Josh McKay is quick on his feet and has reliable instincts.
In two seasons he scored 25 tries in the UC Championship for the Christchurch Boys’ High School First XV and earned selection for the New Zealand Secondary Schools.’
He started all four games in the 2015 campaign and produced two performances which were vital in keeping the team unbeaten.
Against the New Zealand Barbarians in Palmerston North, McKay scored the match-winning try.
New Zealand trailed the Barbarians 18-13 with two minutes to go, but McKay supported a break and dashed away for the deceive five-pointer.
Against the Australian Barbarians he scored all 23 points (2 tries, 2 conversions, 3 penalties) as New Zealand hung on for a slender victory.
New Zealand thrashed their international opponents Samoa (67-3) and Australia (32-8). Why did the so-called lesser sides present a significantly greater challenge?
“I’m not sure, but both teams were strong in their own right. The Australian Barbarians were pretty rounded. They were physical up front and had a couple of dangerous backs. The New Zealand Barbarians was the toughest game we had. They were among the leading players in the country,” McKay says.
The Australian Barbarians outscored New Zealand three tries to two. McKay says he is proud of the way New Zealand “hung in” and describes the two chances he took.
“My first try was an instinct try. One of their defenders rushed up out of the line and I spotted a gap and went through. The second try was scored from a chip and chase when I saw some space.”
New Zealand saw little space against the Barbarians and in fact there wasn’t room for both teams at the Rugby Institute. The Barbarians were dispatched down the road to an eight per room facility and this might have added fuel to the fire.
“We were pushed right to the limit,” McKay concedes.
“The teams were isolated and the Barbarians gelled in the Barbarians way, but we had a good bond to and I think that helped in the end.”
New Zealand finally clicked against Australia. Tries to Isaia Walker, Dalton Papalii, Asafo Aumua and Thomas Umaga-Jensen plus two penalties and three conversions to Wiseguy Faiane resulted in a 32-8 triumph.
McKay played a solid game at fullback.
“I think we really clicked in the Aussie game. The combinations were settled and the challenge of taking on the Aussies brought out best in us,” McKay says.
Christchurch Boys’ brought out the best in McKay. In 2014 he was a member of a First XV that won 19 out of 22 games and attended the National Top Four.
This season Christchurch extended their unbeaten run in the UC Championship to 27 games, but stumbled in the semi-finals against Shirley Boys’ High School.
However they defeated Christ’s College by a record 80-0 in the annual traditional, McKay scored 35 points. This game was a personal highlight in the blue and black jersey.
“It was surreal to be honest. We played our game and everything went right. I remember popping a pass to Will Jordon to bring up the record score. That was amazing.”
McKay has been a Canterbury Under-15&17 touch representative. In 2016 he is headed to Lincoln University and will remain a member of the Crusaders Academy.