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Dave Smyth isn't a fortune teller. He's the rugby coach at BYU.
But if he ever wanted to trick someone into believing he can predict the future, all he needs to do is forecast a matchup with the University of California for the national title.
This is the sixth straight year that the two teams are meeting for the national championship.
The Cougars and the Bears have established themselves as the two best rugby programs in the country, and BYU will attempt to exact a measure of revenge against the 2010 champions on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.
"It's going to be a challenge playing such an awesome program," Smyth said. "It's the oldest sport on their campus, they've been playing it for 127 years. It's just a real professional organization. This is what we've been working for all year. Hopefully we will be able to keep our emotions in check."
Cal defeated the Cougars 19-7 last season by imposing its will in the latter stages of the match. BYU, this season, has won 15 consecutive outings, despite injuries and what Smyth called "a bit of adversity."
Sophomore No. 8/flanker Ryan Roundy and junior scrum half Shaun Davies have been the two best players for the Cougars this year. Each has been dominant, tough and durable.
"They are both very talented rugby players," Smyth said. "They've been playing the game for quite a while. They both give 100 percent effort whenever they're on the field, and they both lead the scrum."
More important, perhaps, than the unbeaten record, is the fact that BYU has handled a mountain of expectation this season with aplomb. The Cougars were expected to negotiate the season without a loss. They did. They were expected to make the national title game. They did. And sometimes living up to expectation is the hardest thing to do.
The matchup is in Utah for the first time, and Smyth hopes that gives the Cougars a bit of home-field advantage.
"It's meant a lot to us to be able to advance this far," Smyth said. "I think we've gotten better with each passing game. Cal is unbeaten as well. It's going to be a real test for us."
BYU vs. Cal
P At Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy
Saturday, 7 p.m.
• BYU and Cal meet for the sixth straight time in the national title game.
• It's the first time BYU will meet Cal in the state of Utah.