Major League Rugby’s second season continues to delight. Another week, another set of matches that entertained from start to finish. After three rounds, the landscape is beginning to come into view. Things are looking pretty good in New Orleans. Not quite as good in Austin. But for fans who just appreciate rugby, it’s been a masterpiece of competitive tension.

#GoldReign

So I have been skeptical of New Orleans. Maybe it’s because last year I felt they were getting far too much credit. And their defense still leaves much to be desired. But that attack is on fire. On. Fire.

JP Eloff and Tristan Blewett, working in conjunction in the backfield, are absolutely electric. The NOLA Gold scored 41 points and won the set-piece battle against a Seattle Seawolves team that won a championship on defense and set-piece. And that, with important assets missing on international call-ups and first choice fly half Scott Gale out with a concussion. Let’s not forget that Eagle Tony Lamborn is incoming. Whatever Nate Osborne has these young men doing, it is working right now.

Having run off these three wins to start the season, NOLA has put themselves in a strong position for a playoff spot. Will anyone be able to end the gold reign?

The Bigger They Are

Remember the good old days of MLR when the Glendale Raptors were the best team and upstart Seattle knocked them off for the title? Well, this isn’t 2018.

In 2018, on the way to their championship showdown, these teams were 4-1 through their first five games. The only loss was between them, with Seattle losing to Glendale.

In 2019, those same teams are 1-4 and the only win was between them, with Seattle beating Glendale.

There’s a lot to unpack. Glendale is hampered with ARC losses. Seattle has dealt with challenging weather and climate changes. The one win is also the one and only home game for either side.

But still, there’s only so much benefit of the doubt to be given. If these teams don’t start adding Ws soon, neither will be returning to the big dance at year end.

Arrows Land True

Congratulations to the Toronto Arrows for registering their first MLR victory. It came at the expense of Austin Elite Rugby, who drop to 0-3. They’ve dropped three home games and that is a deep hole from which to dig out. But Toronto moves to 1-1 on the year.

They win despite having five players with Canada’s national team and two with Uruguay’s. And, with the bonus points earned in their Round 1 loss, they jump all the way up to third on the table. If they can manage another road win when they travel to Seattle next week, they’ll be setting themselves up for a strong finishing run with their final eight games at home.

On a completely irrelevant but somewhat entertaining note, I never noticed how great “Arrows” is as a rugby team name. It leads to some great broadcasting. So many standard rugby play calls that sound extra exciting when the team being talked about is arrows. “The runner charges forward with the ball, but he’s met with a wall of Arrows!” “The Arrows are flying along the touchline!” “The Arrows cut through the defensive line!” “We thought it was a sure try, but before he could score he was swallowed by Arrows.”

Round 3 Results

Austin 19 – Toronto 24

San Diego 17 – Houston 13

NOLA 41 – Seattle 31

Standings