RANKINS Springs' prop Matt Groat has been instrumental in the Australian Schoolboys' thrashing of the Great Britain Community Lions in the two-Test series which saw the home side rack up 126 points against the touring English.

Showcasing the bullocking strength and off-loading skills that saw him picked for the prestigious side, the 17-year-old imposed himself on the Lions' pack to help the home side's backline cut Great Britain to shreds, with the Kangaroos scoring 66 unanswered points at Canberra Stadium in the first clash.

It continued to rain points in the second Test, as the Great Britain side had one eye on the plane home as they reached the end of their month-long tour of Australia, with the home side disposing of an improved Lions side 60-18.

Australian coach Brendan Barlow said he was impressed by what Groat brought to the side in the lop-sided results, saying he could see the 110kg prop making an impact at Toyota Cup level in the next few years.

"The score in the second game wasn't an indication of the game, they improved from the first game, but we probably just outclassed the opposition, and we won pretty convincingly in the first match," Barlow said.

Despite playing the equivalent of England's B side in the form of the Community Lions, Barlow did not take anything away from Groat's or any other players performance in what were still classified as sanctioned Test matches.

"Whoever the opposition was there was no difference in the level of skill in our side, the guys went through the same selection process to the players 20 years ago," he said.

Despite many of his teammates reaping the benefits from his hard