Ex-Super Rugby flyer helps eliminate Ma’a Nonu & Matt Giteau’s Legion

Former Wallaby Matt Giteau and All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu have fallen short in their bid to bring the Major League Rugby shield back to San Diego after losing to Seattle Seawolves 30-28 in the Western Conference semi-finals.

66-game Super Rugby veteran Toni Pulu, who played for the Chiefs, ACT Brumbies and the Western Force, helped set up a match-sealing try with six minutes left to help send Seattle to the Western Conference Final.

Giteau and Nonu have played plenty of rugby against one another in the Test arena over the years, and the two joined forces at a star-studded Toulon side some years ago. But the decision for ‘Gits’ to join Nonu at the San Diego Legion had the rugby world talking.

Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Nonu has played for the Legion since 2020, while Giteau signed for San Diego last December before debuting in the red and black strip in a 30-24 win over Dallas Jackals in May.

But San Diego would have their work cut out for them in the MLR playoffs after finishing third in the Western Conference behind Houston and rivals Seattle. Up first, the Legion would take on the Seawolves away from home.

With this matchup pitting two traditional rivals up against one another – with either the Legion or Seawolves playing in four of MLR’s five championship games to date – this was always going to be a titanic tussle where big-name players would need to step up.

San Diego went ahead early after two penalty goals inside the first 11 minutes, but the hosts quickly swung the game’s momentum back in their favour with a stunning try scored by fullback Duncan Matthews.

Matthews showed some impressive athleticism to run onto a perfectly placed grubber kick before stretching out to reel in the ball, and then place it within the in-goal by what appeared to be a matter of inches.

That try-scoring play all started with a turnover at the breakdown with Seattle stealing the ball after San Diego failed to protect it. Two phases later, the outside back reaped the rewards with the go-ahead try about 10 metres in from the sideline.

Seattle added to their advantage soon after. Captain JP Smith sent a perfect pass from halfback to towering lock Rhyno Herbst who crashed over. Some fans even gave their rugby heroes a standing ovation as they raced out to a big lead after 28 minutes.

Matt Giteau would score the only other points between then and the one-hour mark with a penalty goal just after the half-time break. It brought the deficit down to nine points but the Seawolves were still in control.

The Legion cut the Seawolves’ lead down even further, though, with replacement hooker Cyrille Cama scoring from a rolling maul. There seemed to be an extra spring in San Diego’s step from there, but that only lasted for a few minutes.

Seattle had a penalty try awarded in their favour in the 65^th minute and replacement backrower Pago Haini scored about 10 minutes after that. Haini ran onto a perfectly weighted offload from former Chiefs, Brumbies and Force winger Toni Pulu.

While San Diego did have the last say with two quick scores to right winger Tomas Aoake and then a penalty try in the 81^st minute, time wasn’t on their side. It got a bit headed towards the end as the Legion came to terms with another playoff loss to Seattle.