BYU rubgy: Cougars, Cal collide for national title

Smyth said one of the keys for his team to emerge victorious is playing aggressively from the outset.

"With Cal, you have to meet them at the front door. They're going to come out hard and be very physical. If we don't stand up and meet them head-on, it could be a long day," he said.

"We have to be physically aggressive. We have to be ready for the barrage at the start. The first 10 or 15 minutes is just like a tornado. If you're not ready for it, before you know it, you're in a tough, tough situation."

What would it mean for BYU to beat Cal for its second national championship?

"It would mean everything," Lubbe said. "BYU rugby is a way of life for most of us. We've been training and working since August for this. It would be a fantastic way to close out the season."

The BYU-Cal game will be the culmination of a day of championship rugby at Rio Tinto Stadium. The High School and U-19 National Championships will take place earlier in the day, at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m., respectively.

Live coverage of the BYU-Cal game will be streamed online at ESPN3.com. A tape-delay broadcast will air Sunday (8 a.m. MT) on ESPNU.

Rugby Championships

BYU (15-0) vs. Cal (26-0)

Saturday, 7 p.m.

Rio Tinto Stadium

TV: ESPN3, tape delayed Sunday, 8 a.m. ESPNU

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