The smart money is on yet another win for Otago Boys’ High School but its opponent brings some impressive form into today’s top-four playoff match at Bishopscourt.
John McGlashan School breezed through the Otago Premier Schools competition with 14 consecutive wins.
It did not have to play the Otago Boys’ First XV, though.
The South Island’s leading school side elected to compete in the premier colts grade instead and should be too strong for McGlashan.
McGlashan coach John Kyle knows his side is "in for a huge challenge".
"We haven’t played Otago Boys’ for a couple of years and it will be interesting to see how it pans out," he said.
"We have come off a run of good results ... so we have confidence in our ability to be competitive. But we know we are going to be put under some big pressure."
McGlashan captain Rory Ferguson shapes as a key figure. He has been in tremendous touch at No8 and is part of a back row which has been in dominant form.
Locks Woody Kirkwood and Sam Moir-Grace add a lot of value, while first five-eighth Luke Jarvie has been performing well in his first season in the position.
Speedy centre Jimmy Sinclair "produced the goods last week and we are going to put it on him to produce again".
Kyle expects OBHS will target McGlashan up front but it also has a strong midfield, so Sinclair will come under pressure.
Otago Boys’ has tasted defeat this season, which does not happen very often.
It lost its traditional interschool fixture with Southland Boy’s High School 32-19 in May. But other than that hiccup, Otago Boys’ has enjoyed a very decent season.
It also reversed its loss to Southland Boys’ three weeks later with a 32-12 victory in round 2 of the premier colts grade competition.
OBHS has lost just three regular interschool matches in the past six years and during that time 20 players have gone on to make the New Zealand Schools or New Zealand Barbarians teams.
Hooker Ricky Jackson has been one of the standout players this year and coach Ryan Martin believes he is "one of the best age grade players in New Zealand".
Sam Dickson, younger brother of Otago lock Josh Dickson, has been impressive in the loose and is part of a wonderful loose forward trio which includes the captain Isimeli Tuivaga.
Halfback Tim Hogan, who represented New Zealand Schools last year, has improved his game, while midfielder George Thomas is a strong ball carrier and big tackler.
Outside back Tevita Asi (14) is another player who has shown a lot of promise.
The winner will play Southland Boys’ High School in the Highlanders area final, which will be staged in Invercargill on August 20.
Top-four playoff match
Otago Boys’ v John McGlashan
Bishopscourt, today, 1pm
Otago Boys’: Burns Mills, Midge van Boxtel, Sam Jones, George Thomas, Tevita Asi, James Holland, Tim Hogan, Isimeli Tuivaga (captain), Taine Te Whata, Sam Dickson, Keegan O’Donnell, Sean Jansen, Mitchell Mahoni Rae, Ricky Jackson, Abraham Pole. Reserves: Mitch Pryde, Thomas Walsh, Blake McGregor, Sione Asi, Adrian Fou, Layne Opetaia, Jackson Miller.
John McGlashan: Ryan Neill, Charlie Baker, Jimmy Sinclair, Angus Simmers, George Russell, Luke Jarvie, Ethan Jane, Rory Ferguson (captain), Henry Bell, Leroy Ferguson, Woody Kirkwood, Sam Moir-Grace, Reon Lowery, Brett Kingsbury, Jackson Dempster. Reserves: Liam Hickman, Callum Struthers, Ben Morris, Morgan Jones, Tom Mee, Ness Scully, Hunter Cleland.
