An eagerly awaited and historic Auckland First XV 1A decider pits top qualifiers St Kentigern against second year grand finalists Sacred Heart.

It will be a clash of contrasting styles, the combative forward-oriented Sacred Heart against the more expansive St Kentigern strategy.

St Kentigern has the recent pedigree, having won in 2015 and from 2011-13, while Sacred Heart has been there or thereabouts for the last few years, while always maintaining top junior grades. Both sides have settled line-ups after contrasting semifinals.

St Kentigern had to call on all its resilience to head Auckland Grammar 17-13 in the semifinal last weekend, forced to make a second half comeback, despite losing fullback Etene Nanai to the sinbin.

“It probably puts us in good stead for the final. We were put under pressure and had to respond,” says coach Tai Lavea.

“We had a loss in each block (this season). The loss against MAGS before the July holidays was a blessing in disguise for us.”

Lavea says dwelling on the past is not relevant to this group, but it will surely take confidence from the 17-6 home victory over Sacred Heart back in May, in which they controlled the second stanza.

“That was a long time ago, so this event itself will bring a lot out of the group,” he adds.

The sides have faced each other eight times in the last four years, so know each other’s strengths and weaknesses well. The opposing coaches, Lavea and Gus Leger, know each other well and indeed are friends.

St Kentigern has a clutch of survivors from its last appearance in the 1A final, when it edged Auckland Grammar in 2015. Fullback Etene Nanai, who was outstanding that day, is a danger man in the backline, while the likes of flanker Mitch Gibson (brother of Blake), first five Rivez Reihana and replacement loosie Kayleb Milne, are also on deck again.

Sacred Heart has built a 9-2 record this season on the back of a very solid scrum, a tight defence and some zippy work from halfback Taufa Funaki. Last weekend, Sacred Heart powered away in the second half to blank St Peter’s 21-0 and qualify again for the big dance.

Leger knows that the experience of some of the group who knew the heartache of the 15-13 loss to MAGS in the 2016 final will be crucial.

“It helps galvanise the group. We’ve made the last four semis in my time, so it’s about small steps in the environment. Lemeki Namoa has made the semis three years in a row now. That counts for a lot,” says Leger.

He is seeking confidence and control and has kept a lid on the emotions this week.

“We’ve got nothing to lose. It’s about us being hungry because we haven’t had it for so long.”

Sacred Heart has won six 1A titles dating back to 1906, though the last triumph was in 1965. St Kentigern has claimed five 1A championships, all since 2001 and with four since 2011.

A turning point for Sacred Heart came with the 10-6 defeat to De La Salle. Since then it has reeled off six wins on the bounce. St Kentigern won the round-robin clash in May as Sacred Heart’s lineout imploded after the loss of lock Liam Zinzley.

The winner of this clash will play North Harbour champion Rosmini to determine the Blues championship and who will represent the franchise at the national Top 4 tournament in Palmerston North from September 8-10.

Unlike in the recent Super 8 final, which was decided on a try countback, the silverware at Eden Park will be shared if the score is tied after 70 minutes. There is no extra time in schoolboy rugby.

Only the North Stand will be open at Eden Park tomorrow, but a crowd well in excess of 10,000 is expected. The clash will be preceded (at 12.15pm) by the 1B final, featuring, for the first time, Botany Downs versus One Tree Hill. Both schools have qualified for the 2018 promotion-relegation series. – Campbell Burnes

Auckland 1A First XV final

St Kentigern v Sacred Heart

Eden Park, Auckland

Saturday, 2.30pm

St Kentigern: Etene Nanai, Peni Lasaqa, Lui Scholtens, Dakohta Taimani, Benji Pauga, Rivez Reihana (co-c), Anton Hitchcock, Sila Titiuti, Mitchell Gibson (co-c), Joshua Retter, Robert Rush, Alex McRobbie, Matt Graham-Williams, Fraser Middlebeek-Harrison, Tamaiti Williams

Reserves: Valance Yates, JP Papani, Etonia Waqa, Kayleb Milne, Cameron Church, Kalani Parkinson, Jona Mataiciwa

Sacred Heart: Josh Ka, AJ Kepaoa, Lemeki Namoa (c), Chay Fihaki, Terry Pongi, Josh Jacomb, Taufa Funaki, Christian Fa’avae, Mateo Taiseni, Potusa Fuilala, Iosefa Maloney-Fiaola, Liam Zinzley, Crusader Faletagoai, Macaulay Casey, Fatongia Paea

Reserves: Tala Motuliki, Malkome Vaka, Frano Didovich, Vikilani Ma’asi, Ethan Thomas, Mateaki Ma’asi, Brian Leali’ifano

View the programme  Click here