St Peter's is a college of 1350 students. It fields 14 teams, and in the first 15 are players for whom this game has milestones attached.
No.8 Blair Tagi-Fuimaono, for his 25th cap, will play his “Sporting Excellence Game”, while first five-eighth Louie Kishimoto and left wing Andrew Nansen will play their 10th (neck-tie) game.
St Peter's are unbeaten in eight games in Auckland's celebrated 1A competition and so may be mentioned in the same breath as Super 8 competition titans and five-time defending champions Hamilton Boys' High School.
Head coach Thomas said they'd had a few injuries but were tracking well.
“We're a balanced team,” he said.
“The pack plays a very physical game, with some power and speed in the backs.”
Gisborne Boys' High School are coached by Duane Hihi. His sons, Carlos — who will line up against St Peter's Kishimoto — and second-five Puna, a strong tackler and a ball-carrier capable of getting a great pass away under pressure — are good players in fair form. Regular starting scrum-anchor Nathaniel Hauiti is injured and so Carlos, Hauiti's co-captain, has the top job to himself.
“I want our boys to go out on Saturday with a purpose,” Carlos said.
“Defence will be key for us, as they have big ball-runners, and we must work hard in the second half, as so far this season we've not finished games off as we wanted to.”
The toss could be important on what has been forecast to be a cloudy, shower-plagued Saturday with southeasterly breezes expected. Ball security and a quality kicking game will be essential, and GBHS can play well in conditions that could serve as a leveller.
Some 800 watched the New Plymouth game three weeks ago, and hardy souls will be royally entertained on Saturday.
The Mike Kora-coached GBHS second 15, under No.8 Noah Torrance-Cribb, sit fourth on the Super 8 table.
“We're really looking foward to this,” Torrance-Cribb said.
“It's an opportunity to play quality opposition, and it's good to go into it with three wins (Palmerston North, Hastings and New Plymouth) under our belts.”
Under-15s coach and Poverty Bay rugby legend Trevor Crosby knows how his team stand for skills and confidence.
The former halfback said his side were excited about this challenge, were thinking positively and would look to attack when given a chance.
“Our boys have worked hard — they're now ready to demonstrate their ability.”
Under-14s coaches Richard Brown and Josh Maynard have, in captain and lock Jahdin McKenzie, a top young forward.
Brown, who — like Crosby — was an outstanding No.9, has a crew champing at the bit to play.
“We're still building — and we're improving — but we'd just love more game time,” he said.
“We're all still learning as players and coaches, getting combinations and forging an identity. This is Boys' High rugby.”
