With the College 7’s Nationals this Friday and Saturday in College Station, Texas (the tournament will be available live on YouTube with the semi-finals and finals on ESPN3) it’s time to preview the tournament and make predictions. Yesterday we tackled Pools A, B, and C. Today we break down Pool D, E, and F.

Pool D: Dartmouth, Cal Poly, Air Force, Navy

• Dartmouth have to be considered one of the favorites in this tournament after winning back to back Collegiate Rugby Championships. Sure, the team has graduated many of its top players, include Nate Brakely, but it the players were only part of their success; the schools infrastructure on organization are the other part. U.S.A. 7’s head coach Alex Magleby built a strong program and has now turned the reins over to the equally qualified Gavin Hickie. Dartmouth haven’t been tested much this year and that could be a factor, but with a player the calibre of Madison Hughes, they have as good of chance as any.

• Cal Poly came in second to Cal at the California 7’s and are a team that can’t be taken lightly. The difficulty with being a rugby program in California (if there is one) is that the losses tend to pile up against other strong programs. However, during tournament time that can become a benefit as teams will underestimate you. That may be the case with Cal Poly. They are another team with a lot of experience and have rugby brains to match. However, they they may struggle defensively and with larger teams.

• As the winners of the Mountain 7’s Air Force has momentum heading into the tournament. Plus, they will certainly be buoyed by the return of Jack Bristol, and All-American. As with every military service team, the Falcons are fit and strong. It’s just a matter of executing and making up for a small lack of athleticism. However, they can’t be counted out.

• Navy has many of the same attributes as Air Force but without as much success. They are led by Jack McAuliffe and Seamus Siefring. If they can get hot then Navy may find itself with a shot at qualifying for the quarterfinals.

Prediction: Dartmouth are the clear favorites in this group and should emerge with a 3-0 record. Anything else would be a surprise. Further, with only the top two second place teams qualifying for the quarterfinals, most teams will be in a bad position if they allow their match with Dartmouth to get away from them. Out of the three, Cal Poly has the  most experience and athleticism to finish in second.

Pool E: Texas A&M, St. Mary’s, Western Washington, Bowling Green

• As the home team Texas A&M has a decided advantage in being home team. They are familiar with the pitch, can eat their normal food, and stay in their regular routines. Some may scoff, but that is a huge advantage. The Aggies are a solid team and could top the pool, but it might be a struggle beyond that point. Having a good game plan will get them wins, but it might not be enough to push them over the top, even with their home fans cheering them on.

• St. Mary’s have been playing a big of 7’s recently and earned their berth in the tournament with a win at the West Coast Invitational, which include both Cal Poly and Cal. As their run in the DI-A playoffs last year showed, they have plenty of rugby talent, it’s trying to get them meshed on a 7’s team that is difficult. The team would have been helped by Kingsley McGown but he is unfortunately injured.

• Western Washington have made a significant investment in their rugby program as of late and are looking for immediate dividends. Having played in the shadow of Central Washington, the Vikings have struggled to pick up wins, but that shouldn’t hide that they have quality. Due to tuition waivers for students from British Columbia (it applies to the whole school) the team has the benefit of drawing from talent rich Vancouver. Because they are still growing they may not make a huge impact at this tournament, but they are one to watch out for in the future.

• Rocco Mauer used his play at Bowling Green to propel himself to a career with the Eagles, now it may his brother Dom’s turn. The team isn’t as deep as they once were but they still have talent. Underestimating them may be deadly. At the same time, they have several weakness that will probably keep them from advancing.

Prediction: This is probably the most parity-riven pool in the tournament with each team capable of coming in first. That being said, St. Mary’s has the most talent in the pool and the most experience. It should be their pool to lose but watch out for both Texas A&M and Western Washington. It’s always hard to count out the home team and the Vikings are a sleeping giant.

Pool F: Davenport, Lindenwood, San Diego State, Delaware

• Led by JP Eloff, Davenport are an extremely strong rugby team. Having varsity status will do that. They have a deep team with players that can play all over the field. Still, it comes down to Eloff. He is the focal point of the team and if he can throw defenses off their guard, it could be a big day for the team. The team qualified for the tournament all the way back in September meaning that they could have a bit of rust. 

• Like Davenport, Lindenwood has all the resources of a varsity team. However, they aren’t quite as developed as Davenport in terms of player recruitment and abilities. Even with varsity status they are a bit of an unknown. They have several players with strong backgrounds and potential but no experience. If those players turn in good performances Lindenwood can be a surprise, if not, they may finish last in the pool.

• San Diego State head coach Matt Hawkins is in Dubai with the Eagles, which is a big loss for the team, but they are in good hands and have had the benefit of Hawkins’s instruction for months. All American Jamie Kelm, the brother of Duncan, leads the team. They are well organized and potent in attack. They scored a big victory a couple of weeks ago when they won the California 7’s over Cal Poly and St. Mary’s.

• Delaware are a strong program led by Jimmy Kowalski. They have a lot of 7’s specialists on the team and have been making strong runs in tournaments as of late. They have been playing in a lot of tournaments in order to prep for nationals and should be ready to go. The only question with the squad is whether Kowalski is healthy enough to give his full effort.

Prediction: All three of these teams could legitimately take the top spot. Eloff could be the best player in the country but it’s hard to see a team relying on just one player for success. Delaware is a good team but they could lack the athleticism needed to advance. That leave San Diego State. They have played good rugby in recent weeks and are full of good rugby players. They take the top spot. 

Who Make The Quarterfinals?

There are some pretty clear cut pool winners, such as Life (Pool A), Central Washington (Pool C), and Dartmouth (Pool D). The others are a bit more of a toss-up. Pool B should come down to Cal and Arkansas State. We’ll give the Cal the advantage due to their experience. Pool E seems likely for St. Mary’s, but it’s hard to discount the home team. Texas A&M goes through. Pool F is the most even of all the pools but San Diego State should emerge the winner.

As for the two remaining spots, they will likely come from pools where there isn’t as much parity. That means teams like Davenport and Arkansas State could miss out. St. Mary’s and Kutztown are our choices for who goes through.

Curtis Reed is the editor and founder of This Is American Rugby and can be found at www.thisisamericanrugby.com or on Twitter @ThisIsAmerRugby