By Aaron Wilson
One more time. One more match. One more road warrior performance.
That’s what the Houston SaberCats are looking for as they try to go somewhere they’ve never been before: the Major League Rugby championship.
The SaberCats have set their ambitions on reaching the title game and winning the Shield.
To realize their dream and to earn the opportunity of going for it all, they have to get past the top-seeded Utah Warriors on the road Saturday night during a Western Conference division finals showdown.
The SaberCats went 2-1 against the conference champions during the regular season.
“Really good team,” Johan Momsen said. “We’re just going to have to dominate.”
Now, it’s all on the line Saturday night at 8 p.m. in an ESPN2 nationally televised rivalry matchup.
“They’re a great team,” Seth Smith said. “They can play very well. We just need to hone in our skills and just keep getting better.”
The SaberCats are coming off an unprecedented playoff victory over Rugby Football Club Los Angeles on Monday night in Houston.
That marked the first playoff win in franchise history.
Pita Anae-Ah Suh scored a pair of tries to lead the SaberCats to the semifinal playoff win.
That boosted the SaberCats into this pivotal match.
“New task against a quality team,” team captain Nathan Den Hoedt said. “We’re looking forward to the matchup. It’s going to be awesome fun. We haven’t achieved anything yet. We’re gonna go for the Shield. We’ll just focus on Utah. The job isn’t finished.”
The winner of Houston vs. Utah will face the winner of the Eastern Conference final between the New England Free Jacks and the Chicago Hounds
.
“It’s always a great contest between us and Utah,” Rufus McLean said. “They’re a big, physical side. So, we’re just going to have to match that and be better than that. It should be a cracking game.”
Emmanuel Albert has been with the SaberCats for four years.
The SaberCats went 0-3 the previous three seasons in the playoffs.
This team has built a different story arc under the leadership of veteran coach Pote Human.
“It feels really great,” Albert said. “It’s definitely the dream. Everybody has put blood, sweat and tears here the last four years working hard for the team, for the boys, for the owners, for the coaches, especially coach Pote. He puts his heart on the line for us every day and we’re just trying to get it back for them in the city.”
To do so, the SaberCats need to get past a high-scoring, tough Warriors squad.
“It’s not going to be easy in Utah, that’s for sure, but we’ll definitely be ready for them,” Tautalatasi Tasi said. “We’ll fare well.”
