Top-seeded Bears prepare for biggest challenge to date
When preserving a 26-win streak is a secondary goal, it’s safe to assume that this sports team and program is the gold standard. The Bear’s mens rugby team is two wins away from cementing its place as one of the all-time greats with a 15s championship title.
This team’s success is far from an accident. That is, Cal’s rugby program has a long history of excellence. From producing 17 U.S. Rugby hall of farmers to winning seven of the last eight 7’s championships, the program’s elite status draws top rugby prospects to play for it.
The Bears’ fall 7’s season was about as ideal a season as any rugby team can hope for, as they went undefeated and won the 7’s championship against rival UCLA by a score of 8-0.
The Bears are led by head coach Jack Clark, whose experience winning 24 Pac-12 National 15s Championships is likely to come in handy down this final stretch.
Typically, this Bears team has handily beat opponents by wide margins, winning by the likes of 120-0 and 68-0 while showcasing rugby perfection. Among the few teams that challenged the Bears was St. Mary’s, lights out back and forth to close out the regular season that the Bears narrowly edged out 31-24 to clinch the top seed.
A treat for Cal rugby fans, these two powerhouses will meet again at Witter Rugby Field on Saturday to battle for a championship berth in Houston.
The Bears are coming off a 43-26 quarterfinals victory against the Central Washington Wildcats in the quarterfinals, a misleading score given the tension of this matchup. After sprinting to a 33-5 halftime lead, a flurry of Bear mistakes ranging from questionable penalties to defensive miscommunication led to 14 unanswered Wildcat points.
A highlight performance for the Bears was senior Marcus Shankland’s four tries and 20-point performance after being out with injury, which essentially made the difference in the scoreboard.
On the other hand, St. Mary’s won narrowly won its quarterfinals matchup 24-22 against BYU in adverse weather conditions, a strong opponent that Cal also had a close contest with in late February. This was St. Mary’s third time defeating BYU, and it did so by scoring in the final stretch of the game. This high-pressure experience against a quality opponent is crucial for the Gaels for their rematch against Cal with all on the line.
The Bears’ mistakes in their quarterfinals matchup gives them plenty to work on in preparation for this coming matchup against the Gaels, which they must do in order to handle the pressure in what will likely be a tight matchup. With senior Shankland proving to be a valuable player after his return from injury, this revamped Bears team will be different from the one St Mary’s faced to close the regular season.
The Bears’ recipe for success against the Gaels in late March was a collective effort, as five different Bears scored one try. This is what that the Bears must divert back to considering the ample preparation that St Mary’s will undoubtedly bring Saturday after watching the quarterfinals matchup.
While the Bears rugby program is its oldest and among its most successful, St Mary’s program is also among the most respected in the nation. The historic and current greatness of both programs with the season on the line makes for an outstanding matchup — arguably the college rugby equivalent of Cowboys versus Steelers or Celtics versus Lakers.
The winner of this matchup will face the winner of the Linderwood versus Army semifinals in the 15s finals next Saturday.
AJ Alany covers rugby. Contact him at aalany@dailycal.org.