• The final knockout punch an even-stevens game

St. Peter’s College will face Isipathana College today (10) at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo in the grand finale of the President’s Trophy Schools Rugby Knockouts, with kick-off at 4.15 p.m.

Their maiden meeting this season came during the All Island 7s where the Green Machine got the better of the Peterites who came fresh after winning the CR&FC Centenary 7s. However, it was sweet revenge for SPC in the league decider at Bamba when they laid hands on the rugby plum after 13 years. 

The Bamba Brigade continues their dream run as undisputed league champs yearning for the double championship, whereas defending knockout champs Pathana too can go for a double.

Sadly, there is no third place/consolation final in these tournaments; if not, it would have been a Maradana neighbourhood derby between St. Joseph’s and Zahira, which would have been a major crowd-puller. 

In the meantime, it is commendable to note that the schools rugby body has taken measures to mitigate plenty of shortcomings by appointing World Rugby-accredited officials and commissioners for the all-important grand finale of the most followed schoolboy sport in the island nation. 

Let’s first have a recap of the road to the finals with Boa Athu, the statspert and the island nation’s foremost expert analyst of the oval ball code. He is joining us at The Sunday Morning Sports from Auckland, New Zealand amidst his coaching duties with Gallaher Shield champs, the Manukau Rovers. 

Following are excerpts from the interview: 

The first semi-final saw Isipathana scoring 39 against Zahira’s 10. What are the reasons for Zahira’s loss? 

There were three main reasons: not staying the course with their game plan, decision-making, and stamina and physicality in the second half.

I thought they had a pretty sound game plan and had executed their kicking game ‘out of hand’ very well, but didn’t commit to it enough to constantly put Pathana under pressure. When it came to making decisions, there was one instance for three points, but they opted for a lineout and knocked it on, which led to Isipathana moving to the other end and scoring points instead. They had strong periods of pressure but let their opponents off the hook.

They kicked very well, controlled territory, and put the Pathana wingers under tremendous pressure. I have to be sympathetic towards them, since there were a couple of really good kick chases where the rub of the green didn’t go their way. Had that been a bit of a break and Zahira had scored, the momentum and the entire game would have shifted.

Their physicality and conditioning started to become more apparent in the second half, where they conceded six tries. If you give a side like Isipathana a few breaks, they’ll skin you. 

In the Joe-Pete (11-16) semis, did we just witness the game of the season?

I wouldn’t say it was the best game. I think it was one of the better games, with an exciting finish and no shortage of controversy. The Josephians were very, very unlucky and they actually deserve better. Credit goes to St. Peter’s; they play smart footy by creating a lot of opportunities. That’s what actually got them back into the game. They took the points during vital penalties to stay in touch with the Joes, who they were trailing at half-time.

It was incredible that we had a game as Havelock Park was waterlogged hours before. Thus, quality wise it was a bit stop-start and the conditions didn’t really help. And of course, the romance around the Joe-Pete in a traditional game really brings the best out in the fans – there were pretty emotional scenes. Well done to SPC for progressing, commiserations to the Joes who played valiantly; close but no cigar! 

Was St. Peter’s last try the dive or jump of the season?

I had a really close look at the footage. I had my own conclusions and I referred to this with a couple of my colleagues who are referees in the Super Rugby circuit here in New Zealand. We all came to the same conclusion that it was in fact jumping out of a tackle.

In the live footage it is clearly visible that the Josephian tackler wanted to make a very good, nice, and low tackle. Had there been no initial jump he would have successfully made that tackle as well. 

World Rugby talks about dexterity – to be able to evade tackles and look to dive into the try line. It’s a really difficult skill to master. The word ‘dexterity’ is a very big word. I had to look it up in the dictionary myself and of course we are talking about a handful of elite players.

At First XV schoolboy level, player safety is number one. The key reasoning behind this is that the first tackler was very committed and he was well into it and that’s when this jump occurred. Then there was a second tackler entering the fray and then the momentum sort of took him over to the line.

Credit goes to the Peterite player, Praneeth Silva; it was quite audacious and looked spectacular. I think the incorrect decision was made but we all learn and we move forward. 

It will be the third meeting between St. Peter’s and Isipathana this season. Are the Bamba Brigade red-hot favourites? Or will the Green Machine strike at their perennial hunting grounds?

I think this is a very evens-stevens game. The reason is that it will be played at Sugathadasa. 

History favours Pathana; they’ve had some sort of dominance at this venue with their last grand finale meeting with the Petes here going their way, with some really quality players.

Is there a red-hot favourite? No, but we probably will have to go with St. Peter’s as the slight favourites because they are undefeated, coming through some high pressure games, and they have proven themselves by playing intelligent rugby, no doubt.

Isipathana had a decent semi-finals – I wouldn’t say chinks in the armour yet, but they are in need of a few improvements. Certainly the Petes look the more complete of the two teams, but again Pathana seem like they’ve got a fresh lease of life after the not-so-ideal end to their league campaign. 

We’ve got two red-hot teams trying to contest. I just hope this final is exceptionally high in quality, free of any controversy, and that whoever wins it can do so in a decisive way so that everyone can go home happy and we witness an epic game of a lifetime. 

Boa Athu fact box

• Former Royal College and CH&FC representative
• 1998 Bradby Shield winner and member of the Schools League Championship team
• Caltex Trophy winner/Club League Championship member in 2000
• Current World Rugby coach educator with New Zealand Rugby (NZR)
• Champion coach of Manukau Rovers who won the Gallaher Shield back to back in 2022 and 2023, setting a NZ club record points scoring and remaining the undefeated team in 2023 
• 5 players coached under Boa’s tutelage at Rovers are representing the 2023 Rugby World Cup (3xTonga, 1xSamoa, and 1xFiji) 
• Founder and creator of Safe Tackle Framework adopted by NZR
• Founder of the now most influential ‘Straight-up Rugby’ group

Knockout winner’s checklist by Boa Athu

• Little to no errors 
• Minimum penalties against 
• Play in the opposition 22
• Use your 50/22s 
• Take the points (3s) 
• Set piece excellence 
• Convert all tries
• Forwards win finals 
• Backs finish it off 
• Use your X factor 
• Get the crowd behind you 
• Don’t leave it in the hands of the ref. or TMO
• Leave everything on the field – empty your tank
• The win will look after itself 

Good luck to both sides. You are 70 minutes away from an incredible memory that you will create for life.