LSU can clinch the Red River South with a win over Texas A&M this weekend, but in fact it's pretty much a foregone conclusion win or lose.
The Tigers have two more games left in the season, while current 1st-place A&M is done for the regular season. All LSU needs is one win out of those three games. They should get it, as the Tigers are currently undefeated at 5-0 in the conference.
However, the weird thing about college rugby is that LSU's most notable performance might have been a loss. When they fell 27-17 to Arkansas State, leading that game late, as well, that's when many started to take notice.
"I think we learned a lot from that game," said LSU Coach Bob Causey. "We didn't know what we had until we played Arkansas State. And we went out there, and while we didn't win, we played really hard. Playing against a team like Arkansas State or Life you have to play your butt off to come out ahead. We played hard all the way through, that's the bottom line for us. We grew up a lot, and we now know where we are and what we can do."
The difference in the game against Arkansas State was impact subs. ASU's bench finished off the game for them.
"Despite our shortcomings we were ahead most of the game," said Causey. "We had a battle plan and we executed it. We need more of those kinds of games because it showed a level our guys aspire to. Teams like us, teams that are closer to the top but not quite at the top, need those matches."
Brennan Falcon was hus usual superb self for LSU. Joe Ruocco was player of the game - "he's a little guy but he tackles like a giant," said Causey. Cameron Troxler was impressive at fullback and No. 8 Todd Dupre battled through a hamstring issue to put in a big game.
All of that has instilled LSU with confidence going into the meat of the season.
Also on the slate this weekend, TCU (1-4) visits 3-3 Arkansas, Texas Tech takes on Houston in a meeting of 1-5 teams, and Oklahoma (4-3) faces Texas (1-5) in a rivalry game.
But going forward, it's LSU and Baylor who look set to battle for the conference title at the end.
| Red River - DIA | |||||||||
| Red River North | W | L | T | Pf | Pa | Pd | BT | BL | Pts |
| Baylor | 7 | 1 | 0 | 247 | 149 | 98 | 4 | 0 | 32 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | 3 | 0 | 254 | 133 | 121 | 6 | 2 | 24 |
| Texas Tech | 1 | 5 | 0 | 127 | 236 | -109 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Texas | 1 | 5 | 0 | 122 | 215 | -93 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| TCU | 1 | 4 | 0 | 66 | 301 | -235 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Red River South | W | L | T | Pf | Pa | Pd | BT | BL | Pts |
| Texas A&M | 5 | 2 | 0 | 392 | 90 | 302 | 6 | 1 | 27 |
| LSU | 5 | 0 | 0 | 339 | 50 | 289 | 5 | 0 | 25 |
| Arkansas | 3 | 3 | 0 | 199 | 172 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| Houston | 1 | 5 | 0 | 51 | 451 | -400 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
