Major League Rugby: Five things we learnt as Ma’a Nonu and stars seal comeback while champions claim statement win

Another week, and another round of the Major League Rugby season has come and gone.

As we approach the halfway point of the MLR season, how the path to the play-offs is shaping up is continuing to come into full view.

Here are five things we learnt from Week Seven of the 2024 MLR season…

Champions’ statement win

If you are on the lookout for a result of the weekend, you do not have to look any further than the New England Free Jacks’ 47-35 win over the Houston SaberCats.

Travelling to Texas, Scott Mathie’s defending champions were taking on the only unbeaten team in the league and were able to show just why they hold the Shield across 80 minutes.

While Christian Dyer and the SaberCats did take the lead in the fifth minute, Malakai Hala-Ngatai got the Free Jacks’ scoring underway and Wayne van der Bank’s try gave the travelling team a 28-18 lead at the break.

With the bonus point secure, New England put Houston to the sword in the second 40-minute period, with Reece MacDonald running riot.

Now with a six-point lead at the top of the Eastern Conference, the Free Jacks’ credentials have never been more prominent and the champions continue to trend in the right direction.

Legion secure huge comeback

When the half-time whistle was blown at Snapdragon Stadium, the San Diego Legion trailed the NOLA Gold 17-0. As surprise results go, honestly, it would have been up there with some of the league’s biggest.

While NOLA looked to compete in the post-season for the very first time this summer, San Diego are a side stacked with recognisable stars.

With Ma’a Nonu and Blair Cowan in the starting XV for the visit of the Louisianans, Danny Lee’s Legion scored 33 second-half points to register a 33-20 win.

Connor Tupai, Tomas Aoake, Tiaan Loots and Cyrille Cama all crossed the try-line to wipe out Ed Fidow and William Waguespack’s first-half efforts.

After a somewhat underwhelming start to the season, Legion are now second in the Western Conference and have breathed new life into their title challenge.

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Anselmi racks up 50th officiating appearance

In a world where the players take all the headlines, it is often good to recognise others. This time around, that nod goes to Federico Anselmi, the Argentine referee who made his 50th appearance with the whistle when the New England Free Jacks travelled to the Houston SaberCats.

With an impressive resume which includes time on the HSBC SVNS Series, Super Rugby and numerous Test matches, Anselmi first came to MLR in 2021.

Taking charge of the 2022 Championship Final, bringing in an official of his quality will have a lasting impact as more people give the whistle a try.

“Thank you to MLR for giving me the opportunity and trusting in my work,” Anselmi told the league’s website. “We are very happy and proud to be part of this League.”

Hounds hit landmark half century

On Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Hounds scored over 50 points for the first time in their short history. Taking part in their first MLR season in 2023, the men from the Midwest hosted Anthem Rugby Carolina and set about dispatching their opposition 59-26 at SeatGeek Stadium.

Dylan Fawsitt took another step towards 50 league tries with a hat-trick, while Jason Higgins also crashed over for a trio of scores.

Nate Augspurger, Michael Matarazzo and Janus Venter also made it over the whitewash, while the goal kicking of Adriaan Carelse and Caolan Dooley added some gloss to the scoreline.

With this win, Chicago have moved to second in the Eastern Conference.

Moving from the Western Conference in the off-season following the addition of RFC Los Angeles, the Hounds have developed slowly but surely into a play-off contender.

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Bonus points are kind

A quick look at the Eastern and Western Conference tables and you quickly understand the importance of picking up bonus points.

Case in point are the Dallas Jackals, who with a 3-4 record have 19 points and are third in the Western Conference.

Remarkably, the side coached by Agustin Cavalieri have scored 33 tries in their seven games and have lost three of those four games by seven points or less.

It has been an impressive campaign for the Texans, who at the time of writing are only five points away from a play-off spot.

In the Eastern Conference there is a much different story. With all teams from the East having a lower points tally than their counterparts in the West, it is clear where the balance of power lies in the league.

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