This article was originally written for The Rugby Network. Click here to read it in its original format.

NOLA Gold lit up the scoreboard on Saturday to the tune of a 51-28 victory over Rugby United New York. For a team known for its quick pace and potent offense, it was actually the defensive effort that led to the big score line.

New York has a threatening attack in its own right. RUNY has scored 36 and 28 points in its first two games, but NOLA was in their face with constant pressure and big hits almost from the opening whistle. However, NOLA’s defense delivered two intercept-tries, both from wing Jojo Tikoisuva amidst his masterful game, and had a third from Cam Dolan called back due to a (questionable) knock on a few phases earlier. The interceptions didn’t happen by accident.

“The way that we defend and the way that we communicate on defense allows players like Jojo to back himself,” said NOLA head coach Nate Osborne. “Giving the guys the confidence [to make a play] is a big deal for them. You may see teams take it in a little bit more because they don’t want to take it out wide, as we’ve got the athletic guys that can go up and get it.”

Doing just that — hitting the ball up on the inside, is something New York might look back and wish it had done a bit more often. The first intercept try came from a skip pass from big second row Nate Brakeley, a regular in the USA Eagles’ jersey. From that moment, it seemed clear that the visitors wanted to quickly get the ball out wide, perhaps due to something they saw on film from the week before. The times they were able to get it out there, they found inside support and were able to pick up meters. But at the end of the day the plan was foiled by the timely NOLA defense.

No play may have been more important than Tikoisuva’s second intercept-try. The second part of the first half saw New York claw its way back from a 17-point deficit to just five. In the hot New Orleans sun, the visitors were on the verge of stealing the lead and the momentum if they were able to put one over early in the second half. Instead, there was the Gold wing streaking down the sideline with New York ball in a move that looked so similar, it could have been a replay of the first half interception.

“Jojo’s second intercept right after halftime really put the energy back in us. It was really hot down here, it was fast-paced, and both teams were exhausted. I think that try really sparked us. They did come down the field and score right after that, which allowed them to stay in the game a little longer. But I think the Jojo kick-through after, with Damian Stevens scoring really sealed things for us.”

Stevens’ energy off the bench — and the performance of the reserves as a whole thus far — has also been a huge boon for the team. With Eric Howard and Nikola Bursic also coming in the second half, some of NOLA’s most impactful players were left for the stretch run of the match, a deliberate strategy by Osborne.

The Gold are going to have to rely on that depth now for the remainder of the season, as this win came with a toll. Fly half Robbie Coleman, who had two strong games to begin the season and is a team favorite on and off the field, tore his ACL and MCL.

Osborne can reach into his bag of tricks and call upon the experienced Timothee Guillimin to replace him at fly half. Meyer is also capable of stepping into the #10 jersey, and the team just announced the signing of versatile back Hanno Dirksen, who has played the majority of his career in the PRO14 for the Ospreys.

The lineup will resolve itself with time, but for now it’s a matter of using the bye to heal up after the long layoff. It’s early, but NOLA leads the Eastern Conference by two league points. Its fast-paced offense and high-pressure defense might just be enough for this team to capture that elusive playoff bid and make a run at the MLR Championship.