Expectations exceeded: BYU tops Denver!

Well, I had my doubts, folks... I admit it. Perhaps all the talk about the Barbarians touting former and current USA Eagles got me secretly worried that BYU might get hammered like last year (a 68-12 loss). Yes, I know that last year's mostly-seconds' squad was the best that the BYU Rugby team had to offer due to numerous injured starters... but this year I still feared the strength and experience of the Denver side (you know, what with their 'old man strength' and all that goes with it!).

Reading Coach Wayne Tarawhiti's comments regarding BYU's 32-20 win, however, turned my anxiety into excitement: “We wanted the guys to come out in the first 10 minutes and go full-out... And they did that to their credit. I think we caught these guys [Denver] a little by surprise in the first ten minutes.”

That's how it's done against tough teams... there's something about those first ten or fifteen minutes that can make or break a team's spirit. The same holds true at the start of the second half... but a team already substantially broken in the first half does not easily recover in time (e.g. BYU's first National Championship appearance vs. Cal Berkeley in '06, a sickeningly close, 26-29 loss).

And so I must express a renewed sense of optimism and energy for BYU's 2009 National Championship prospects... after all, our boys just beat a seasoned Super League team with more than one USA Team member on its roster!

But before looking too far into the sunset, the BYU Rugby team must face a most formidable opponent in #5-ranked, arch rival Utah this coming weekend. With the coveted Wasatch Cup on the line, as well as playoff seedings, this match threatens to be the biggest barn-burner of the season!

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Congrats to our boys

A moment to extend my congratulations to all the BYU players, past and present, that have participated in various regional, national, and international competitions over the course of this summer.

Henry Bloomfield & Salesi Sika - Selected for the USA Eagles squad (national team) in the Churchill Cup.

Alipate Tuilevuka - Scored one of only two tries for the USA Eagles in a tough loss to a top French side, ASM Clermont Auvergne. Go Pate!

Derek Smith - Named a Collegiate All-American. Later named to the USA's NA4 (North American 4) team for the western region, the Falcons. I actually had a chance to see a televised tournament match against the Hawks, but surprisingly, I saw Pate on the field for the Falcons, not Derek. Hmmm...

Steve St. Pierre - Also named a Collegiate All-American. Traveled to New Zealand with a select All-American side for a three-match tour against Massey University, Wellington Old Boys, and New Zealand Universities. Solid experience no doubt, in spite of the losses.

Sam Thorley - Played alongside Derek and Steve for the Pacific Coast All-Star team (Grizzlies) in a succesful tournament against the South and West All-Star sides. Thorley scored a try in the final match against the West.

Duran Ngakuru - Named to list of All-American Honorable Mentions.


Way to go fellas! Way to represent the legacy that is BYU Rugby!
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