Tomorrow,the Rotorua Boys' High School First XV will attempt to recreate last year's heroics and win the Chiefs Cup for a second consecutive year.
They take on Wesley College in the final at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton as the curtainraiser to the Chiefs versus Waratahs Super Rugby match.
Rotorua Boys' are the only unbeaten team in the Chiefs Cup this season having beaten Wesley College 10-0, Francis Douglas Memorial College 12-3 and Tauranga Boys' College 33-3.
Coach Ngarimu Simpkins said the side showed good character during the previous win over Wesley College.
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Advertise with NZME."To be fair we were actually quite flat that game, so we showed good character to stay in the game and to win by 10 points was pleasing, we were happy with that.
"Having seen Wesley play, it's given us an opportunity to do some good homework - not only analyse our game but try to work on some areas that we can breach or exploit them," Simpkins said.
Above all he wanted the players to enjoy themselves on the field.
"We believe that when they're having fun they play their best rugby, so we've given them a bit of licence to throw the ball around.
"However, we believe defence wins games, so we'll be concentrating on sticking to our structures and really nailing our core roles around our defensive areas," he said.
Co-director of rugby Deon Muir said the team's defence so far this year had been pleasing, they were yet to concede a try.
"We're trying to build a bit of a reputation around that because defence often wins games. If we can keep building around our defence and keep to our structures and discipline around that we'll go a long way.
"The defence often determines our attitude in attack, so that has been pleasing," Muir said.
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Advertise with NZME.When asked if, as coaches, they needed to keep the players calm ahead of such a big occasion, Simpkins said it was actually a situation they thrived in.
"We've sort of found that in that atmosphere we tend to play really well. I think our preparation for these big games, we've been really good at it. We'll just do the basics well - we don't tend to hype these things up too much, we try to keep it as normal as possible."
The team has Queen's Birthday weekend off before the Super 8 competition starts on June 9.
Simpkins said the team had a "fantastic" pre-season.
"It hasn't all gone our way but we're finally in a place we're pleased with, but certainly not content. We need to keep working hard because the Super 8 competition is really hard.
"We're not taking any team for granted. Hamilton Boys' are always a force, New Plymouth I think are looking quite tidy this year. Every team has their own merits and on any given day anyone can beat anyone else."
