Rugby: Player skills will do the talking

Te Ra Whata is being seen as a key player in the Super 8 final with Hamilton Boys' High School.

If there is any pressure building on the Rotorua Boys' High School 1st XV they're not privy to it.

Saturday's Super 8 New Zealand high schools final against Hamilton Boys' High School in Hamilton could result in a trifecta for the majority of the team.

In the past 12 months, the school has won the New Zealand Secondary School Touch Championships and the New Zealand Condor Sevens.

They also recently returned from South America unbeaten in six games.

With the team unbeaten all season, except for one defeat at the hands of this Saturday's opposition, coach Ngarimu Simpkins said the players were looking forward to letting their skills do the talking.

"We've not done anything extraordinary, just kept them to the same systems," he said.

"There's been no extra training, we've been keeping it pretty low key. It's going to be a big enough occasion. We're trying to keep the pressure down and treat it like a normal game."

There will be more eyes on them than normal. Sky TV is broadcasting the final live, the kick-off pushed back to 2.30pm to suit the cameras.

Simpkins said he expected minibuses of supporters to make the trip over the Mamaku ranges to Hamilton Boys' High School.

Key players to look out for were captain Isaac Te Aute, Te Ra Whata and Tiaki Harrison.

"It's going to be an exciting game," Simpkins said.

"They've been really mature about it, keeping them calm. Whatever happens we want to enjoy our day and they're looking forward to playing in front of New Zealand."

Simpkins said despite their youth, the 1st XV was made up of players who had experienced sporting pressure before and had coped.

"The only way to get better is to put yourself under pressure. They felt that pressure with the sevens and touch."

Hopefully, they would use that experience about making the right decisions on Saturday.