Josh McKay: Barbarians were the toughest

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.

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