This game was my first full match, a full 80 minutes!
The day was muggy, sunny, with a stiff breeze from the south. The game didn't start until 3 o'clock, and the afternoon was hot. We spent as much time in the shade as possible before the match. The Sabres started by receiving, with the Tulsa women on defense.
Our first several phases did not look very good, and it became quickly apparent that the sir was a little wet behind the ears. He told us that this was his first game officiating, and he was doing it for free. Mad props to the sir for donating his time! He got better and better as the match went on. I also really liked the steadiness of his cadence when initiating the scrum.
Early on, though, his greenness was obvious. He missed calls, including a few for dangerous play. He accepted respectful feedback from the captains, though. He also allowed rolling substitutions, which was a boon for both teams, what with the heat and the eventual injury toll.
I don't want to get too much into the strengths or weaknesses of either team; I'm neither a coach nor a captain; it's not my place to critique our play, apart from my role in it.
I went in at the half as wing, and stayed there for about 20 minutes. I did get one good run, and gained a few meters. I think I did better in this game than in the last at evasive running. But the fullback, Toya, told me later that she was outside of me, calling for a pass, and I totally ignored her. The truth is, I didn't even hear her. When I get the ball, I think I get tunnel vision. I can't see or hear my support, and I can't perceive where the potential weaknesses in the defense are. I was talking this over with my teammate, Lanna, wondering whether that's something that I can learn, or if it's hard-wired. My fear since starting rugby has been that I don't have the skill to play a sport that requires quick, decisive action. I'm afraid that the tunnel vision phenomenon that I experience in combat situations (and a rugby game is a combat situation) is part of who I am, and will always restrict my athletic career. Lanna says I'm too hard on myself. I can improve my awareness and decision making with practice. In particular, she thinks it would be helpful for me to do more drills of the three-on-two, five-on-three, and so on type. However, the Wichita Barbarians don't do much of that in practice, so I don't often get the opportunity to run those drills. I'm excited by the prospect that this is something I can learn, though.
After about 20 minutes, our coach took me out at wing and told me to stay fresh. With 10 minutes remaining, she sent me in at flanker. Once again, I felt like I made a much bigger difference as part of the pack than as a back, especially on defense. I feel very confident going into a ruck, and was instrumental in helping to turn the ball over for us a couple of times. I made two critical tackles. Since I was fresh, I was better able to hustle to the breakdowns, which was important as a lot of the team were feeling the effects of the heat and the 80 minute match.
I would have liked more playing time, but I understand why I didn't get it. If I were a coach, I would keep me in reserve. I may have a knack for some aspects of rugby, but that can't make up for the lack of practicing with the rest of the team.
I noticed a few areas where I've improved since my last game: I have a better understanding of what my assignment is at any given time, and do a better job of executing it; I do a much better job of staying in a supporting position, ready to help continue play; I'm more willing to commit to a ruck or tackle, instead of thinking, "Oh, I need to stay out of that so I can be ready for my job."
There are still areas where I need to improve, though. My fitness could be better, especially as a flanker. Running from breakdown to breakdown and then working at high intensity to ruck or tackle really wears me down. I have great endurance from my running, cycling, and triathlon background, but that high intensity stuff gets me. After 10 minutes in the pack, I was huffing and puffing pretty hard, and I was glad when the final whistle blew! I still need a lot of work on reading a defense, and running to exploit the seams, holes, and weaknesses that I see. I need to work on being more aware of my surroundings, so that I'm able to make a crucial pass. I need to work through the tunnel vision, whatever it takes.
I also may have sort of shouted at another player that she needed to release the ball. And her teammate may have shouted back that it was already out. And then I may have shouted that it's not out if someone's still laying on top of it. So I need to work on keeping my mouth shut.
I'm starting to feel like my basic skills are pretty solid, though. Passing, catching, running, tackling, rucking, these are things that I can do, and do well. I'm proud of that. I want to keep working, though, so that I can take my capabilities from good to exceptional.
Oh! By the way! Final score was Sabres 27 - Tulsa 17.
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