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From schoolboy to pro rugby in one year - the Hawkes Bay Magpies six local stars

Folau Fakatava (centre) is one of six Hastings Boys 2017 players selected in the Hawkes Bay Magpies 2018 squad.

The Hawkes Bay Magpies announced their 2018 Mitre 10 Cup squad yesterday which included an astounding six members of last year’s national schoolboy champions, Hastings Boys High School.

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Hastings Boys set a blistering pace over two years in 1st XV rugby, playing in two national title games, losing the first but winning the second in an undefeated season in 2017. The team earned six selections in the New Zealand schoolboy squad last year, and could have been eight had two key players not been injured.

Yesterday, the Magpies announced Hastings Boys first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie, halfback Folau Fakatava, fullback Danny Toala, prop Kianu Kereru-Symes, prop Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe, and Number 8 Devan Flanders had made the squad for the upcoming season.

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The rapid rise to the professional ranks is a testament to the quality of the rugby programme at Hastings Boys, which rose from obscurity to produce one of the greatest sides seen at schoolboy level.

Two other members of last year’s Hastings Boys and the New Zealand schoolboy side, Kini Naholo and Jeriah Mua could also feature in the squads for Taranaki and Bay of Plenty, bringing the total number to eight players making a professional side one year after finishing school.

Number 8 Devan Flanders represented the New Zealand under-20’s side this year, traveling to France for the Junior World Championships, and more Magpies likely to feature next year.

Chiefs first five-eighth Tiaan Falcon and halfback Bred Weber also return to the Bay alongside Hurricanes outside back Jonah Lowe.

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Up front, Highlanders hooker Ash Dixon will power the front row, with the experienced Ben May.

Highlanders debutant Marino Mikaele Tu’u will join Hurricanes flanker Gareth Evans in the loose forwards, along with another Hastings Boys product Jacob Devery, who was apart of the 2016 1st XV.

The Magpies also announced the addition of JJ Taulagi, a former St Kents product that played Super Rugby with the Queensland Reds before playing for the Sunwolves in Japan.

All Black lock Brodie Retallick has been named in the team but will have commitments with the national team throughout the season.

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NoLongerARuck 3 hours ago
Age is no barrier, world-leading Thomas du Toit and the Bok props are kings

In the 2019 world cup an idea that changed the entire front row ecosystem in South Africa took hold and it was pushed by Rassie himself. That was to not merely secure your scrum but to scrum for penalties off every scrum no matter where on the field. This idea led to a singular focus for props and that was scrumming. South Africa puts more focus on scrumming then any other nation in the world. Hours spent on the training ground and cumulative experience gained since 2019 has led them to where they are today, that is a scrum that can even dominate the next best scrum in world rugby. South African props are required to make their fair share of dominant tackles, ruck involvements, mauls and bludgeoning carries but their primary focus remains scrumming. Springbok props are huge men but they are not inherently bigger than those from other nations. Taniela Tupou, Antonio, Baille, Genge Tamaiti Williams, Lomax, Furlong, Carre and several others are just as powerful or big as any Bok prop yet they have all been on the receiving end of a big Bok scrum in the last 2 years. Experience is seen as the most valuable commodity at scrum time in SA. Its why Ollie Kebble was brought back to the Stormers and why Brock Harris and Ali Vermaak played on for them recently. Nyakane was involved last year for the Sharks and Koch is still there for their experience. Its also the reason why Malherbe has not been discarded and why Mtawarira and Du Randt were part of monster scrums that were integral to world cup success. A comment that stuck with me was that Neethling Fouche was described as a “young” up and coming prop at the age of 29 when SA pundits were discussing his future 4 years back. Hes now 33 and could probably play in many international teams but is maybe 5th choice in his position at the Boks. Thomas Du Toit was part of the set up for 2019 and 2023. He has attended alignment camps for years and yet has only broke into the starting 15 in the last 2 years. His experience overseas and that of another Journeyman in Wilco Louw has only made them better and more well-rounded players. It truly is experience, a dogged commitment to scrumming and a bold idea that has shaped the Boks scrum into the most formidable weapon in world rugby and that looks set to continue at least in the short term.

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