The PAC Rugby Conference has a busy weekend ahead of it in its new DIA existence with five games on the docket.

USC has been facing mostly 2nd sides in this season, but we're counting those games as regular conference games nonetheless. The Trojans lost to Arizona State 47-24 last weekend in a game that served to teach a few lessons.

ASU v UCLA from earlier this season. Robert Lange photo.

“The penalties and the set-piece absolutely killed us today," said USA Coach Loa Milford. "ASU exercised discipline and executed on specific phases of the game where they overmatched us.  In open play, we defended very well…made our tackles…but they kept grinding out penalties, kicked-to-touch, and mauling over for multiple scores. Coming out of the UofA match, we worked on the weaknesses the Wildcats exposed and certainly improved in those areas. We improved week-over-week but still came away with the same result.  However, I don’t think the final scoreline reflected the entirety of the effort.  If I have my data correct, ASU scored 32 points while playing with a one- or two- man advantage.  We just killed ourselves with the penalties.  Our sinbins were a function of our match fitness and the result of the pressure that the Sun Devils put us under.  We’ve simply got to do better."

Direct enough from the coach, but the Trojans got some good work from flanker Michael Cesar and center Dimitry Veremeenko. USC plays Utah this weekend, and it will be the Utes' 2nds, as Utah also faces off with UCLA on the same day. Utah it coming off a 55-12 loss to Saint Mary's and a 92-12 loss to Cal - a game during which Coach Jon Law said Utah was "outclassed in nearly every possible way."

Utah still has a ton of first-year players on their squad, and it's possible some players will have to double up on Saturday. It will be an important test for them.

Also playing Utah will be UCLA, which was beaten rather convincingly by Arizona (Arizona Takes Down UCLA).

"Arizona were aggressive and wanted to win at all costs and it just wasn't our day," said UCLA Head Coach Scott Stewart. We had trouble creating scoring opportunities with our possessions and the Arizona pressure, while early, forced us to make many personal errors. "Improving our personal discipline, skill, and overall toughness will be necessary to compete in our remaining PAC Rugby Conference matches. We will work on it and prepare for next week."

Strong words, then, also from Stewart as his team faces a crucial matchup with Utah.

Arizona State, now sitting in good position at 1-1, visits Cal in a tough game for the Sun Devils. Like Utah, Cal is doubling up, also playing Cal Poly in a non-conference game. In their last meeting with ASU, just under a year ago, the Bears ran in 13 tries, three from then-sophomore Jake Goena. 

"We purposefully scheduled a doubleheader against two solid DI teams," said Cal Head Coach Jack Clark. "It offers our squad meaningful minutes for more players. Our plan is to divide our most proven players between the two Cal teams and fill in around them with players that have earned a varsity start. This puts the team under some added pressure and stress is good for our development."

Arizona State, said Head Coach Gary Lane, has a lot of young players, and they are starting to get their consistency ... starting. The Sun Devils need more game time and more opportunities to play. They will get it, no doubt, this weekend.

Arizona State at Cal

Utah v USC (at UCLA)

Utah at UCLA