By Aaron Wilson
For the Houston SaberCats, it’s time. Past time, really, as far as they’re concerned when it comes to the postseason.
They are more than determined to earn a playoff victory Sunday night against Rugby Football Club Los Angeles.
The second-seeded SaberCats (10-6) have gone 0-3 in the Major League Rugby playoffs over the past three seasons.
Now, they’re hoping to change that narrative in a playoff semifinal at Houston SaberCats Stadium on Sunday night.
“The job isn’t finished,” Seth Smith said. “It’s all good making the playoffs, but the last three games is what really matters. For us, it’s about finishing the season strong. Fourth year in a row making the playoffs and not a single playoff win. We’re really here to change the narrative. Three years without a playoff win, that’s not good. We have a great group of guys. Our culture helps us grind out wins.”
Last year, the SaberCats went 14-2 in the regular season and were the top seed before losing to the Dallas Jackals.
It was a devastating loss.
The SaberCats are hungry and eager to change their fortunes.
“This is it, this is the day, Sunday,” coach Pote Human said. “Please come and support us in this semifinal. We need your support. We need everybody’s support for this one.”
This is a new edition of the SaberCats. They have overcome a significant amount of adversity already this season.
They have lost some key players to injuries that are now out for the season. Their outstanding depth has been tested, and new leaders have stepped up.
“It’s all on the table,” Seimou Smith said. “It’s there for us to eat. We just have to do it, you know? We have to take care of the small things. We have to really nail down the details. I think we’re gonna give Los Angeles a hell of a match.”
The two Western Conference division rivals split a pair of away games during the regular season.
LA is coming off a 48-33 loss to the Western Conference champion Utah Warriors.
The SaberCats earned a regular-season ending win over a winless RC Charlotte squad.
“We just gotta buy in,” said Drake Davis, who had a try last week. “If we play how the Cats can play, we’ll win every game.”
In April, the SaberCats absorbed a loss to LA as Gonzalo Bertranou, Rory van Vugt, Will Leonard and Billy Meaks scored tries.
“It’s going to take everything,” Marno Redelinghuys said. “Getting 1 percent better and doing everything as good as you can. The small stuff is gonna matter in this type of game. I feel like the playoffs is for the hungry. The team that’s more hungry is probably going to walk away with the win.”
Jay Renton said the SaberCats are focused on the present, not a painful past.
“I think we’re just worrying about ourselves,” he said. “We can’t worry too much about outside. I think that we know our capabilities. I think we know how good we are and fundamentals and stuff like that. If we bring it back to basics and control what we can control, then we’ll definitely be in with a good shot.”
