By Aaron Wilson
The kicks were true and accurate.
The stride frequency was on point.
The results were exactly what the Houston SaberCats needed.
AJ Alatimu delivered a commanding performance in the Western Conference finals victory last Saturday over the Utah Warriors.
Scoring a game-high 13 points, Alatimu boosted the SaberCats into the Major League Rugby championship match Saturday against the defending champion New England Free Jacks at Centreville Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
“It was a team effort,” Alatimu said. “All credit to our forwards for turning up and being dominant. They gave me some good balls to play off of.
“We still have a lot to work on, in general. The kicking was probably all right, but it’s got to be better. Especially this week against a quality team.”
Between his conversions in the kicking game and a try he contributed, Alatimu got the job done.
He is the leading scorer for the Western Conference second seed and finals winner with 91 points for the season. He ranks third in passes with 208, second with 20 turnovers.
Saddened by a key teammate’s season-ending injury, Alatimu is carrying it forward for him.
“I was very sad he had to miss the rest of the season,” Alatimu said. “It gave me an opportunity to step up. We had a slow start to the season, but we’re peaking at the right time.”
The SaberCats endured three years of losing in the opening round of the playoffs. They broke through in a major way this year by winning the first two playoff matches in franchise history.
They can win the Shield on Saturday, if they can beat the Free Jacks for the first time in the history of the franchise.
“They’re just a really quality team all-around,” Alatimu said. “They have good passing, good forwards and they’re well-coached. We have to focus and keep focusing on us and what we do better and how we play best. We do what we’ve been doing the last few games and we’ll have a chance.”
‘Everything Earned.’
That’s the motto of the SaberCats. They’re one win away from being something else: champions.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Alatimu said. “It hasn’t really kicked in yet. We’re in the final. When we see everyone, it will really kick in. It’s really exciting to see the franchise make its first final. I hope we get the job done.”
Playing for veteran coach Pote Human has been emotionally significant for Alatimu and his teammates.
“He’s such a big part of this team and this organization,” Alatimu said. “If you ask anyone on this team, they’ll all say good things about him. We want to get the job done as a thank you to him for being the person that he is.”
Alatimu, 32, a native of Apia, Samoa, previously played for the Perth Spirit, Brisbane City, Western Force and participated in the 2019 Rugby World Cup for Samoa.
Nicknamed ‘Apple Juice,’ Alatimu grew up in Manurewa, New Zealand. This is his third year with the SaberCats, his fourth overall in Major League Rugby.
“I was born and raised in Samoa, but we moved to New Zealand when I was really young,” Alatimu said. “I didn’t start playing rugby until the end of high school. I couldn’t crack it at the time. I moved to Australia. My wife is from there. I signed by first pro contract. I wound up in Seattle, then I was traded to Houston. Funny story, I ended up in Seattle after one of my teammates couldn’t go for family reasons. I sent in my highlights and they signed me.
“It was really hard for me at first with the trade. It was way too hard to come here at first, but it is what it is. We fell short last year against Dallas, but it’s been a really good journey. My family, we love being in Houston. We’re part of something special.”
