Blake (20), the Dunedin club openside flanker, was the only Otago player in the New Zealand Colts team that lost the final to South Africa 22-16.
"I couldn't hear the player next to me during the haka," Blake said from his home at Pirongia, near Hamilton, yesterday.
"It was a very loud crowd, especially when they scored," Blake said.
"It was similar to the echo you get at the Forsyth Barr Stadium."
Blake found South Africa the toughest opponent for New Zealand.
"Their locks were a lot bigger than ours, which made their pack look a lot bigger," Blake said.
"But weight-wise, we were pretty even."
It was the first time Blake had played against the big and rugged South African forwards.
"They were big and good ball runners," he said.
The New Zealand Juniors were on the back foot for most of the game and this made life difficult for an openside flanker like Blake.
"It was a lot harder to do my stuff at the breakdown," Blake said.
"But I think the loose forwards played OK."
Blake was one of the stars of the New Zealand team and played in every game.
It was the most intense rugby he had ever played and he learnt some valuable lessons.
The most important was the need to have a full recovery between games.
"You had to do it right to be able to play in the next game," Blake said.
"I didn't change anything. I just learnt how to do it a bit better."
His strongest opponent in his own position was the Welsh openside flanker Ellis Jenkins.
"He was pretty sharp," Blake said.
Team members have a mandatory two week stand-down period and Blake will play for the Dunedin premiers on July 14.
