SMC is going to be a tough game, especially on their turf. A lot of our success will depend on how many of our starters are out with injuries. And Timmy O'Brien, the SMC coach, will pull out a few game time surprises. For sure we will need to be able to stop the rolling maul...it's killed us all season. And SMC has tough and scrappy players. We will need to match their physicality to win and I'm not sure all of our players have it.
I heard that we did not play most of our starters agains them and also at BYU. I think Coach Clark knew we were going to the playoffs and wanted to give his best 15 time to heal up and get healthy. That being said, Timmy O'Brien gets some studs at SMC that we aren't getting. This will be a very tough game for us but I think either team could win...no favorites in this one. And the winner of this game should move through the semis to play Army in the final. I will say this, if we can't stop SMC's rolling maul, it's going to be a very long day for us. And some of our backs need to be physical on tackles; no arm tackles.
https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/3-cal-vs-4-byu-college-d-1-a-mens-western-playoffs
SMC is going to be a tough game, especially on their turf. A lot of our success will depend on how many of our starters are out with injuries. And Timmy O'Brien, the SMC coach, will pull out a few game time surprises. For sure we will need to be able to stop the rolling maul...it's killed us all season. And SMC has tough and scrappy players. We will need to match their physicality to win and I'm not sure all of our players have it.
I went to the SMC game a few weeks ago. I don’t know jack about rugby, but SMC looked faster, more athletic and hungrier than we did.
I heard that we did not play most of our starters agains them and also at BYU. I think Coach Clark knew we were going to the playoffs and wanted to give his best 15 time to heal up and get healthy. That being said, Timmy O'Brien gets some studs at SMC that we aren't getting. This will be a very tough game for us but I think either team could win...no favorites in this one. And the winner of this game should move through the semis to play Army in the final. I will say this, if we can't stop SMC's rolling maul, it's going to be a very long day for us. And some of our backs need to be physical on tackles; no arm tackles.
Wiley old Clark sandbagged those games just a bit. Sure is working out for Cal so far.
Jack knows what he is doing...