Saturday presented some exciting college rugby and some lop-sided, yet predictable, scores in both D1A and Varsity Cup collegiate rugby. Now, many will discount one competition or the other because, in the end, the top teams will not play each other to determine true collegiate rugby supremacy. I am not trying to debate that issue. I think it is moot at this juncture in college rugby.
Our higher performing college rugby teams have diverged along two paths. The US rugby community will not have a true national champion until one of those paths proves profitable or too expensive to maintain, whichever comes first. Then, perhaps these teams will merge to compete according to our expectations.
D1A Rugby Play-in Challenge Match
Colorado 54-24 Wisconsin
Wisconsin underplayed against a very weak Ohio State team to travel to Glendale. Given how the Badgers played in the fall, they should have defeated the Buckeyes by 40+. That did not happen and they met a Colorado squad that not only played well in the West Division, but also played tough in losses to UCLA, Boulder, Denver Highlanders, and Central Washington in their season. When the Buffs met the Badgers this weekend, experience and cohesion served Colorado well. Colorado needs to combine a heavy does of fitness and speed with that experience and cohesion when they meet St Mary's in Moraga, CA next weekend.
Varsity Cup Quarterfinals
Cal 77-0 Notre Dame
Cal did not look like Cal in the first half. Yes, they had a relatively young backline due to injuries, but even the usual reserve-grade Cal squad makes less handling errors. The second half looked much more like the clinical, "performance culture" we expect of the Golden Bears. This competition is Cal's to lose. They know that. But if they play a minute against Navy like they played the first half against Notre Dame, the Middies will be waiting to capitalize.
Navy 32-0 Dartmouth
Big Green rolled into Annapolis ready to play a big game, well some of the Dartmouth players did. Madison Hughes played his heart out, but found himself isolated too many times when a Dartmouth try should have been scored. Additionally, Dartmouth's lineouts were disappointing. Regardless of the crosswind, regardless of who the other team is: when Gavin Hickie is coaching, lineouts should be a team's strength. Dartmouth could not launch an attack from the lineout, though. Navy shined in several places, but none more so than the breakdown and the play of their scrumhalf, Ricky Neel-Feller. The Midshipman ruled the rucks the whole game. Their discipline, body positioning, and timing were impeccable. Couple that with the leadership and johnny-on-the-spot-ness of Neel-Feller and his missile of a baseline pass and Navy was off to the races.
Dartmouth has only lost two games this year, in 7s and in XVs. Both matches lost to the monkey on Big Green's back, Navy.
NOTE: If Will Holder is on Alex Magleby's radar for the OTC, then the Ricky Neel-Feller should be pinging loud. Instincts, skill, and speed this young man has in spades. Somebody commission him and PCS him to a desk job in San Diego for four years!
Central Washington 81-28 Air Force
Out of left field, Central Washington smashed Air Force with authority. Everyone knew that Central Washington would provide solid competition for the Varsity Cup. However, few (including moi) supposed CWU would dominate. Not only did they dominate, but they did so with discipline. So much so that the lop-sided penalty count may bring the referee some undue grief. But no one can blame the ref for anything in this game. Both teams played hard and fast, one just played harder and faster. Tony Pacheco is the real deal as a coach. Tanner Barnes and Pat Blair both played blinders at their respective positions on the day. Definitely two young men who should be on Tolks' and Mags' radars.
BYU 69-8 UCLA
BYU was never in danger of losing this game. The foot and hands of Jonny Linehan ensured that it was going to be ugly. However it is the sheer size, skill, and speed of the Cougars that makes them so dangerous. Paul Lasike is a tank with legs. Seriously, if you do not tackle this guy at the ankles, you must have assistance to bring him down. Ryan Roundy finds a way to be at 75% of the breakdowns. Wings Wernli and Lowry seem to appear magically in support of every line break. This is a tough team to beat at every position. Did I mention they are fast?
Thoughts on the Varsity Cup broadcasts:
With all of the hype placed on the Varsity Cup, I expected much better broadcast work. However, I paid $9.95 to watch the two games in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and was disappointed that there was only one camera with minimal zoom capability. There was no commentary during the Cal-UND match. The Navy-Dartmouth match had one person calling play-by-play and providing color. However, he didn't know the players' names and called the game as if he was analyzing game film for coaches to review later. In LA, kudos to Bill Seward for having become a real student of the game and being the brightest spot of the weekend's broadcasts. Bill has come a LONG way in rugby commentary since his inauguration as an NBC rugby voice a couple of years ago. Still it was difficult for Bill and his knowledgable color man to overcome the "unregistered HDV" watermark plastered across everyone's screen because whoever purchased the camera neglected to purchase the necessary plug-in software for live-streaming in HD.
