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'It was a classic game of New Zealand versus South Africa rugby': How Hamilton Boys topped the world

Hamilton swept aside the South African side in a close encounter

Hamilton Boys’ High School enhanced their already formidable rugby reputation when they won the World Schools Rugby Festival in Thailand in December.

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In the final of the ten team tourney, broadcast exclusively by RugbyPass, their First XV defeated Grey College from Bloemfontein, South Africa 22-10.

Grey has produced World Champions like Bismarck du Plessis, Naka Drotské, Ruben Kruger and François Steyn.

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Nigel Hotham has coached the Hamilton Boys’ First XV for two decades and has won five National Top Four titles. He identified the Thailand triumph as “a special highlight.”

“It was a classic game of New Zealand versus South Africa rugby; flair and running ambition against big running forwards and lineout drives,” Hotham said.

“Grey won the toss and took a strong wind. They dominated possession early but were kept scoreless in the first half by a tremendous defensive effort.

“One of the few opportunities we had was just before halftime with winger Alex Pitts-Brown scoring a try in the corner after multiple phases.

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“Turning with the breeze gave us real confidence and the second half was one of the most complete we produced this season. Fullback Payton Spencer was outstanding, scoring a try and kicking a 50-metre penalty.

“Aki Tuivailala and Hiraka Waetai-Haenga were strong in midfield and No 8 Oli Mathis really stood up to their pack.

“As you would expect Grey never gave up and scored a couple of tries from lineout drives in the final five minutes but really it was the perfect finish to a great year.”

Hamilton won 18 out of 19 games in 2022 winning the National Top Four, Moascar Cup and National Condor Sevens titles. Hamilton have won 48 consecutive matches at the National Condor Sevens but weren’t unchallenged in fifteens.

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The Super 8 title which they’ve won 14 times since 2006 is notably absent from the trophy cabinet. In the final they were upset by Rotorua Boys’ High School, conceding a try with the final play of the game. Captain Aki Tuivailala believes that setback was a turning point.

“We worked hard the whole year to win Super 8 and to fall short to an amazing Rotorua team was devastating. We were lucky we got a second chance, learned from some of our mistakes, and were determined one result wasn’t going to bring us down,” Tuivailala said

“In the National final against Napier Boys’ we were down until the last play, but we kept our cool and always believed we could win. The try scored by Caelys Putoko to win the final was incredible.”

Of Tongan extraction Tuivailala has been an impressive captain for Hamilton Boys’ this season.

“For me it’s about the relationships I can make off the field. If I can connect with the boys as mates and push the respectful side then I get more trust and better responses on the field,” he said.

The empathic approach of Tuivailala reaped dividends in the World Schools Final.

“Grey was amazing throughout the whole tournament and really pushed us to perfect our game. To play a team like that for the first time was a real honour that brought the best out of us,” he said.

“Thailand was amazing with a few differences in lifestyle. I really learned a lot and saw some things I didn’t really expect.”

The World Schools Rugby Festival is not the first ‘World Schools’ title that Hamilton has won. In 2010, 2011 and 2014 they won the Sanix World Youth Invitational Tournament in Fukuoka, Japan.

What possibilities exist for Grey College to tour New Zealand? Hamilton has an established calendar of demanding fixtures between May and September so it would be difficult to host any foreign side in that window. However, the Term 2 holidays typically fall in July where most local rugby takes a brief break.

With boarding facilities and Auckland only a two-hour drive away, Grey could easily organise a large-scale tour between March and April, in July, or after the National Top Four in September.

With a strong base of local sponsors, experience touring and a respected international reputation, Hamilton Boys’ is well positioned to tour on a regular basis. As recently as 2019 they won all four matches on a tour of Japan.

The World Schools Rugby Festival was high quality sporting competition and educational experience for its participants.

What about a Super 8 Schools’ World Cup for men and women to run alongside the marquee senior events in future? Imagine New Zealand Schools versus South Africa Schools before a World Cup final in Paris. That would be fun.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss
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