrows

Sheppard put in hard work around the breakdown either blowing up DC’s rucks or being a pillar for Toronto with 15 ruck arrivals.  On attack he made eight carries for 34 meters and two tackle breaks.  On defense he completed 9 tackles. 

Right Lock, Rhyno Herbst – Seattle Seawolves

Herbst has been a major workhorse for Seattle and it showed against San Diego. On attack he scored a try from 11 carries for 37 meters.  On defense he completed five tackles and had 29 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.  In the aerial game he came down with three 3 lineout takes and a lineout steal. 

Blindside Flanker, Benjamin Bonasso – Rugby United New York

Bonasso did a job for New York making tackles with sideline to sideline range and showing his burst when he was passed the ball.  On attack he made six carries for 42 meters and two tackle breaks.  On defense he made 13 tackles and had 24 ruck arrivals in the breakdown. In the aerial game he came down with four lineout takes.  

Openside Flanker, Tomas de la Vega – Toronto Arrows

De la Vega continues to have monster performances late in the season. In the aerial game he was the Arrows primary target coming down with five lineout takes. On attack he made 14 carries for 42 meters and an offload.  On defense he completed 14 tackles, in the breakdown he completed a breakdown steal and had 32 ruck arrivals.  

No 8., Tesimoni Tonaguiha – NOLA Gold

Tongauiha was an aggressive and physical ball carrier, making 9 carries for 62 meters and four tackle breaks.  He brought that same physicality on defense making 8 punishing tackles and had 17 ruck arrivals in the breakdown.

Scrum-half, Andrew Ferguson – Toronto Arrows

Ferguson created magic on both of his tries, the first rolling off a Mungo Mason tackle, and the second with a kick through and chase.  On attack he made three carries for 31 meters, a line break, and three tackle breaks.  On defense he completed five tackles.  He helped direct the control of territory  for Toronto with eight kicks for 167 meters. 

Fly-half, Beaudein Waaka – New England Free Jacks

Waaka was a Maestro for New England as he sliced through the New York line on five carries for 90 meters, two line breaks, and 9 tackle breaks.  He flipped the field often by kicking 16 times for 413 meters to control territory.  

Left Wing,  Joeli Tikoisuva – NOLA Gold

In a long line of heads up Rugby being played in NOLA, Tikoisuva did just that when he took a ball off a maul and darted through the Giltinis line for the Gold’s first try.  On attack he made 12 carries for 133 meters, a line break, nine tackle breaks, and an offload.  On defense he completed three tackles and had eight ruck arrivals in the breakdown. 

Inside Center, JP du Plessis – NOLA Gold

Du Plessis held down the mid-field for NOLA whether it was with the ball in hand or to tackle a Giltini.  On attack he made 10 carries for 82 meters and three tackle breaks. On defense he completed 10 tackles, in the breakdown he completed a breakdown steal and had 15 ruck arrivals. 

Outside Center, Bill Meakes – Los Angeles Giltinis

Meakes was the key to the Giltinis attack finding the smallest holes to burst through on his 13 carries for 114 meters, three tackle breaks, and an offload.  On defense he made 6 tackles and intercepted a pass.  Helping control territory he made four kicks for 94 meters. 

Right Wing, Ryan Matyas – San Diego Legion

Matyas showed that when he’s healthy he’s class against any opposition.  Against the Seawolves he scored two tries from seven carries for 89 meters, two line breaks, a tackle break, and two offloads. 

Fullback, Carl Meyer – NOLA Gold

Scoring 11 points for NOLA from three penalties and a conversion, Meyer was key to the Gold’s victory.  He made clearance kicks five times for 167 meters that helped keep the visiting side alive until the end. On attack he made six carries for 70 meters, a line break, two tackle breaks, and two offloads.  

Written by Aaron Castro