This competition contains some very good rugby. The remaining three matches deserve better treatment.
Our higher performing college rugby teams have diverged along two paths. The US rugby community will not have a true national champion until one of those paths proves profitable or too expensive to maintain, whichever comes first. Then, perhaps these teams will merge to compete according to our expectations.
D1A Rugby Play-in Challenge Match
Colorado 54-24 Wisconsin
Wisconsin underplayed against a very weak Ohio State team to travel to Glendale. Given how the Badgers played in the fall, they should have defeated the Buckeyes by 40+. That did not happen and they met a Colorado squad that not only played well in the West Division, but also played tough in losses to UCLA, Boulder, Denver Highlanders, and Central Washington in their season. When the Buffs met the Badgers this weekend, experience and cohesion served Colorado well. Colorado needs to combine a heavy does of fitness and speed with that experience and cohesion when they meet St Mary's in Moraga, CA next weekend.
Varsity Cup Quarterfinals
Cal 77-0 Notre Dame
Cal did not look like Cal in the first half. Yes, they had a relatively young backline due to injuries, but even the usual reserve-grade Cal squad makes less handling errors. The second half looked much more like the clinical, "performance culture" we expect of the Golden Bears. This competition is Cal's to lose. They know that. But if they play a minute against Navy like they played the first half against Notre Dame, the Middies will be waiting to capitalize.
Navy 32-0 Dartmouth
Big Green rolled into Annapolis ready to play a big game, well some of the Dartmouth players did. Madison Hughes played his heart out, but found himself isolated too many times when a Dartmouth try should have been scored. Additionally, Dartmouth's lineouts were disappointing. Regardless of the crosswind, regardless of who the other team is: when Gavin Hickie is coaching, lineouts should be a team's strength. Dartmouth could not launch an attack from the lineout, though. Navy shined in several places, but none more so than the breakdown and the play of their scrumhalf, Ricky Neel-Feller. The Midshipman ruled the rucks the whole game. Their discipline, body positioning, and timing were impeccable. Couple that with the leadership and johnny-on-the-spot-ness of Neel-Feller and his missile of a baseline pass and Navy was off to the races.
Dartmouth has only lost two games this year, in 7s and in XVs. Both matches lost to the monkey on Big Green's back, Navy.
NOTE: If Will Holder is on Alex Magleby's radar for the OTC, then the Ricky Neel-Feller should be pinging loud. Instincts, skill, and speed this young man has in spades. Somebody commission him and PCS him to a desk job in San Diego for four years!
Central Washington 81-28 Air Force
Out of left field, Central Washington smashed Air Force with authority. Everyone knew that Central Washington would provide solid competition for the Varsity Cup. However, few (including moi) supposed CWU would dominate. Not only did they dominate, but they did so with discipline. So much so that the lop-sided penalty count may bring the referee some undue grief. But no one can blame the ref for anything in this game. Both teams played hard and fast, one just played harder and faster. Tony Pacheco is the real deal as a coach. Tanner Barnes and Pat Blair both played blinders at their respective positions on the day. Definitely two young men who should be on Tolks' and Mags' radars.
BYU 69-8 UCLA
BYU was never in danger of losing this game. The foot and hands of Jonny Linehan ensured that it was going to be ugly. However it is the sheer size, skill, and speed of the Cougars that makes them so dangerous. Paul Lasike is a tank with legs. Seriously, if you do not tackle this guy at the ankles, you must have assistance to bring him down. Ryan Roundy finds a way to be at 75% of the breakdowns. Wings Wernli and Lowry seem to appear magically in support of every line break. This is a tough team to beat at every position. Did I mention they are fast?
Thoughts on the Varsity Cup broadcasts:
With all of the hype placed on the Varsity Cup, I expected much better broadcast work. However, I paid $9.95 to watch the two games in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and was disappointed that there was only one camera with minimal zoom capability. There was no commentary during the Cal-UND match. The Navy-Dartmouth match had one person calling play-by-play and providing color. However, he didn't know the players' names and called the game as if he was analyzing game film for coaches to review later. In LA, kudos to Bill Seward for having become a real student of the game and being the brightest spot of the weekend's broadcasts. Bill has come a LONG way in rugby commentary since his inauguration as an NBC rugby voice a couple of years ago. Still it was difficult for Bill and his knowledgable color man to overcome the "unregistered HDV" watermark plastered across everyone's screen because whoever purchased the camera neglected to purchase the necessary plug-in software for live-streaming in HD.
This competition contains some very good rugby. The remaining three matches deserve better treatment.