Baby Blacks see off Australian challenge

A fast and furious second half enabled New Zealand to continue their unbeaten run in the IRB Junior World Championships with a 37-7 win over Australia on Thursday.

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Scoring 17 points in a 22 minute period proved to be the difference for the 'Baby Blacks', who will face England in the final of the premier age-grade rugby championship.

New Zealand's hopes of securing their 19th straight win and fourth consecutive IRB Junior World Championship final looked nervy early when Australia dotted down through their fullback Isaac Morohan to score the first points of the game.

But as the team has done so often before they dug deep and found a way through the Australian defence which looked solid in the opening stages.

They scored from a Peter Saili try, which Auckland first five-eighths Gareth Anscombe converted to level the scores.

Anscombe converted two penalties to give them the lead heading into the half time break. It was a fair scoreline for both sides as errors began to come through into the games of both sides by the end of the first 40 minutes.

New Zealand scored again 15 minutes into the second half through winger Charles Piutau, and when Anscombe converted the try the scoreline blew out to 20-7.

Then the floodgates opened, as Anscombe showed his quick thinking with a kick through from a poor pass from Australia's halfback to score under the posts. He converted his own try, and with an earlier penalty scored 10 points in seven minutes for his side.

A try to substitute halfback Brad Weber with just minutes remaining sealed a dominant win for the New Zealand side looking all the more dangerous as the tournament progresses.

New Zealand 37 (Peter Saili, Charles Piutau, Gareth Anscombe, Brad Weber tries; Gareth Anscombe 4 cons, 2 pens) Australia: 7 (Isaac Morohan; Ben Volavola).

HT: 13-7.