This weekend will be telling on many levels. In D1A, we have a crapshoot in the East, but not so much in the West. In the Varsity Cup competition, it might seem like a wash, but at this point we care more about the broadcast quality and less about the rugby (unless, of course, Central Washington provides an upset!).
D1A College Rugby
Colorado at St Mary's - Many say that the road to success in Greensboro, NC runs through Moraga, CA. St Mary's Coach Tim O'Brien looks at it much more realistically. College rugby, especially college club rugby, can be very whimsical. Finals, sickness, injury, love, and money all conspire to destroy a team in the playoffs that has been humming along all season. I do not think St Mary's is suffering from such maladies. Colorado, however, has a hard row to hoe and a long row it is. St Mary's possesses much more experienced depth than Colorado and are at home. I pick the Gaels by plenty.
Cal Poly SLO at Colorado St - I love that the Rams won their first West title ever. That bodes well for the West. However, their ventures outside the West this year paled and they are playing a Mustang team that is rising and hungry. Colorado St must play a fast-paced, pressure defense to contain Cal Poly. They have not done so this year. Cal Poly by 25.
Kutztown at Arkansas St - This will be a slobber-knocker. No two ways about it. These two teams are ready for each other. Great athletes, great ruggers, a great season of team-play. This could describe either team. If you watch no other game this weekend, watch this one. It will be worth the time. Red Wolves by 7. I hope the ref wears new go-fasters!
Life at Army - This will be another tough game to call accurately. Both teams are fit and fast. Both teams display great skills and decision-making. And this is the first time they have ever met. IF possible, I think we will see two teams playing their best rugby of the season so far. This match will likely come down to which team possesses the ball at full time. My pick is Life by 2.
Varsity Cup
Central Washington at BYU - We know that BYU ruled the roost the last time these teams met, but Coach Smyth has watched the game film. He knows, as we all do, that this year's Wildcats play on a different plane than last year's. BYU holds the edge in size and skill. If CWU wants to win this, they'll have to play with more heart. One has to wonder where that heart will come from, because the Wildcats have played with immense heart all season. My pick is BYU by 8 in this cat fight.
Navy at Cal - Another humdinger of a match. Two great teams, two great coaches. This will be a fast, hard-hitting affair. The Bears "performance culture" should prevail over the Midshipmen. But, the Middies will provide stiff resistance at the breakdown. Bears by 24.
Broadcast notes:
No streaming information has been announced for the D1A QFs.
CWU at BYU will be streamed on the Varsity Cup YouTube channel, while NAvy at Cal will be on pac-12.com. I expect these will be a sight better than last weekend's output in terms of quality. Links and details at http://varsitycup.us/watch/.
NSCRO will live-stream their SFs and Final from Infinity Park in Glendale, CO this weekend on their website http://www.nscro.org. Schedule is as follows (all times are Mountain Time):
Saturday April 27
1PM - New England College (Northeast Region Champion) vs. Duke University (Mid-Atlantic South Region Champion)
3PM - St. John's University (Central Region Champion) vs. University of Denver (PacWest Region Champion)
Sunday April 28
10:30AM - 3rd Place
12:50PM - Championship
3PM - Awards Ceremony
D1A College Rugby
Colorado at St Mary's - Many say that the road to success in Greensboro, NC runs through Moraga, CA. St Mary's Coach Tim O'Brien looks at it much more realistically. College rugby, especially college club rugby, can be very whimsical. Finals, sickness, injury, love, and money all conspire to destroy a team in the playoffs that has been humming along all season. I do not think St Mary's is suffering from such maladies. Colorado, however, has a hard row to hoe and a long row it is. St Mary's possesses much more experienced depth than Colorado and are at home. I pick the Gaels by plenty.
Cal Poly SLO at Colorado St - I love that the Rams won their first West title ever. That bodes well for the West. However, their ventures outside the West this year paled and they are playing a Mustang team that is rising and hungry. Colorado St must play a fast-paced, pressure defense to contain Cal Poly. They have not done so this year. Cal Poly by 25.
Kutztown at Arkansas St - This will be a slobber-knocker. No two ways about it. These two teams are ready for each other. Great athletes, great ruggers, a great season of team-play. This could describe either team. If you watch no other game this weekend, watch this one. It will be worth the time. Red Wolves by 7. I hope the ref wears new go-fasters!
Life at Army - This will be another tough game to call accurately. Both teams are fit and fast. Both teams display great skills and decision-making. And this is the first time they have ever met. IF possible, I think we will see two teams playing their best rugby of the season so far. This match will likely come down to which team possesses the ball at full time. My pick is Life by 2.
Varsity Cup
Central Washington at BYU - We know that BYU ruled the roost the last time these teams met, but Coach Smyth has watched the game film. He knows, as we all do, that this year's Wildcats play on a different plane than last year's. BYU holds the edge in size and skill. If CWU wants to win this, they'll have to play with more heart. One has to wonder where that heart will come from, because the Wildcats have played with immense heart all season. My pick is BYU by 8 in this cat fight.
Navy at Cal - Another humdinger of a match. Two great teams, two great coaches. This will be a fast, hard-hitting affair. The Bears "performance culture" should prevail over the Midshipmen. But, the Middies will provide stiff resistance at the breakdown. Bears by 24.
Broadcast notes:
No streaming information has been announced for the D1A QFs.
CWU at BYU will be streamed on the Varsity Cup YouTube channel, while NAvy at Cal will be on pac-12.com. I expect these will be a sight better than last weekend's output in terms of quality. Links and details at http://varsitycup.us/watch/.
NSCRO will live-stream their SFs and Final from Infinity Park in Glendale, CO this weekend on their website http://www.nscro.org. Schedule is as follows (all times are Mountain Time):
Saturday April 27
1PM - New England College (Northeast Region Champion) vs. Duke University (Mid-Atlantic South Region Champion)
3PM - St. John's University (Central Region Champion) vs. University of Denver (PacWest Region Champion)
Sunday April 28
10:30AM - 3rd Place
12:50PM - Championship
3PM - Awards Ceremony