The California Men’s DI Conference really gets going with four of the five teams facing off this weekend.

Santa Clara has had a rough go of it in January and February, playing some stiff competition and not always coming out on top. But all of that should be good lessons for the future. Now the Bronco open up conference play, appropriately enough against the Gauchos. Santa Clara is coming off a 91-10 loss to St. Mary’s in a non-conference game that was put together when Arkansas State pulled out of a proposed Northern California trip. ASU cited budget constraints. And since SMCC and Santa Clara were both left without an opponent, they played each other. 

Things should be a little easier against s UCSB team that lost their conference opener to St. Mary’s to the tune of 98-3.

Speaking of St. Mary’s, the Gaels go for win #2 against San Diego State. St. Mary’s has been playing some inspired rugby after a rough and tumble opening series against some top men’s clubs. Head Coach Tim O’Brien wanted his team humble, but he also wanted them to build confidence based on some truths - such as the fact that scrawny as some of the Gaels are, they can match up against top men’s club players.

It seems to have worked, as the Gaels thumped Utah, Arizona State, UCSB, and Santa Clara, with a close win over Olympic Club to boot. The backline, anchored by Cooper Maloney, Dylan Audsley, and Kingsley McGowan, loves to play wide open rugby, and Mike McCarthy has bolstered that unit this year. But when St. Mary’s is truly strong it’s because of their forward pack. Former Eagle John Everett coaches the forwards, doesn’t like to talk about himself, and produces front eights that scrummage as well as anyone, usually better. It starts up front, where Dino Waldren and Ryan Pratt are the props and they set the tone. In the middle of them is a powerful, active, smart hooker in Mike O’Neill. A top performer in a position that is sometimes a thin one in the USA, O’Neill has the potential to be special.

The Gaels have an unassuming but dedicated second row and a back row anchored by Vili Helu, who is everything - so far - that people hoped he would be, and is just a freshman. 

Linking all of it together is Holden Yungert at scrumhalf, who is a tenacious leader, and Audsley has been very effective as a goal kicker.

Into all of this, San Diego State rides.

“We’re pleased to start conference play, but it’s a tough way to do it, playing St. Mary’s,” said SD State Head Coach Alex Lichtig.

SD State have already played a Conference opponents, losing 33-14 to Cal Poly, but that was a non-conference game (Cal Poly has the weekend off). Lichtig knows this will be a difficult game for his Aztecs, but says worrying about the outcome isn’t what they are about.

“We’re a performance-based team,” he said. “We want to see how we’re progressing defensively and how we’re advancing tactically. We have a good group of young guys with some veterans, too, and it’s a process.”

Heading the SD State effort will be the inside back combo of flyhalf Kalei Konrad - one of the top flyhalves in American college rugby at present - and inside center Frank Ramos. They bring confidence and a veteran presence. They will be needed.

The St. Mary’s v SD State game will be live streamed here:

http://www.smcgaels.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=21400&ATCLID=209842488

Kickoff is 1pm Pacific Time.