The school made it through to the 2021 and 2022 final but came up short.
Last season a talented John McGlashan College team powered to a 36-27 win at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Twelve months earlier, Otago Boys’ first five Finn Hurly nailed a late drop goal to seal a tense 26-24 win.
But this could be the year of Southland Boys’.
And the Southlanders have home ground advantage for the Otago Schools Rugby Championship final.
They will have to overcome one major obstacle, though.
They have not beaten Otago Boys’ this season, who they will play in said final.
Otago Boys’ started the season a touch under the radar. But an early 21-19 win against Southland Boys’ in Invercargill marked them out as a lot better than anticipated.
They won the rematch in Dunedin as well. That was 22-18, so awfully close again.
Southland Boys’ coach Jason Dermody expects the final will be much the same — tight as the lid on the pickle jar.
"I think if you look over the last 10 years most of the games go down to the wire between us and them," Dermody said.
"But they’ve got some momentum now. They had a good win in the semifinal and they’ve beaten us twice. They will be well prepared.
"And we don’t seem to go that good in finals. We’ve lost the last two."
Southland Boys’ are fresh from an impressive win in the semifinal, though. They beat King’s 34-19 and it was pretty clinical. They made precious few mistakes, which bodes well.
They will lean on powerful No 8 Justin Shaw to get across the advantage line. He has good pace and a nice skill set, being a former back. He is also a strong ball carrier.
Centre Preston Evans is a key man in the backline. He is a solid defender and knows how to bust a tackle or two.
Winger Jimmy Taylor, younger brother of Highlanders hooker Jack, has an eye for the try line.
Southland Boys’ play a fairly expansive brand of rugby but are also well equipped up front.
Lock Thomas Spain has had a strong season.
Otago Boys’ stumbled to a couple of losses heading into the playoffs but bounced back in a big way against John McGlashan in the semifinal. They dispatched their rival 52-21.
Coach Regan Turoa was thrilled with the way victory was achieved.
"It was not so much the scoreline but the manner and the execution of the game plan which was the pleasing thing," Turoa said.
"It was a game which we controlled and finished."
Otago Boys’ based their game around their set pieces and will look to build pressure that way. The scrum has taken a while to get right, given the team is going through some rebuilding this season.
Tighthead prop Taitelea Tasi-Cordtz has been "immense up front", while No 8 Phoenix Tapatu is the enforcer and charged with getting Otago Boys’ on the front foot.
The twins — Oliver and William Thode — run the cutter at No 9 and No 10 respectively.
"They have been outstanding for us this year at controlling the game. Clean ball is crucial."
The other player expected to have an impact is fullback Rota Lafita. He is a strong voice at the back.
In the curtain-raiser, Southland Girls will host Otago Girls in the Highlanders region final.
Otago Schools Rugby Championship
Invercargill, 2pm
Southland Boys’: Rico Muliaina, Jimmy Taylor, Preston Evans, Amaziah Mitchell, Kiseki Fifita, Mika Muliaina, Noah Sutton, Justin Shaw, Gregor Rutledge, Fraser Wilson, TJ Gallen, Thomas Spain, Ethan Brock, Hoani Nikora-Wilson, Jayton Fisher. Reserves: Thomas Jennings, Presley McHugh, Matt Johnson, Josh Cairns, Lachie Riley, Jordan O’Connell, Cody Stevens.
Otago Boys’: Rota Lafita, Manaia Lesa, Joe Parkinson, Jake Fowler, Mason Lome-Hindle, William Thode, Oliver Thode, Phoenix Tapatu, Sam Chapman, Isaiah Ma'ole, Casey Brown, Matthew Attenborough, Taitelea Tasi-Cordtz, Alex Drummond, Ruban Macgregor. Reserves: Kahu Turoa, Siaosi Asi, Jonty Townsend, Isaiah Mafi, Jackson Hughan, Ryan Egan, Caide Bezuidenhout.
Head to head
Otago Boys’ 22, Southland Boys’ 18, July 1
Otago Boys’ 21, Southland Boys’ 19, May 17
