Winter break is over for the Red River Conference, and it’s back to the rugby field with plenty still on the line. 

This weekend, Baylor takes on Arkansas in a clash that will basically decide which of these two could chase for the top. It’s a tough job for either, as LSU is 3-0, Oklahoma 3-1, and Texas A&M 2-1. 

Baylor sits 2-1, and Arkansas sits 1-2, but they are certainly very close. In October Baylor edged the Razorbacks 26-25, with flyhalf Vincent Parker slotting a drop goal with time up to win the game. 

But now things are a little different. The Arkansas players came back to campus a week early and key for them is that flyhalf Jack Casey came back from a semester abroad. He will slot in nicely at #10 and Alex Rees will move back to scrumhalf, his regular position. Corey Jones returns to anchor the backline. And all of those players can have a significant impact.

“A key as well will be the pack taking care of business defensively against a good Baylor pack,” said Arkansas Warren Fyfe Head Coach. “I’m hoping our attacking running rugby will carry us through.”

Arkansas hosts this game, and they have a full-width field, which should work in the favor of their speedy backs.

Meanwhile, for Baylor, a win here would put them at 3-1 and in a good position in the conference.

“We've had a great couple weeks of training heading into this match,” said Baylor Head Coach Mason Herring. “The guys worked really hard on their own over the holidays on their fitness. Once we got back on campus we were able to work more on skills and tactics instead of spending a lot of time on fitness. The team is looking good and feeling confident.”

Senior No. 8 Pete Hamm and sophomore center Stewart Morris are playing well, but Herring said the team knows they escaped with a last-second win last time.

“We all realize that match could have gone either way and we want to come out and get a statement win to start the spring,” said Herring.

Baylor has been hit by injuries. Junior prop O'Neil Mbakwe is out for a few months with a broken leg and sophomore Michael Haynes is having surgery to repair his shoulder. 

“In order to win on Saturday we have to be more disciplined,” said Herring. “Yellow cards and penalty counts really hurt us in the fall. It kept some of the matches closer than they should have been. If we can clean that up a bit we hope that will allow us to control the possession and territory throughout the match.”

For Arkansas, this is a massive game if they want to think about winning the conference. With two losses, it’s still a possibility; three losses is a problem.

“It’s really a must win if we want to be in the running to win the division,” said Fyfe.