Game Preview: Friday, June 9 SaberCats vs. Old Glory DC

‘Every game is a must-win for us’

SaberCats in hunt for playoff berth

By Aaron Wilson

Injuries to key players.

Suspensions.

A challenging schedule against talented teams.

None of those obstacles and adversity have halted the SaberCats’ march toward trying to earn a second consecutive playoff berth.

The 9-5 SaberCats are currently in third place in the Western Conference with 48 points, four more than the Utah Warriors, following a five-point match victory over the Toronto Arrows.

As the SaberCats host Old Glory DC (6-7-1) in Friday night’s final home match of the season, they can reach the playoffs by continuing to win as they head into their final two regular-season matches.

“Every game, the last two games, have been playoff games for us,” SaberCats director Heyneke Meyer said. “Every game is about our standards, so no extra pressure. Every game is a must-win for us. We’ve played some great rugby. Sometimes, the focus wasn’t there and we let teams back in the game. We have to play to our ability.”

The SaberCats have won two consecutive matches after snapping a three-match losing streak.

“We’ve got to finish strong,” prop Morgan Mitchell said. 

The SaberCats close out the season against Old Glory DC followed by a road match against the New England Freejacks.

“Definitely for us now, we don’t have to focus on anyone else,” Dillon Smit said. “We know if we get two wins we’ll be in the playoffs. It’s two very important games and we’re looking forward to them.

“Everything is coming together. It’s a vital part of the season. We have to be focused for these games.”

The SaberCats have outscored opponents by a margin of 429-359, including 62 tries.

“I think we have just have to go out and play to the best of our ability and take it game by game,” Meyer said. “It’s important. Everybody is still in the race. It’s all about our standards. It’s more about how we play and our standards. It’s a big game for us. It’s a short turnaround for us.”

The SaberCats get team captain Dean Muir back after he was with his family in South Africa.

“It’s great to have Dean and his leadership back,” Meyer said. 

The leading scorer on the team, Davy Coetzer, the second-leading scorer in Major League Rugby, is feeling better after missing the past two matches with a knee injury. The team is optimistic that he can return against DC.

“There’s a good chance that Davy will be fine,” Meyer said.

Following a short turnaround, the SaberCats know they’ll need to have their ‘A’ game for Old Glory.

“They’ve got a couple of key players,” Mitchell said. “Hopefully, we can shut them down.”

*Photos by BigShots SnapShots