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Former All Blacks and Wallabies stars shine in opening round of Major League Rugby
A number of former All Blacks and Wallabies kicked their Major League Rugby campaigns off with victories across the United States as the North American club competition entered its fourth edition over the weekend.
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Perhaps the best viewing came at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where the LA Giltinis made their first-ever MLR appearance and emerged victorious against the New England Free Jacks.
Featuring a raft of Australian imports, the Giltinis romped to a 42-27 victory in a match that saw Wallabies centurions Adam Ashley-Cooper and Matt Giteau register on the scoresheet.
Ashley-Cooper, a veteran of four World Cups and 121 tests, crashed over for a try midway through the second half, while Giteau, playing at first-five for LA, knocked over all five of his conversion attempts.
Other Australian players – such as Dave Dennis, Billy Meakes and Angus Cottrell – also featured for the Giltinis, with Cottrell and Canadian try-scoring machine DTH van der Merwe each bagging a brace of tries.
Ashley-Cooper and Giteau weren’t the only notable names taking part in MLR for the first time over the weekend, as ex-All Blacks halfback Andy Ellis made his debut for Rugby United New York against the San Diego Legion in Las Vegas.
The 37-year-old, who won a World Cup with the All Blacks in 2011, got his MLR career off to winning ways in Nevada, as RUNY picked up a 36-29 victory.
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Not even the likes of Blitzboks legend Cecil Afrika, former Waratahs wing Cam Clark, Los Pumas pivot Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias and ex-Springboks wing Bjorn Basson could save San Diego, who were without their marquee signing and former England captain Chris Robshaw.
RUNY, however, had their star English import, Ben Foden, on hand to help Ellis pick up his first win Stateside, although it was the likes of ex-Highlanders pivot Dan Hollinshead, former All Blacks Sevens speedster Fa’asiu Fuatai and USA Eagles pair Dylan Fawsitt and Hanco Germishuys who shone for the Brooklyn-based side.
In Texas, the Austin Gilgronis were denied a last-gasp victory over the Utah Warriors after former Waratahs playmaker Mack Mason missed a 51 metre penalty attempt in the 82nd minute of their 30-28 loss in front of a small home crowd at Bold Stadium.
The narrow loss dampened the return of one-test All Blacks prop Jamie Mackintosh, who had spent the off-season playing in the Mitre 10 Cup for Otago.
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Others, like Manu Samoa halfback Pele Cowley, former Waratahs, Rebels and Crusaders hooker Hugh Roach, Tonga first-five Kurt Morath and Conner Mooneyham, the first pick of the inaugural MLR Draft last year, also featured for Austin.
The Crusaders reinforced their dominance over the rest of the country and the Hurricanes remained winless, but who were the five best players from the latest round of Super Rugby Aotearoa? #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/MMWHBaxE9m
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 22, 2021
In the final game of the weekend, Auckland halfback and former Samoa sevens star Danny Tusitala scored two tries upon his return to MLR to help Old Glory DC secure a 26-all draw with NOLA Gold in New Orleans.
The victory ensured former Scotland sevens representative Mungo Mason got his second season of MLR action off to an unbeaten start, but the same can’t be said for former Sunwolves flanker Andrew Durutalo.
The 22-test USA Eagles flanker, who also spent six years with the USA Sevens and has played for Worcester Warriors and Fiji U20, failed to pick up a win while playing for the reigning champion Seattle Seawolves against the Houston Sabercats in Texas.
Instead, Seattle succumbed to a 30-24 defeat to put an early dent in their aspirations of retaining their status as the only title-holders in MLR history after having taken out the first two competitions in 2018 and 2019 before the 2020 season was cancelled.
Elsewhere, Rugby ATL toppled the Toronto Arrows – the only Canadian side in the competition – in a 21-14 victory at Life University in Atlanta.
Comments on RugbyPass
Nice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
40 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
40 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
10 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
40 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
10 Go to commentsWowee!
10 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
10 Go to comments