Hihi’s elder son, Carlos, returns from the left-leg injury that kept him out of the game against Kelston. He will skipper the side in the absence of regular co-captain and scrum anchor Nathaniel Hauiti.
“Our boys are excited to get back out on Rectory No.1,” Carlos Hihi said.
“We had a tough loss against Kelston. We’re looking to redeem ourselves.
“It will be good to play in front of the whole school.”
St John’s fourth-year head coach Matt Wyatt played for the Napier Boys’ High first 15 who beat Gisborne Boys’ 52-12 at Napier Boys’ High in 2004 and 27-16 in Gisborne the following year.
Wyatt knows how deep teams have to dig to beat Gisborne Boys’ High at home.
“The trip to Gisborne is special — GBHS have a unique flair, so we need to find a way to contain that,” St John’s director of rugby Wyatt said.
“I’m expecting a physical encounter, with the ball kept close, given the pending storm, Fili. That said, our guys know that while we’re never the biggest team, we have character, and this opportunity to grow.”
Speaking of growth, the confidence of 6ft 5in (1.95m) Joe Kemp — a springheels in the mould of 6ft 6in 2018-19 first 15 second-row forward Ofa Tauatevalu — on the eve of his first start at home, is high. Kemp benefited greatly from the encouragement and example of 2021 vice-captain, the 6ft 7in Max Briant, as part of a comprehensive, quality pre-season programme.
St John’s began their 2022 campaign with a 10-0 win away against John Paul College of Rotorua a fortnight ago, but Wellington powerhouse Scots College beat them 52-17 in Palmerston North on Saturday.
They are led by a fourth-year team member, hooker Dylan Homan. Lock Oto Katoa and younger brother Villi (second five-eighth) will both start tomorrow, with Villi’s twin Fuao Katoa on the reserves bench.
Homan and his team are fizzing in anticipation.
“My boys can’t wait to play a top rugby school in Gisborne Boys’ High, and to play them at their place makes it even more exciting,” he said.
“The strength of our team this year is our trust in one another. I want our boys to back themselves and play their hearts out.”
Gisborne Boys’ High forward Dylan Bronlund, after starting the first three games of the season at blindside flanker, will start Game 4 at No.8.
Reuben Whaitiri, who — like Bronlund — scored in the 41-0 rout of Heights at Rugby Park in Whakatane, is to run on in jersey No.6.
Hugely promising Year 11 student Braith Ingram will make his home starting debut in the same number, 7, that his father Brent wore in his first season, 1996. In 1997, Brent Ingram was vice-captain of the first 15 from halfback.
While the Rectory will not see Super 8 action until Gisborne’s Round 4 clash with Hastings Boys’ High on June 25, Waikato powerhouse St Paul’s Collegiate School will play the GBHS first 15 here on Tuesday at 11am. Heartland Championship referee Damien Macpherson will be in charge.
The GBHS second 15, under Mike Kora, will play their second game of the season against Whakatane High School, at 12 midday at Rugby Park, Whakatane, tomorrow.
In co-captains lock Noah Torrance-Cribb and centre Safin Tuwairua-Brown, Gisborne Boys’ High have emerging talents who would have taken the last-minute loss to Kelston last Thursday to heart in a useful, constructive way and used it as motivation.
Kelston won the match 12-7.
The premier grade referee for the first 15 clash between GBHS and St John’s is 29-year-old accountant Isaac Hughes, who is in his fifth season as a whistle-blower. It will be his third first 15 appointment.
The referee for the second 15 match against Whakatane High is the principal of Ashbrook School, Opotiki — Sean Moore — who also controlled the GBHS u15s’ 55-7 win against the Trident High School u16s at Rugby Park, Whakatane, on April 2. Moore is in his third season as a Bay of Plenty official.
