Get it out wide.
School pride goes on the line in Invercargill today with Otago Boys' High School looking to wrestle the Highlanders First XV title off Southland Boys' High School.
And the best route to success is likely to be through the backs, Otago Boys' rugby master Neill Baker said.
"It is the same old, same old," he said.
"We're hoping that our backs will be given the opportunity to play a free-flowing game."
Otago Boys' is looking to right the ledger after being beaten 23-19 by defending champion Southland Boys' in their last encounter in Invercargill. The teams also drew 16-16 in Dunedin earlier in the competition.
The game will be played at Rugby Park and Baker is confident the surface will provide for an exciting encounter. That could play into Otago Boys' hands.
The team has been impressive on attack this season, scoring a colossal 564 points while conceding just 99. Southland Boys' has been just as dominant, scoring 544 points. But its defence has been particularly solid, giving up a stingy 55 points.
If anyone can find a way around the southern wall, it is fullback Liam Edwards. He has been in superb form, ghosting past defenders with blistering pace and sparking counterattacks from the most dire of defensive situations.
But Otago Boys' will need to get parity up front, and loose forward duo Brodie Hume and Josh Reid will need to recycle and pilfer as much possession as possible.
No doubt the Southland pack will look to assert its dominance through some strong set plays. The Southerners are unbeaten and playing at home, and with talented first five Scott Eade controlling the territory and marshalling the backline, they start as favourites, Baker said.
There are two other finals. In Dunedin, John McGlashan College hosts the middle four final against Dunstan High School, while St Kevin's College plays South Otago High School in the bottom four final in Oamaru.
