Oceania Junior Championship
Aussies, Junior ABs set up Oceania decider
ESPN Staff
May 6, 2015

Australia and New Zealand will face off on Saturday for the Oceania Junior Championship after varying victories on Tuesday on the Gold Coast.

The hosts were made to fight all the way in a 47-31 victory over Japan while New Zealand received the physical test they were after in a bruising 36-14 win over Samoa. It was the effort of the Japanese side that had everyone talking however with Australia only securing the 16-point win after calling on some help from the bench.

"I am relieved we had the patience to eventually win the match," a disappointed Australia coach Andrew Thompson said after the match. "However there were many elements of our performance that were lacklustre that we must rectify. We'll put that win behind us and get back into training. Full credit to Japan who really wanted the win today."

New Zealand coach Scott Robertson was full of praise for Samoa, saying his side struggled to build continuity in the face of the Islanders' aggressive defence.

"Tough sums up. They forced us into errors, they were really aggressive and they got off the line. We couldn't get any continuity or tempo," Robertson said.

"When you play a team like this you have do those micro things around the breakdown really well and the game can flow from there. It was great to have this sort of game before we get to the World Cup. We're really excited (to play Australia). We'll get a new 15 out for us and it gives our players to play for places and to play for a trophy."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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