Samoa defeated Tonga 50-3 in a pre-Rugby World Cup clash in Apia, while Fiji produced a fantastic performance to hold Australia A to a draw 14-14 in Suva.
Stylish Junior All Blacks
The Junior All Blacks rounded-off their 2007 IRB Pacific Nations Cup campaign in style, defeating Japan 51-3 in Tokyo. The newly-crowned champions ran in eight tries to secure a fifth maximum point haul from five matches during the competition.
Played in intermittent rain, the final match of the tournament was a one-sided affair as Japan struggled to contain a Junior All Blacks side playing with confidence and sublime ability
The opening exchanges were fierce as both sides looked to make an early statement at the breakdown. However, the match was not short of entertainment as both sides played with ambition, looking to move the ball despite the weather.
Indeed it was Japan who drew first blood with a fifth minute penalty kick. The lead could have been extended shortly afterwards had it not been for some last-ditch tackling by the visitors.
Having weathered the early storm the Junior All Blacks began to find their attacking feet. A period of sustained pressure on the Japan line lead to the home side being reduced to 14 men after Glen Marsh was sin-binned for killing the ball. Making the most of the numerical advantage, the Junior All Blacks got back on level terms through the boot of Stephen Brett.
With an extra man in the scrum the Junior All Blacks' forwards began to take control of the match and after a scrum against the head the Wyatt Crockett crossed for the opening try of the match. Brett kicked the conversion.
Japan had a chance in the closing stages of the first half after an attempted quick lineout went horribly wrong for the Juniors. The throw went long and landed in the waiting arms of wing Hirotoki Onozawa, who almost crossed for a try.
The Junior All Blacks took complete control of the match after the interval, scoring seven tries in a period of utter control. Tane Tu'ipulotu opened the floodgates before Brett, Anthony Tuitavake, Ma'a Nonu, replacement flyhalf Stephen Donald (twice) and Rudi Wulf all crossed as a brave Japanese defence tired.
Around the hour mark, both coaches rang the changes from the bench and this changed the momentum of the game for the final 20 minutes. Japan had their chances, but in reality the second half belonged to the Juniors as they closed out the game in injury time, bringing up the half century with Donald's second try.
Japan head coach John Kirwan praised his side's first half performance: "At halftime I was happy with the first half. Our line speed and our one-on-one tackling were good. But we just need to learn to play for 80 minutes."
Junior All Blacks captain Daniel Braid noted that the score did not truly reflect what had been a tough match. "The key point was the sin-binning of Glen Marsh. This allowed us to score a try and get ahead at halftime."
Samoa too tough for Tonga
Manu Samoa finished its Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a flourish with a 50-3 victory over Tonga in Apia on Saturday. The victory means that the Samoan's finish third in the final standings, behind champions the Junior All Blacks and Australia A.
Utilising a wealth of possession and the emotion of wing Brian Lima's final appearance at his home ground in his 62nd Test match, the home team made up for the disappointments of earlier matches in the competition.
Generally, through the first two-thirds of the game, it was the control of fly half Loki Crichton that created the platform for Samoan dominance. His stylish break created the try of the game for wing David Lemi.
Crichton's pass found Lemi who spun around to sneak along the sideline as he regained his balance before out-pacing the defence for his try in the 27th minute. It was a classy moment.
Lemi had more of a chance to show his solo skills when storming through on a midfield burst that opened up the Tongan defence on a 40m run to score his second try and bring up the Samoan half-century, six minutes from full time.
Flanker Ulia Ulia and hooker Mahonri Schwalger completed the try scoring in the first half as Samoa moved out to a 29-3 lead.
The lack of Tongan expertise on attack was exemplified in the latter stages of the first half when the side laid siege to the Samoan line, without being able to find any way through some solid defence.
Manu Samoa 50
Tries: Johnston 2, Lemi 2, Ulia, Schwalger, Tuilaga
Con: Crichton 4, Lui 2
Pen: Crichton
Tonga 3
Pen: Hola
HT: 29-3
Fiji and Australia A draw
Fiji and Australia A completed their 2007 IRB Pacific Nations Cup campaign by playing out a 14-14 draw in Suva on Saturday.
