November Coach's Corner: Turning Adversity Into Opportunity

My focus today is continuity and culture.

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We opened the quarter with record training numbers, a strong effort against TWU, a tough match vs WWU, and a big win over WSU. But our 1st XV is now 0–3 in conference, while our 2nd XV is 3–0.

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Injuries and respiratory sickness have been major setbacks, cutting player availability for weeks and hurting our fitness and development. The bigger issue, though, is a cultural one that started last spring. Our senior-heavy group expected to be better this year without making the sacrifices needed to get there. During Monday’s film session, I asked them what they sacrificed between spring and now to set the team up to win—crickets.

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As we add more experienced players, we close the skill gap, but most of our current 1st XV learned the game at UW. Our advantage should be strength and conditioning, yet neglecting it has led to more injuries and less resilience.

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The playing field is more equal physically at the 2nd XV level, so decision-making and skill matter more, which tells us our coaching is working as we watch our green rugby players implementing the same pattern as the firsts. But as these players move up, skill alone won’t carry them. They’ll need stronger, fitter bodies to handle the demands of 1st XV rugby. Our undefeated 2nd XV faces its toughest test this week against WWU, a squad full of recruited and experienced players.

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It’s not time to throw in the towel, or cut our seniors from the starting lineup, but rather for them to set an example to the underclassmen about the work required to compete at a high level. Our seniors have expected to win games without fully understanding what is required to do that. If they can turn the corner and prepare mentally and physically for winter quarter, put in the work every day, then the score will take care of itself. More importantly, the seniors will leave the club in a better place.

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This week we face a WWU team that may be the best they’ve been. It’s next-man-up for UW, and the Dawgs will have to grit their teeth and take their medicine.