New Zealand have claimed a 30-5 victory over Australia to end the young
Wallabies hopes of advancing at the International Rugby Board (IRB) Under-19
World Championships on Sunday.

Australia will now compete for the minor placings in the 12 team Second
Division of the event.

"The set pieces were woeful and we just couldn't get our hands on the ball,"
said coach Scott Wisemantel.

New Zealand outscored the Wallabies by five tries to one and will now meet
the loser of the match between France and South Africa in the semi-finals.

New Zealand enjoyed nearly 70 percent of the possession and the nett result
was that Australia were not able to play their own game.

"We spent most of the game defending and when you do that you can't win
matches, especially when fatigue starts to set in," Wisemantel said.

Australia just could not get their hands on the ball for the large part of
the first half and were punished for their mistakes by a very polished New
Zealand outfit.

Captain Julian Salvi had the chance to give Australia the lead in the second
minute, but his penalty kick drifted wide and from then on the Junior
Wallabies were on the defensive.

New Zealand opened the scoring when left wing James Somerset rounded off a
move that had gone through six phases of play and stretched Australia left
and right.

Six minutes later Australia were unable to secure good ball from a scrum
five metres from their own line and New Zealand flank Serge Lilo poached the
pill from the side of the scrum and dived over for the five-pointer.

In the 19th minute the Australian defence was again stretched allowing
Blacks fullback Luke Devcich to free his hands from a desperate Sam Satui
tackle and score in the corner.

At 15-0 down Australia appeared to be heading for a thrashing but they
continued to grind away and started to gain some possession which stifled
New Zealand's attacking edge.

But on the stroke of halftime loosehead prop Pekahou Cowan was yellow-carded
for killing the ball at a ruck, which saw New Zealand flyhalf William Ripia
slot the kick to give the Blacks an 18-0 lead at the break.

Australia's problems went from bad to worse in the first minute of the
second half when scrumhalf Dominic Fuller also received a yellow card for
using his boot on an opposition player.

But, while they were down to 13-men for eight minutes they never conceded a
point and only when they were back to 15 did New Zealand score their fourth
try.

Lock Jeremy Thrush rounded off a good move to earn a bonus point for his
side which effectively ended Australia's bid for the semi-finals as they
needed top stop New Zealand scoring a bonus point.

With 10 minutes to go the young Wallabies finally had something to cheer
about when Digby Ioane scored a splendid try after latching onto a behind
the back pass from fullback Sam Satui.

But New Zealand rounded out their pool phase with a try to flank
Onosai-Tilolima-Auva'a.

Scorers:
New Zealand 30 (Tries by James Somerset, Serge Lilo, Luke Devcich, Jeremy
Thrush, Onosai Tilolima-Auna'a. One conversion by William Ripia and one
penalty by Ripia. Australia 5 (try by Digby Ioane).

Australia: 15-Sam Satui, 14-Andrew Smith, 13-Anton Lavin (Alexander Peedan -
55th), 12-Lloyd Johansson (vc), 11-Digby Ioane, 10-Matthew Brandon (Scott
Daruda - 55th), 9-Dominic Fuller; 8-Leroy Houston (Demetrious Ainuu - 21st),
7-Carlos Blanco, 6-Julian Salvi (capt), 5-Peter Kimlin (Dylan Sigg - 24th),
4-James Horwill, 3-Aaron Tawera, 2-Geoff Abraham (Sean Fell - 66th),
1-Pekahou Cowan (Tatafu Nau - 35th).

New Zealand: 15-Luke Devcich; 14-Nick Blincoe (Joseph Utiera - 28th),
13-Aaron Bancroft, 12-Seminar Tinera-Manu, 11-James Somerset (Miah Nikora -
62nd), 10-William Ripia, 9-Taniela Moa (Brett Goodin - 52nd); 8-Mikaele
Tuu'u, 7-Serge Lilo (Daniel Crichton - 49th), 6-Kieran Read (Onosai
Tololima-Auva'a - 47th), 5-Michael Paterson, 4- Jeremy Thrush; 3-Travis
Church, 2-Lance Po-Ching (Hikawera Elliot - 48th), 1-Jamie Mckintosh (capt).