Australia A, one of the pre-tournament favourites, appeared to be heading for a shock defeat until Lachlan Turner's late try ensured that the Australian's returned home with a share of the points and a guaranteed second place finish behind the Junior All Blacks in the final standings.
The Australians struggled in the stifling heat in the Fijian capital and trailed 7-3 at half time. Penalty goals from Cameron Shepherd and reserve fullback Clinton Schifcofske gave Australia A a narrow 9-7 lead.
Fiji, showing great improvements over previous PNC performances, made a great start to the match with live wire fullback Norman Ligairi launching a counter-attack in the seventh minute from his own line. His break sent left wing Bolavucu away for his first try, with Waisea Luvenivali adding the extra points for a deserved 7-0 lead.Shepherd, who missed two early penalties, managed to slot his third attempt in the 26th minute to trail 7-3 to keep the Australians in the hunt. It was to be the half time score.
Further penalties to Australia put the visitors ahead 9-7 with 20 minutes to play before an errand pass from Ryan Cross saw Bolavucu pick up the ball and race 75 metres for his second try to put Fiji back in front. Luvenivali added the extras and Fiji were on the verge of a stunning and deserved upset at 14-9.
However, as the match entered its final throws the Fijians tired and a scrum against the head handed Australia A a prime opportunity to attack and Turner was able to bust his way through the tired defence on the blindside to score the visitors first try of the match just two minutes from full-time.
Schifcofske had a chance to win the match but pushed his conversion wide for the sides to share a hard-fought draw.
"Rugby World Cup is drawing near and everyone is fighting for a spot in the final squad so you can see that everyone played well today. I thanked the boys for a good game and even though we need to improve on some areas I'm glad that the boys put on a good fight till the last minute. The rotation of the players was great and now we know where we stand, it will be tough on the selectors to do their job," said Fiji captain Kele Leawere.
Australia A coach Laurie Fisher added: "After last weekend's game, the boys were expected to improve on tackles and we know that Fiji were hurting from the lost against Tonga so we were expecting a good game from them.
"We had to work on our defence, Fiji were tremendous throughout and have really improved, but they'll have to work on their set pieces. - line-outs and scrummaging is very important. They have good athletes and lots of character. Their No.12 kept disrupting our lines, penetrating the line."
Fiji 14 Australia A 14
Referee: Chris Pollock (NZ)
Touch judges: Bryce Lawrence (NZ), Napolioni Locoloco (fjii)
Crowd: 3,500
FIJI: 15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Isoa Neivua, 13 Kameli Ratuvou (Gabiriele Lovobalavu 21-28), 12 Seru Rabeni, 11 Filimone Bolavucu, 10 Waisea Luveniyali (Sisa Waqa 78), 9 Jone
Daunivucu (Mosese Rauluni 52), 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Aca Ratuva (Dale Tonawai 50), 6 Semisi Naevo (yellow card 28-37), 5 Kele Leawere (capt), 4 Ifereimi Rawaqa (Peniasi Tokakece 74), 3 Henry Qiodravu (Apisai Turukawa 73), 2 Sunia Koto (Vereniki Sauturaga 57), 1 Alefoso Yalayalatabua
Coach: Ilivasi Tabua
Tries: Bolavucu (2); Conversions: Luveniyali (2)
AUSTRALIA A: 15 Cameron Shepherd (Sam Norton-Knight 71), 14 Digby Iaone, 13 Junior Pelesasa, 12 Ryan Cross, 11 Lachie Turner (Clinton Schifcofske 52), 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 David Lyons, 7 David Pocock, 6 Hugh McMeniman, 5 James Horwill (Jone Tawake 51), 4 Alister Campbell (capt), 3 Nic Henderson (Gareth Hardy 40), 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Sean Hardman 44), 1 Rodney Blake (Dean Mumm 57)
Coach: Laurie Fisher
Not used: Josh Holmes
Try: Turner; Penalty goals: Shepherd (2), Schifcofske