The Major League Rugby playoffs are here after what was a crazy end to the season. Now it all comes down to these next two weeks to determine who will be crowned as champions in the second season of MLR. Four teams, one champion. Of the four teams in these playoffs, two return with the San Diego Legion and Seattle Seawolves and the two expansion franchises, Toronto Arrows and Rugby United New York. Seattle will have a chance to repeat as champions, but the other three are very worthy.

San Diego Legion vs Rugby United New York

San Diego Legion

The squad had some talent to build upon in the offseason and looked like they were going to do some big things. However, the Legion lost a lot of talent in the likes of Malon Al-Jiboori, Ben Cima, Cam Dolan, Tony Lamborn, Tadhg Leader, Chris Mattina, Pat O’Toole, Anthony Purpura, Anthony Salaber, and Taku Ngwenya during the offseason, and all of these players are game changers. There were some other moves that the team made to bring in like Tai Enosa, Psalm Wooching, Dean Muir, Keni Nasoqeqe, Kapeli Pifeleti, Paddy Ryan, Louis Stanfill, and Jasa Veremalua, but it didn’t seem like those were the types of players who would improve the squad a whole heck of a lot.

Well, how wrong that was as the Legion proved to be the best team in the league going 12-3-1 with 61 points and with home field advantage. With a strong forward pack, solid defense, and great offense, the Legion should be the favorites to win the MLR Championship. The Legion conceded the fewest points in the league at 296 and scored the third most points (457), but had the biggest point differential in the table at +161. They are a well-oiled machine and have a lot of depth. Some other names to watch are Dylan Audsley, Nick Boyer, Nate Augspurger, Will Holder, JP Du Plessis, Ryan Matyas, Marcus Tupuola, Drew Gaffney, David Tameilau, Devin Short, Joshua Furno, Dino Waldren, and Nathan Sylvia, as a lot of them have even played for USA Rugby in the international stage.

Legion X-Factor

Joe Pietersen

Age is just a number as the South African 35-year-old Pietersen is the key to the Legion’s attack. Arguably the best fly half this season, his kicking has been precise and the playcalling has been outstanding. With a load of experience, Pietersen is undoubtedly the most important player on the squad.

Key injuries

Mikey Te’o

Not having been mentioned yet, Te’o is a huge loss for the Legion as he is a dynamic back and game changer. Mostly playing full back, Te’o arguably is the best player in the 15 jersey in the league and losing such a player like him hurts San Diego’s offense.

Rugby United New York

One of the new kids on the block, many saw them as a serious threat for winning the MLR Championship as their roster seemed strong on paper. There were some ups and downs this year, but even despite their inconsistencies, their scrappy style of play allowed them to win a lot as they finished the season 11-5 with 54 points on the table. By the skin of their teeth and some luck, RUNY nabbed the four seed in the playoffs.

RUNY had one of the best defenses in the league as they allowed the second-fewest points at 320 points and they scored 411 giving them a +91 points differential. During the offseason, the team brought in a slew of experience and talent as they acquired Dylan Fawsitt, Ross Deacon, Nate Brakeley, John Quill, Ben Foden, Matt Hughston, Cathal Marsh, Chris Mattina, Paddy Ryan, Kyle Sumsion, and Marcus Walsh to join up with others that had already been with the squad such as Mike Petri, Connor Wallace-Sims, Anthony Parry, and Luke Hume. The team would, later on, add a top college prospect in Chance Wenglewski and the team became deeper.

In an earlier article written by our own Craig Gridelli, he points out that that RUNY is a better team on the road as they averaged more points on the road than at home, which may be in part of how the wind swoops in from the Atlantic Ocean at MCU Park which causes problems for any rugby team. So a trip west shouldn’t scare them.

RUNY X-Factor

Cathal Marsh

There seems to be a theme behind the two teams as their two most important players in their attacks wear a 10 jersey. Marsh has done a nice job with the RUNY offense and his kicking has been absolutely vital to the team’s success. Marsh had previously been stuck behind Jonathan Sexton and Ross Byrne at fly half for Leinster, but he was able to finally get regular playing time once he moved to RUNY.

Matchup

The two teams split the season series 1-1 as RUNY won the first game in Round 1, 25-23, and the Legion won the second match 29-19 in Round 2.

Lineups

RUNY

1 James Rochford

2 Dylan Fawsitt

3 Paddy Ryan

4 Trevor Cassidy

5 Nate Brakeley

6 John Quill

7 Matt Hughston

8 Ross Deacon

9 Mike Petri

10 Cathal Marsh

11 Connor Wallace-Sims

12 Will Leonard

13 Chris Mattina

14 Mark O’Keeffe

15 Ben Foden

Reserves

16 Callum Mackintosh

17 Chance Wenglewski

18 Chris Sullivan

19 Alex MacDonald

20 James Denise

21 Marcus Walsh

22 Harry Bennett

23 Luke Hume

San Diego

1 Faka’osi Pifeleti

2 Kapeli Pifeleti

3 Paddy Ryan

4 Louis Stanfill

5 Josh Furno

6 Jasa Veremalua

7 Psalm Wooching

8 Jordan Manihera

9 Nate Augspurger

10 Joe Pietersen

11 Nick Boyer

12 JP Du Plessis

13 Ryan Matyas

14 Conor Kearns

15 Tai Enosa

Reserves

16 Dean Muir

17 Nathan Sylvia

18 Dino Waldren

19 Siaosi Mahoni

20 Pat Blair

21 Kyle Rogers

22 Savenaca Totovosau

23 Will Holder

Lineup Matchup Analysis

RUNY seems to want to win the matchup in the forwards as they went forwards heavy in their reserves and with an experienced pack to start. What’s interesting is that they have Harry Bennett in as a reserve as they must either think he could be there if Marsh falls to injury or might replace another back at whatever position to change how they go about their offense. San Diego, on the other hand, made a very interesting decision to put a lot of experience and talent in their reserves as they must think having game changers come in as substitutes is the way to win this match. As for the backs, the Legion must feel comfortable that they can score early and their defense can hold off at the end.

