Wisconsin-Whitewater is used to winning rugby games.

The Warhawks have been in seven of the last nine DII final fours, winning it all three times and making the final three more times.

So when you hear that Whitewater didn’t even win their conference, you’ve got to wonder.

But Whitewater captain Scott Derbes isn’t too shaken up about it.

“It’s not been a struggle or anything,” Derbes told Goff Rugby Report. “When we lost to Illinois State [in the Great Midwest final] the conditions were really bad. In the first two rounds of the [national] playoffs the conditions were much better. It allowed us to play our game more.

Well, a little bit more. Even though the conditions were “much better,” it was still wet and muddy, and Whitewater just got by 19-17.

“UVM was really good and really physical, and they put it to us,” said Derbes. “At halftime we came together and said we just need to get to every ruck, and the forwards just started driving.”

Derbes, a lock majoring in Computer Science, epitomizes the Whitewater effort — powerful, hardworking, and smart. With so much turnover in the backline, the Warhawks have relied more on their forwards.

“We’ve got Levi [Van Lanen] leading in the backs and he keeps everyone focused,” said Derbes. “But our team has changed a lot and we have relied on the forwards more to hit rucks and keep possession.”

Flanker/lock Myles Schumaker has emerged as a talent, while hooker Damon Fitzgerald, No. 8 Nick Hammel, and prop Dom Swanson have all been huge this fall.

All of these players emerged as the Warhawks then held off Memphis 31-24. Once again, they had to battle.

It’s weird; Whitewater’s longstanding success means that even though they’ve lost just the one game, 10-5 in the Great Midwest final to Illinois State, they carry that baggage of not being quite as strong this year.

Maybe, though, that’s all just smoke. The Warhawks will be ready.