After an exciting Round 8, the TRS writers have a new #1 team. Congrats to the NOLA Gold, who reclaim the top spot for the first time since Round 3 on the back of Tristan Blewett’s historic performance.

#1 NOLA GOLD (Record: 5-1; Last Week: #3)

In a conclusive stomping of the Houston SaberCats, Blewett set a Major League Rugby record for meters gained and carried the Gold to the top of the rankings. But it’s been more than a one-man effort.

The Gold sit alone atop the table. They have the best point differential. According to an analysis by Dan Power, they have the easiest strength of schedule remaining. They’ve managed a bonus point per game, equaled only by the Glendale Raptors. They’ve scored the most points with 211, a full 12% more than the second best Seattle Seawolves.

They’ve done everything they needed to do to be leading the league. Everything except beat Rugby United New York. They’ll get a chance to avenge that loss, but not until late May.

#2 RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK (Record: 5-1; Last Week: #2)

RUNY recorded another narrow win. Of their five victories, only twice have they won by more than three points. But those narrow wins have come in San Diego, in Louisiana, and hosting a full strength Toronto Arrows side. Each of those is impressive, even at only small margins.

In Round 8, the Arrows asked questions of RUNY that they had not yet been asked this season. And the Roosters answered them. The forwards proved they, too, could find the way to the win column when called upon to do so. This week, they host a Glendale side that has been uninspiring on the road. They’ll likely need to win if they want to keep pace with the Gold, who host the winless Austin Elite Rugby.

#3 SEATTLE SEAWOLVES (Record: 5-2; Last Week: #1)

The Seawolves dropped from the top spot, falling all the way to #3. That comes with two straight weeks of hard-fought wins against the struggling Texan teams. Since they dispatched the Roosters (the only team to do so), they’ve managed to win without impressing.

It started when Houston came out guns ablaze in Round 7 and shook the Seawolves early. Austin did the same, using aggression and physicality at the breakdown to build momentum.

In both cases, Seattle was able to overcome. And for that, they deserve praise. No doubt, they are working to address that tactic going forward. They’ll have to if they want to find the same success against the top sides.

#4 SAN DIEGO LEGION (Record: 4-2-1; Last Week: #4)

A try and well-struck conversion at the death snatched a stalemate from the jaws of defeat in Glendale. Joe Pietersen is everywhere for this team. He seems to constantly will the Legion towards success. But he can’t do it all, and the Legion haven’t won since February 22.

They remain one of the most balanced sides. Their set piece is second to none, as evidenced by the two scrum penalties that forestalled defeat just long enough for the Legion to manufacture the draw. Their backline is packed with talent and their defense is stiff. They’ve allowed the fewest points per game (19) in the league.

But they just aren’t adding wins fast enough to keep up with NOLA and New York, and they haven’t beaten good teams in quite some time. The last time they beat a team that was over .500 dates all the way back to February 2. After a bye week, they’ll travel to Seattle with the chance to change that trend.

#5 TORONTO ARROWS (Record: 3-4; Last Week: #6)

The Arrows have paid the heaviest price for the Americas Rugby Championship. For the first time since Round 1, the Arrows were unburdened by Canada duty. Even so, their full slate of internationals have not yet returned to action. That is a scary thought, considering how well they played in New York.

Previously, they had been either giving too much respect to MLR defenses or too much respect to their own tactical kicking game. But they had been giving up possession too easily. Not so in Round 8, where they held the ball effectively and kept it away from New York’s dangerous backs.

When at full strength, really full strength, they’ll also have a run of home games to put additional wind in their sails. Though they sit in sixth place today, I continue to think they’re more likely than not to claw themselves into a playoff game.

#6 GLENDALE RAPTORS (Record: 3-2-2; Last Week: #5)

The Raptors have been improving week after week, but how much more room for improvement remains? They hit a wall at home this week, coughing up a lead in extra time. They did so, in part, because they couldn’t defend their own scrum.

While they may have suffered from the lack of Eagles Shaun Davies, Will Magie, and Hanco Germishuys, those players are back now. And the scrum will remain an issue.

John Ryberg has been burning up the league. That will continue. And Hanco will help add a strong forward ball carrier. But the Raptors have been playing their best under the stewardship of Ata Malifa in the #10 shirt. It’s not clear that Magie’s return will bring the uplift for which Raptor fans may have been hoping.

#7 UTAH WARRIORS (Record: 1-3-1; Last Week: #7)

Utah sits still in an idle week. After winning their opener in Austin, the Warriors haven’t been able to add another. But no time like the present. They’ll get a chance to take down the other Texan team when they visit Houston in Round 9.

The Warriors have played the fewest games in the league, which means they have the most time to improve. But they need to start soon. They have the talent across the pitch but haven’t been able to organize it into a functioning unit. Yet. Josh Reeves returns from the Brazilian national team. If he can sew this squad together, they may have something.

#8 HOUSTON SABERCATS (Record: 1-5; Last Week: #8)

This year is already too much like last for Houston. An early win against Austin engendered optimism that slowly filtered away.

Not much to be optimistic about after Round 8. They gave up the most points this season against NOLA, albeit with two NOLA tries coming after Houston’s two red cards.

And those red cards. Houston will fight those with everything they’ve got, because if Josua Vici and Osea Kolinisau face bans, then Houston might as well start worrying about 2020.

#9 AUSTIN ELITE RUGBY (Record: 0-7; Last Week: #9)

You know, Austin didn’t play half bad for the first 20 minutes against the Seawolves. With a two-try advantage early, you saw for a moment what the Elite could be.

But only for a moment. In the end, the match wasn’t competitive. Few have been for Austin. But with Mickael Romero healthy and playing, the Austin attack is starting to pick up a glimmer of a hum. They have a better point differential than Houston, though with one fewer game played. Their rematch comes May 25.