Seattle Seawolves vs Toronto Arrows

Toronto Arrows

Some experts saw the Arrows possibly winning the MLR Championship even as an expansion side and having nabbed the three seed in the playoffs, they’ll get their chance. However, Toronto has a major advantage for them going into the playoffs as they have won seven in a row and nine of their last 11. Of all the four clubs in the MLR Championship Series, they are in the best form.

The Arrows scored the second most points in the league at 472 but allowed 362, the third-best defense, giving them a +110 point differential as they finished with an 11-5 record and 57 points on the table. During the offseason, they lost only one notable player in Djustice Sears-Duru but they brought in such talents as Jack Evans, Gaston Mieres, Leandro Leivas, Sam Malcolm, and Dan Moor. However, there are other great players on this squad such as Jamie Leveridge, Spencer Jones, Jamie MacKenzie, John Moonlight, Tom Dolezal, Rob Brouwer, and one of the most exciting young wings in the league in Avery Oitomen, who has a wealth of talent. They should be a handful for Seattle with such a punishing attack.

Arrows X-Factor

Gaston Mieres

Mieres is a very talented player and a game changer. Having played internationally for Uruguay, he brings in experience as well. He is so dynamic to the club that he arguably is one of the best backs in the entire league.

Seattle Seawolves

The inaugural MLR champions, the Seawolves look to defend their title. Seattle prides itself on its defense dubbed “Seawall,” which is known to smother other team’s attacks. They also have one of the best offenses in the league as they put up 498 points. However, the Seawall has not been as effective this season, allowing 407 points –contributing to a +91 point differential–, ranked the fifth-best defense in the league despite the depth and talent in their forwards. Despite the defensive frustrations, Seattle obtained the second seed in the playoffs after going 11-4-1 with 58 points.

The team added such standouts as Ben Cima, Stephan Coetzee, Roland Suniula, Djustice Sears-Duru, JP Smith, and Brad Tucker during the offseason after only losing Rugby Canada legend Ray Barkwill to retirement. The Seawolves additions joined an already strong and basically retained roster from their championship season as they already had Kellen Gordon, John Hayden, Olive Kilifi, Tim Metcher, Jake Ilnicki, Taylor Krumrei, Jeremy Lenaerts, Cam Polson, Nakai Penny, Aladdin Schirmer, Vili Toluata’u, Riekert Hattingh, Eric Duechele, Phil Mack, Shalom Suniula, William Rasileka, Joey Iosefa, Sequoyah Burke-Combs, Dion Crowder, Peter Tiberio, Jeff Hassler, Brock Staller, and Mathew Turner and they also acquired USA Eagles legend Samu Manoa during the season. So, as you can see, they are stacked in talent and have a load of depth. Their scrum must play at it’s best for them to advance.

Seawolves X-Factor

Vili Toluata’u

Some have mentioned that Toluata’u’s injury might have had a lot to do with the defensive struggles this season, but when he is in the match, he is arguably one of the best defensive players in the league, as he is dynamic and a game changer. The hope is that he can stay healthy.

Matchup

The two teams split the season series 1-1 as Seattle won the first match 35-30 in Round 4, but Toronto won the second matchup 29-7 in Round 14. However, Toronto started the season 4-5 and were decimated because of a lot of their players called up to the Canadian National Team during the Americas Rugby Championship, which might have been the reason why Seattle won the first match and for the slow start to the season for the Arrows.

Lineups

Toronto

1 Rob Brouwer

2 Andrew Quatrrin

3 Morgan Mitchell

4 Mike Sheppard

5 Paul Ciulini

6 Marcello Wainwright

7 Peter Milazzo

8 Luke Campbell

9 Andrew Ferguson

10 Sam Malcolm

11 Leandro Leivas

12 Guiseppe Du Toit

13 Spencer Jones

14 Dan Moor

15 Gaston Mieres

Reserves

16 Steve Ng

17 Pat Lynott

18 Cole Keith

19 Tom Van Horne

20 Kolby Francis

21 Jamie Mackenzie

22 Pat Parfey

23 Kainoa Lloyd

Seattle

1 Djustice Sears-Duru

2 Stephan Coetzee

3 Tim Metcher

4 Apisai Naikatini

5 Brad Tucker

6 Samu Manoa

7 Nakai Penny

8 Riekert Hattingh

9 JP Smith

10 Ben Cima

11 Jeff Hassler

12 Shalom Suniula

13 George Barton

14 Brock Staller

15 Mat Turner

Reserves

16 Dan Trierweiler

17 Kellen Gordon

18 Jake Ilnicki

19 Jeremy Lenaerts

20 Eric Duechele

21 Phil Mack

22 Roland Suniula

23 Vili Toluata’u

Lineup Matchup Analysis

Seattle made a very interesting choice to go very heavy on forward substitutes as they are aware of how lethal the Toronto attack is. Interesting to see Toluata’u just get the last reserve jersey after coming off an injury as they might feel like he can help close out the game and set up a tougher defense in the second half of play. Otherwise, the starting lineup is absolutely lethal and it seems as though that they want to put a heavy emphasis on defense.

The Arrows have a good amount of forwards in their reserves in hopes of matching with the Seawolves, but they have a lethal starting backline which they seem confident could do the job. It was a bit shocking to not see Oitomen in the starting lineup or reserves, but that is probably because his style of play would not do well against Seattle’s defense. Plus their forwards in the starting lineup look like they could do some damage on offense.