You just do not turn these boys round at halftime.
They all weigh in at more than 100kg, they run with the ball and, most of all, they love to scrum.
The Otago Boys' High School First XV faces a tough assignment on Saturday, taking on the unbeaten St Kentigern College in the top-four competition in Rotorua.
But Otago Boys' will not be overawed, especially with a front row which packs plenty of punch.
It is led by captain and hooker Sekonaia Pole (18), who weighs in at 102kg, and can also bench-press 125kg.
He is flanked at loosehead prop by Jonah Aoina (17), whose weight is 118kg.
On the tighthead side is Jermaine Ainsley (18), who weighs 103kg.
They are backed up by Liam Sharples (16), who can play both sides of the scrum, and weighs 106kg.
First XV coach Ryan Martin said the side relied very much on its front-rowers, who were big ball-runners for the team.
''We learnt last year when we played St Kent's in the final that you really have to have a good scrum if you want to do anything,'' he said.
When asked what they liked most about playing in the front row, they all said in unison, ''the scrum''.
The front row is coached by former Otago hooker Jason Macdonald, and also receives some individual tuition from Highlanders and Otago scrum coach Kees Meeuws.
Jonah comes from the Samoan village of Toamua, and was spotted by Martin last year when the school side was on a tour of the Pacific Island.
He joined the school at the start of the year and has dropped 13kg as he gets into condition for the school season.
Jermaine, who comes from Cromwell, has the love of scrummaging in his blood. His father is former All Black prop Joe McDonnell.
Sekonaia, from Dunedin, was moved to the front row from No 8 in his first year in the First XV in 2011 and has never looked back. He was in the national schools side last year and is sure to be in that team again when it is named later this month.
Liam, also from Dunedin, is a promising front-rower, who makes an impact off the bench. In his first game for the side he scored four tries.
Jermaine, Sekonaia and Liam are all ranked within the top eight front-rowers in the country, Martin said, and had signed loyalty agreements with the New Zealand Rugby Union to keep playing the sport.
The boys are all excited about the game on Saturday. The team has played 19 games this season, and had just the one loss, against Christchurch Boys' High School.
''I think that defence is going to be the key thing. They have a lot of agile players, so we have to really show some commitment in the tackle,'' Sekonaia said.
