Have we just witnessed Southland sport's gutsiest performance?

The 2023 SBHS first XV can now forever remember the time that they became national champions and they had to overcome a lot to do it.

SBHS No 8 Justin Shaw was one of the best in the 2023 national secondary schools rugby final on Sunday. Photo: DEBBIE FAHEY

It could well go down as one of Southland sports more gusty showings.

Many wrote the Southland Boys’ High School first XV off in the lead-up to the South Island final against Christchurch Boys’ High School last month.

That didn’t matter - they won 29-28.

Then came a national semifinal showdown against Palmerston North on Friday. Even fewer gave them a chance.

Southland Boys’ went into the game without its star first five-eighth Mika Muliana. It didn’t matter though.

They still found a way to win 20-19 to advance to the school’s first national final in 36 years.

But injuries continued to mount. Four players headed to hospital in Palmerston North after that semifinal victory.

It included captain and key player Gregor Rutledge, as well as centre Preston Evans. Both were both ruled out of Sunday’s final against Westlake Boys’ High School.

In the lead-up to Sunday’s final coach Jason Dermody joked that his main concern was getting 15 players together to put out on the park.

The Invercargill school went into the final without four or five of its best players. You can understand why most felt Sunday’s final would be a step too far for this courageous group.

It wasn’t though.

With their backs against the wall, those still standing in the Southland Boys’ first XV delivered. They beat Westlake Boys’ High School 32-29 to catch many throughout New Zealand rugby circles off guard.

And the odds of such a win blew out even further when Southland Boys’ High School found itself 12-0 down 20 minutes into the final.

It took a nice pass from first five-eighth Rico Muliaina to send second five-eighth Amaziah Mitchell on a rampaging run to spark things. He scored making it 12-5.

Westlake Boys’ scored 10 minutes later to push it out to 19-5 but there has been a theme that’s played out throughout the Southland Boys’ High School’s 2023 campaign. Whenever you thought they were done they responded.

Hooker Hoani Nikora-Wilson scored from a lineout drive with time up in the first half to bring it back to 19-10 at the break.

Then No 8 Justin Shaw - one of the best in the final - went on a slicing run and eventually he scored himself to make it 19-17.

It’s Shaw’s first season playing in the forwards after playing most of his rugby as a back. That has showed with his ability in the open.

Westlake responded minutes later to go up 24-17 but yet again, they were never able to shake Southland Boys’.

Then impressive Kiseki Fifta - who has played most of the season on the wing but switched to centre as injury cover - scored, With Jimmy Taylor’s sideline conversion the scores were locked up at 24-24.

Sixteen minutes into the second half Southland Boys’ then found itself leading for the first time in the game with another of its heroes - blindside flanker Fraser Wilson - scoring to make it 29-24.

Fifteen-year-old winger Jimmy Taylor has already developed a growing list of clutch highlight clips in his time playing rugby and in Sunday’s final he delivered yet another one. It proved vital.

With about 10 minutes to play he drilled a 41m dropped goal to push Southland Boys’ out to an eight-point lead at 32-24.

A couple of minutes later Westlake struck through impressive midfielder James Cameron, who has already been snapped up by the Crusaders.

It left Southland Boys’ with about seven minutes to defend a three-point lead and they did just that claiming a 32-29 victory and the school’s first-ever national title.

There is a saying amongst many in sport that when injuries strike it is about who have got, not who you have lost.

The Southland Boys’ High School first XV is a prime example of that.

Rutledge has been massive for Southland Boys’ in the No 7 jersey this season but his replacement Lachie Riley stood up in his absence on Sunday.

Rico Muliaina did the same replacing his younger brother at first five-eighth. Mitchell was dynamic at second five-eighth, as was his midfield partner Fifita.

It’s risky to mention names because everyone played a part in a victory built on resolve and belief. They all should be proud.

The 2023 SBHS first XV can now forever remember the time that they became national champions.