MLR 2022 – Week 3

MLR Week 3: Wins for Seattle, Toronto, Austin, New England, New York, Houston

After two weeks Austin Gilronis look to be the dominant team. The Giltinis won the title last year, is it the Gilronis turn this year? Both teams are owned by Australian business man Adam Gilchrist and his Loyals Rugby group. The formula seems the same, seed the team with top level Tier 1 players in key positions. Last year it was Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper leading Giltinis to the title. The Gilronis this week feature 5 South African, New Zealand, Australia players in the forwards and a halfback pairing of South Africa and Australia, add in an Argentinean on the wing and an Irishman in the centres to complete a dominant international roster. We’ll see how they do this week against last year’s semi-finalists Utah.

Games are streamed on The Rugby Network

February 18

Old Glory DC 25 v New England Free Jacks 41 @ Segra Field 5pm PT

Old Glory are slow out of the blocks and are one of the 5 teams without a win so far. They have the worst point differential in the league at -78 after two games. Doug Fraser gets the start at wing and Jake Ilnicki starts at tighthead. Luke Campbell is on the bench as a loose forward replacement.

New England are 1-0 on the season. They have 3 Canadian starters, Foster Dewitt at loosehead prop, Josh Larsen and Reegan O’Gorman in the second row.

February 19

Rugby ATL 31 v Rugby New York 36 @ Silverbacks Park 12pm PT

Atlanta sit on top of the Eastern division with an 2-0 record. Matt Heaton captains the side at openside flanker. Conor Keys is on the bench as a second row replacement.

New York are 1-0 on the season. Andrew Coe starts on the wing.

New Orleans Gold 23 v Toronto Arrows 24 @ Gold Mine 1pm PT

NOLA are winless with a 0-2 record. Eric Howard is starting at hooker.

Toronto are another winless team at 0-2. Cole Keith at loosehead and Andrew Quattrin at hooker get the start again. In the second row it’s Sheppard and Ciulini, loose forwards Rumball and Baillie. Ross Braude gets the start again at scrum half. At fly half Will Kelly is sent to the reserves with kiwi Sam Malcolm getting the start. Brock Webster gets the start on the wing with Jones and Richardson in the centres. Canadians on the bench are McRogers, Rowland, Wadden, Flesch, Kelly. So 10 Canadian starters and 5 on the bench.

Austin Gilgronis 24 v Utah Warriors 10 @ Bold Stadium 5pm PT

Austin look to be the top team in the league with a fast start, they’re 2-0 with a +81 point differential. Five of their starting forward pack are from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Their half back pairing are South Africa and Australia. Cole Davis is the only Canadian in the extended roster but Austin haven’t posted their bench roster so we don’t know if he’s in the match 23.

Utah are at 0-2 to start the season. Emerson Prior is on the bench as reserve prop.

Dallas Jackals 33 v Houston SaberCats 38 @ Choctaw Stadium 5pm PT

Dallas are at the bottom of the West division at 0-2. Liam Murray gets the start at loosehead prop and Moe Abdelmonem starts at openside flanker.

Houston have a 1-1 record. Rob Povey is in the reserves.

February 20

San Diego Legion 28 v Seattle Seawolves 31 @ SDSU Sports Deck 2pm PT

A battle of the undefeated in the West, both teams at 2-0.

San Diego starts Mike Smith at openside flanker.

Seattle have last week’s top openside (voted MLR 1st XV), Nakai Penny, starting. On the bench are Travis Larsen and Reid Watkins.

WEEK 3 ALL STARS

Country of Origin (7 USA, 3 SA, 2 Canada, 2 NZ, 1 Ireland)

1 USA
2 Canada
3 New Zealand
4 USA
5 South Africa
6 USA
7 Canada
8 USA (via SA) (3)
9 South Africa
10 New Zealand (2)
11 USA
12 USA
13 Ireland
14 USA
15 South Africa

Posted in MLR.