Junior All Blacks impressive against Samoa
In the first IRB Pacific 5 Nations match of the weekend the Junior All Blacks maintained their winning start to the competition with a comfortable 56-12 victory over Samoa in Auckland on Friday.
The Junior All Blacks, who will move to the top of the standings after two successive victories (Tonga take on Fiji in the competition's other game tomorrow), scored seven tries to secure maximum points in what was an entertaining match in which both sides played their part to the full.
The stand-out performer for a strong Junior All Blacks side that contained a number of players with Super 14 experience was fly half Jimmy Gopperth, who weighed in with a personal haul of 26 points, scoring his side's sixth try and converting 9 of his 10 attempts at goal.
Despite the comprehensive score, it was Samoa, debuting in the competition, who powered into an early 7-0 lead when scrum half John Senio darted over for a well-taken score.
However, that was as close as the Samoan challenge was to come as the Junior All Blacks got into their stride, displaying an impressive level of skills and attacking flair. A brace of tries by powerful number eight Nick Williams and one for Kevin Senio, older brother of his opposite number John, laid the foundations for a healthy 30-7 half time lead.
Two of the first half scores came as a result of some excellent forward pressure, with Williams scoring his first in the 14th minute after a series of drives close to the Samoa line. Senio's first also came as a result of a solid forward platform, before Williams added his second on the stroke of half time.
The Junior All Blacks started the second period strongly and struck immediately after the interval through prop John Schwalger. Full Back Ben Atiga, fly half Jimmy Gopperth and winger Viliame Wasaseduadua took the Kiwis past the half century.
Samoa, to their credit, did not give up and were rewarded with a try through Number eight Zak Feaunati, who showed quick thinking to run a penalty close to the Junior All Blacks' line.
Samoa will be looking for an improvement against Japan in the first of back-to-back matches in New Plymouth next weekend, while the Junior All Blacks face Tonga in the clash of the round in the same venue.
Tonga leave it late in thrilling encounter
Tonga remain unbeaten in the IRB Pacific 5 Nations competition after coming from behind to beat Fiji 24-23 in a thrilling match in Gosford on Saturday evening.
Trailing 17-23 with just five minutes to go, the game appeared to have slipped away from Tonga. However, in cold and wet conditions the home side rallied one last time before replacement hooker Aleki Lutui crashed over out wide for a try that brought Tonga back to within one point, much to the approval of the 3582 crowd. Pierre Hola's conversion sealed victory for the Tongans.
Neither side allowed the damp conditions to stifle their attacking play with both sets of backs creating opportunities. However, it was the Tongans, with their powerful forward pack and intelligent kicking game, who settled first with Hola slotting over a drop goal just three minutes into the match.
Seremia Bia levelled the scores with a penalty before Fiji forged into the lead after a typically flamboyant back move, started deep inside their own half, was rounded off by Kameli Ratuvou underneath the posts. Bai converted and then added a penalty shortly afterwards to open up a 13-3 lead for the visitors.
Tonga, enjoying the better of the forward exchanges, hit back with two minutes to go until the interval with centre Suka Hufanga capitalising on turn over ball inside the Fijian half. Hola's conversion reduced the deficit to just three points at half time.
Tonga regained the lead early in the second half after Hola's accurate cross-field kick was gathered in the in-goal area by Saracens winger Tevita Vaikona for a well-finished score. Hola's conversion gave the home side a deserved 17-13 lead.
Both coaches made a plethora of substitutions as the game entered the final quarter, and it was Fiji, who were quick to adjust to the changes, who struck with a well executed try by flying sevens winger Mosese Leveitasu.
Bai's conversion, followed by a penalty in the 69th minute seemed to have wrapped up the victory for the visitors, before Latui's try and Hola's conversion secured Tonga's first victory over Fiji since 2003.
The result sets up a mouth-watering Round Three clash against the only other undefeated team in the competition, the Junior All Blacks in New Plymouth on Saturday in the first of a 'double-header' at the Yarrows Stadium as Japan take on the Samoa.
IRB Pacific 5 Nations standings after two rounds
P W D L PF PA PD BP PTS
1 Junior AB 2 2 0 0 91 29 +62 2 10
2 Tonga 2 2 0 0 81 39 +52 1 9
3 Fiji 2 0 0 2 40 59 -19 1 1
4 Japan 1 0 0 1 16 57 -41 0 0
5 Samoa 1 0 0 1 12 56 -44 0 0
