Want to know who the next Beauden Barrett or Kieran Read will be? In his new weekly column for the Herald, schoolboy rugby expert Herschel Fruean singles out the best First XV matches of the weekend, and some rising stars to watch. Fruean will travel New Zealand looking for the
First XV Rugby: All you need to know about the weekend's best matches and players
NZ Herald
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St Kentigern College can expect a heated welcome from St Peter's College fans. Photo / Photosport
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In Taranaki, New Plymouth Boys' High School won an action-packed contest against St Patrick's Silverstream by 39-13, with Jack Parker (first-five) and Tuterangi Anderson (prop) the standouts for New Plymouth BHS. St Pat's openside flanker Mitchell Southall was busy as always, hitting the line hard, along with No 8 Peter Lakai.
After four games in 11 days, fatigue finally caught up Auckland Grammar School - going down 17-19 in a scrappy affair to Hamilton Boys' High School, who hadn't kicked a ball in three weeks.
In other matches, Nelson College and Christchurch Boys' High School also claimed victories over Marlborough Boys' College (48-14) and Christ's College (31-13) respectively.
This weekend's matches
As far as traditional rivalries go, you won't find much better than the encounter between Westlake Boys' and Rosmini College. If McKenzie can manage anywhere near a repeat performance of the mid-week clash with Tauranga Boys', Rosmini could be in for a tough day. That said, "Rozza" have some firepower of their own - most notably in the form of captain Carlos Phillips and his midfield partner Rory Taylor.
Saturday, June 1: 12pm: Westlake Boys' High School v Rosmini College (Westlake Boys' High School).
If you're in the City of Sails, make your way to "The Cage" where the Moascar Cup is on the line between St Kentigern College and St Peter's College. St Kents, up until a week ago the country's No 1 team, will still be smarting from the 50 points they conceded in the shock defeat to King's College. Even with a raft of experienced players still missing from the mix, St Kents should have too much for St Peter's - with forwards Cam Church Tiaan Tauakipulu due a big performance. For the home side, much will depend on captain Naryan Strickland - easily the most in-form hooker in New Zealand at the moment.
Saturday, June 1: 1pm: St Kentigern College v St Peter's College (St Peter's College, Auckland).
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Francis Douglas Memorial College have had a topsy-turvy start to the season but would still fancy their chances against Whanganui Collegiate School. First-five Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is one of the brightest talents in New Zealand and will have a big impact on proceedings unless the Whanganui midfield of Sione Osamu and Te Atawhai Mason can somehow limit his movement.
Saturday, June 1: 12pm: Francis Douglas Memorial College v Whanganui Collegiate (Francis Douglas Memorial College, New Plymouth).
The weekend's big game in the Otago comp will be John McGlashan College against King's High School. John McGlashan will be brimming their talismanic halfback Nathan Hastie ruled out for the remainder of the season, King's could find the going tough in this one.
Saturday, June 1: 1pm: King's High School v John McGlashan College (King's High School, Dunedib).
