Match Report: Stanford Men's Rugby at San Jose State University

San Jose State 27 - Stanford University 26

February 3, 2024
San Jose, CA

Stanford Men's Rugby faced off against San Jose State University on Spartan grounds in their second league match of the USA Rugby California Men's D1AA season. 

It was a hard fought match by the South Bay rivals where San Jose State came out on top by a single point. The match was a testament to the work the returning and new players of Stanford Men's rugby have put in this year. 

The week of training prior to the match emphasized defensive line speed and pressure. The team put this into practice as they battled the physical and organized SJSU attack. SJSU would find themselves on the scoreboard first in the ninth minute after SJSU poached the ball at midfield. SJSU Center #13 would find the ball in his hands and space on the edge. The try was converted and SJSU took the 7-0 lead. 

Just a few minutes later, the Spartan would be the recipient of another quick try following a Cardinal mishandle. At a Cardinal lineout at the defending 5m, a tipped ball would land in the hands of Spartan #9 who ran it in for the score, bringing the Spartan lead to 14-0. 

The Cardinal stayed composed and began to find opportunities through and around the Spartan defense. In the 22nd minute, a scrum in the attacking 22m set up a multi-phase forwards attack and left space on the edge for the backs. Quick transfer of the ball from flyhalf, Thane Brueschke '25, to Lucas Cavalieri '25 sent the center into the tryzone. Brueschke would convert the kick to bring the Cardinal within a try. 

Stanford would maintain momentum in the latter part of the half. In the 33rd minute, Stanford retained possession in the Spartan half for the next five minutes as Cardinal forwards would make multiple drives towards the tryline. The Cardinal would eventually capitalize on Spartan penalties as Taki Rifai '27 found Brueschke on a penalty quick tap, who would float a ball wide to #11 winger Arturo Kupfer for the try. Brueschke's conversion was good from the corner to send the game into the half tied 14-14.

The second half SFSU would strike early off a center scrum moving the ball to #13 in for his second try putting SJSU up by 5. On the following kick off, Brueschke would send a deep kick that was well pressured by the Cardinal line. SJSU works the ball up field until a counterruck by Obinna Ekeagwu '25 and Theodore Von Preyss '27, would win back possession for the Cardinal. A quick ball out to the short side and swift hands by Cavalieri would send Arturo Kupfer '25 into space on the edge. Kupfer was tackled about 8 meters shy where Jeff Edsall '24 secured the ruck. Rifai spotted a narrow opportunity down the shortside and squeaked in for the edge try. Brueschke's conversion attempt had the distance but ricocheted off the uprights. 

The match was tied 19-19 until the 60th minute when SJSU brought the ball down in an attacking lineout and mauled into the tryzone for the score. SJSU went up 24-19. SJSU struggled with their lineouts on the day against the length and pressure of the Stanford forwards. Stanford regained 50% of the possession off SJSU lineouts, including at the 68th minute. The turnover put the Cardinal on the front foot. A penalty to Stanford found Rifai on a quick tap and back between the sticks. Diego Burgos '25 converted the try to put the Cardinal in the lead at 24-26 with just minutes remaining. 

The Spartans would maintain possession through patient, conservative play into the Cardinal 22m. In a desperate attempt to nullify the SJSU efforts near the goaline and force a turnover, Stanford was caught offside at the ruck. The Spartans opted for the penalty kick less than 10 meters from the posts taking the lead at 27-26. Last moment efforts by the Cardinal fell short. The Cardinal showed great resilience coming back from a 14-0 deficit in a physical 80-minute match. The execution of Stanford lineouts, the pressure applied to SJSU lineouts and phase play, and the aerial contests on restarts were just a few highlights of this exciting match.

The Cardinal will have a bye week to recover and return to face Fresno State on Saturday February 17 at 1pm in Fresno, CA. 

Tries: Lucas Cavalieri, Arturo Kupfer, Taki Rifai (2)
Conversions: Thane Brueschke(2), Diego Burgos
 

The day was not over for the Cardinals. A second game followed that provided critical minutes and game experience to developing players. Patrick Kennedy '27 displayed his kicking strength sending a ball into touch from within the Cardinal half to the attacking 5m on a penalty. The Cardinal would retain possession at the lineout and a heads up play by Conor Slattery at the ruck would find him diving in for the score. The Spartan would follow with three tries in return in the 40 minute match. 

Tries: Conor Slattery