Just when you thought the landscape was beginning to show through the clouds, Round 7 happens. And while there was only one true upset, three of the four matches diverged from expectations. I said that the top four were very close, and that small bit of incremental evidence could produce significant ranking swings.

And so it is, here in Round 7, the TRS Major League Rugby contributors are as divided as they’ve ever been on rankings. For example, Rugby United New York received votes from #1 to #6, and Seattle from #1 to #4, to name a few. Looks like we’ll need some more MLR action to move back towards a consensus. But for now, here’s how the votes fell.

#1 SEATTLE SEAWOLVES (Record: 4-2; Last Week: #1)

They won, but it wasn’t pretty. Following up on their clinical victory over RUNY in Round 5, the Seawolves looked a bit more earthbound in a tough win over the visiting Houston SaberCats. As mentioned, there was some dissension on Seattle’s ultimate spot in this week’s ranks. But two things speak very favorably of them.

First, they haven’t lost at home since Round 2 of 2018. That’s six straight home wins and an overall 7-1 record at Starfire Sports. That’s impressive.

Second, they’re still the only team to beat RUNY, a feat that both NOLA and San Diego failed to achieve.

But Houston found success by being the more physical side. In a role usually played by Seattle, the Seawolves seemed caught off guard by the manhandling they were receiving. It will be interesting to see if other teams try to take a page out of the same playbook going forward.

#2 RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK (Record: 4-1; Last Week: #2 tie)

New York had arguably the most complete performance of the week, and they did it with Cathal Marsh missing for most of the game. Their set piece was effective and their scrum even drew a penalty try off of the powerful Utah pack. Mark O’Keeffe and Connor Wallace-Sims combined for four tries, and Chris Mattina looked more than capable stepping into the fly half spot.

Of course, it was snowing. And even though Utah played well in the snow against NOLA in Round 6, that still adds some uncertainty to the significance of the performance. But with a 4-1 road record, RUNY escapes the toughest part of their schedule in a great position.

#3 NOLA GOLD (Record: 4-1; Last Week: #4)

NOLA jump up a spot despite sitting idle. With a table-topping record and a boatload of bonus points, they are even better positioned than NY for a playoff spot. But their last two performances have been their worst two, falling at home to the Roosters and needing a last-second try to beat Utah on the road.

This week, a quick jaunt over to Houston will give them a chance to get back up to their best form. As the ‘Cats have played NY and Seattle in consecutive weeks, it will also serve as a good point for comparison. NOLA will get star #8 Cam Dolan and the rest of their Americas Rugby Championship tributes back, so they should be at full strength. This will be a good week to show what full strength gumbo rugby looks like.

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

If Sunday night’s CBS Game of the Week had ended after 40 minutes, San Diego would have gotten my vote for #1. Unfortunately for them, they decided to go 80. And boy did the Toronto Arrows enjoy that back half. They turned a whipping against the whippers and came out on top, stunning the Legion at home.

Now, the Legion travel to Glendale. On Glendale’s recent home form, that is no picnic. A loss in Colorado would drop the Legion to 4-3, with a markedly dimmer prospect on the season.

#5 GLENDALE RAPTORS (Record: 3-2-1; Last Week: #5)

Glendale actually started off 0-2, if you recall. They lost in Seattle and then in NOLA. Since then, they haven’t lost.

Of course, they had the benefit of meeting Austin twice in that span. And they very nearly lost to Utah before settling for MLR’s first and only draw. But they also delivered MLR’s first and only shut out, blanking an Arrows team that just toppled the Legion.

They are getting better. John Ryberg has been a vision, and Glendale’s big three Eagles return this week to the blue and yellow. They host San Diego with the chance to show they still belong in the championship conversation.

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

Ironically, Toronto was one of the few teams for which there was a consensus among the voters. And everyone voted Toronto #5. Be that as is may, thanks to the oddities of vote averaging, they end up the sixth highest ranked team. I’m sure they couldn’t care less, still buzzing from the comeback of the season.

And now they get back a slew of ARC tributes. They haven’t been full strength since Round 1, when they lost a narrow one against the Gold.

Still, seven straight road games is a lot. And for number seven, they catch RUNY on their home opener. If they manage another big road win, expect the Arrows to shoot up in the ranks.

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

In Round 6, Utah seemed to leverage the snow to their advantage. They used a closely held power game to take NOLA to the final play of the match before losing a heart breaker.

Round 7, not so much. By the time your first pint was ordered, the Warriors were down two tries. They never threatened a comeback, even with RUNY’s fly half departing early.

Maybe it was an off-week. They had looked pretty good in the previous two, especially running out to a big lead against Glendale. They get a rest week and then a trip to Houston, which gives them a good opportunity to sort things out before they drop out of contention for the season.

#8 – HOUSTON SABERCATS (Record: 1-4; Last Week: #8)

Not too shabby, Houston. They took it to Seattle, playing like a big brother bullying a younger sibling. In the end, they fell short. But if they can keep that level of intensity, I suspect they will start finding more luck with end results.

But that is the story of the Houston SaberCats, as it ever was. Always a stone’s throw from success, but never successful. The old adage says that both winning and losing become habits. The ‘Cats have a tough habit to break.

#9 AUSTIN ELITE RUGBY (Record: 0-6; Last Week: #9)

There was also unanimity among the TRS contributors on Austin. Not in a good way.

The Elite are in a bad place. They play like a group of rugby players that have never met before. Timothee Guillimin has struggled to replicate his 2018 success and new additions have not been able to atone for personnel losses. Both offense and defense look directionless.

It’s probably too late for Austin to compete this year. But they can learn what it means to be Austin Elite. They can develop their own style of play. Instead of NOLA’s gumbo rugby, maybe they’ll call it “weird rugby.” Or “longhorn rugby.” But right now, they have no style at all. And until they can find something that binds them and organizes their play, they won’t be successful.