Day Nine: 1st XV Sanix World Cup Campaign
We all wake early this morning. It’s Finals day! In seven hours we play the Sanix World Schools Grand Final against Ivybridge College from England. We have a quiet breakfast and then we’re in for our team meeting. We go down to the gym for our run through. Our plan is to run the big English team off their feet. We’re reminded and practice the change in plays. We are smooth and accurate. Then we’re back to the dorms for down time. Most of us just chill on our beds with music. The normal pre-match routines begin. Rubs, showers, strapping, food and gear up. We walk over to the stadium for the final time and get into our warm-up. It is sharp and intense. We move back in the shed and put the jerseys on. We look in each other’s eyes and embrace with man-hugs. We go out on the field as the announcer introduces both teams. Line up and national anthems are played. Haka and kick off.
Our forward runners take it to them from the start, led by outstanding prop Joe Walsh and ably supported by Tuatu Rapira-Kiel and Alex Suttie. Continual pressure pays off and it’s no surprise that it’s big Joe that barges over for the first try. The English try and slow things down with a number of injury stoppages. Our backline then sparks and within a space of five minutes we crack them wide with fullback Joey Webber and centre Regan Ware combining with speed and strength to put winger Luke Masirewa over the line. Joey then scores one himself. The halftime score is 21-3.
Early in the second half, a lineout drive close to their line is brought down illegally a metre out and the ref doesn’t hesitate in awarding a penalty try. To their credit, Ivybridge come back strongly with two quick tries of their own. Benny Finau then seals the game when he darts away from a ruck to score. Te Raina Richards-Coxhead has the perfect kicking game from wide out, contributing 5 out of 5 conversions.
The final whistle blows and the scoreboard reads 35-17. The subs run on to the field and the following moments are what it’s all about. The total feeling of jubilation and we celebrate the achievement of our dream…Sanix World Schools Rugby Champions. I think back to the photos of last year’s success and can’t believe it’s now happening to me. The next half an hour is one of the most special moments in my life. We shake hands and hug so many people, only interrupted by a last haka to the crowd and the award ceremony where we receive our medals and Alex and Joey raise the trophies in victory.
More photos, Alex and coaches have interviews with journalists and TV, and back in the sheds for singing and speeches. It’s now an hour after the final and we’re still on a high.
Shower up, final bath and then team bbq with all our extended support crew. The guitars are out and various groups are called on to perform; the IGs, PIs, Maoris, Palangis, the South Waikato boys, parents, Jojo, Doc and their whanau, the refs, Gary the Chair of NZ Schools and Peter the interpreter all rise to the occasion. This is a celebration of an awesome day. Back to the dorms and Joey decides we will all sleep ‘marae styles’ in the meeting room. We sing and play games into the night before drifting off to sleep. I lie back on a mattress on the floor and think about how far this team has come in a short time. We are all so grateful we were allowed to come to Japan and every time we are spoken to by the organisers, they stress how thankful they are that we came. We owe so much to our coaches and manager, families, friends and the school for their support. It’s going to be a long, tough season when we get home but for now we all just enjoy the moment.
Sayonara for the final time - No. 17
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