The DIA playoffs are down to four teams and they are four teams who have had very different paths to the semifinals.

There’s BYU, which had to play an independent schedule to earn a playoff spot. As a result, the Cougars had to play on the road for the entire playoff run - not exactly what they’re used to, but they know what they’re doing.

BYU’s defeat of Indiana on the road was an impressive one because Indiana is indeed a very good rugby team. The Cougars hit hard and led 24-0 before Indiana started to come back and made it 46-17.

What BYU showcased was power in contact, and a range of weapons. They can kick for space, they can run over you, and they can run around you. Their forwards showed off a couple of champagne rugby tries, but also powered over with more grind-it-out efforts. Winning at Indiana proved much, combined with a sweep of Central Washington and a split with Saint Mary’s - BYU can score in seconds from their own tryline, and over the course of minutes from close-in.

That’s what hosts Life University will have to deal with. Life won a gritty game over Lindenwood … a game where they led fairly comfortably but saw Lindenwood get back in the game.

“We did some good things on attack early on,” said Life Head Coach Colton Cariaga. “We hit on to the ball well, moved it around a bit and found some space. Then, even after some misfires, the guys were eager defend, too. We'll take a look at some opportunities that were perhaps missed, see where we can work a bit harder to get into shape, and improve. But overall, plenty of positives to take away.”

Defense might well be the story. BYU’s victory over Indiana was as much due to a commitment to getting back on defense quickly, and not giving up on the goal line. Life will need that, too.

As for Saint Mary’s against Arizona, the Wildcats lost to San Diego State, who were smacked around by Saint Mary’s in January, but when they lost to SD State, Arizona then wasn’t really who Arizona is now. They’ve changed and improved.

Saint Mary’s Head Coach will point to the fact that a large percentage of Arizona players are former HS All Americans. 

That’s true, but not the whole story. Arizona doesn’t quite have to power and size in the pack that some other teams have - mostly that’s due to age. Players who are 6-4 but 19 years old don’t look the same as players 6-4 and 21. 

Arizona Head Coach Sean Duffy has found a good formula, though. His team managed to win handily while on the road at Baylor. He has them playing much, much better defense. And the tight five players, such as former Goff Rugby Report HS player of the year, Steven Branham. Branham was a No. 8 in high school, looked to be a hooker at Arizona, and is now a prop. He’s still learning the position to a certain extent, but he’s a great rugby player regardless, which helps.

“He’s just gotten better and better after having to re-learn the scrum, and he’s embraced that role,” said Duffy, who mentioned two more former HSAA players. “Sean Coleman and Bronson Teles at lock have made a great pair.”

As for how Arizona looked at Baylor, Duffy liked it.

“We had a good overall win and a much better second half but we’ll need to improve in some areas to beat Saint Mary’s,” said Duffy. “A road game, it doesn’t matter where you’re traveling it’s tough. At Baylor we had to get out pretty early on Friday to get the flight we needed at the price we needed. The guys are learning the professionalism of this level, and they’re handling it.” 

But against Saint Mary’s, Arizona will face perhaps the most relentless offense in the college rugby. While relentless usually means they run the phases unceasingly, for Saint Mary’s it means, on defense you’re going to have to run. No matter where they are, or what the conditions, the Gaels will spin the ball.

They will pass wide, they will shift it back and forth, and they will always, always have players running hard in support.

Leading the way all season has been the back row of Alec Barton, Kevin O’Connor, and Vili Helu. Each is a little different, each works enormously hard. Henry Hall, and the rest of the tight five do pretty well, too. No Saint Mary’s back has really stood out this year, because they are all very strong. Their only hiccup was a couple of crucial errors against BYU that ld to a close loss in Provo. Against Arizona, they probably can get away with those mistakes … but they won’t want to.