Junior ABs smash Australia `A:

The Junior All Blacks inflicted Australia A's first defeat in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup with a comprehensive 50-0 victory at Carisbrook Park in Dunedin on Saturday.

In freezing conditions the 'House of Pain' again lived up to its billing as the Kiwis ran in seven tries to take an unassailable lead at the top of the 2007 Pacific Nations Cup with one round still to play.

Fly-half Stephen Donald opened the scoring for New Zealand with a penalty after three minutes.

The game's first try arrived after 10 minutes, when prop John Afoa's turnover at the breakdown led to Donald sprinting the length of the field to score.

Lock Tom Donnelly then took advantage of some porous Australia A defence to score in the corner, with Donald again adding the extras for a 17-0 lead after only 17 minutes.

A try to Sione Lauaki in the 22nd minute and a yellow card to Australia A' prop Nic Henderson minutes later effectively settled the contest inside the first half an hour.

Further tries to Scott Hamilton and Lauaki rounded out an impressive first stanza for the Junior All Blacks, 38-0.

Playing for little more than pride, Australia A managed to halt the Kiwi onslaught in the second half, but powerhouse centre Ma'a Nonu scored his team's sixth try after outpacing the Australia A cover defence to score in the corner after 59 minutes.

Nonu then tore through the Aussies again to set up a try for second-half replacement Daniel Braid three minutes later to complete the rout.

The scorers:

Junior All Blacks:
Tries: Lauaki 2, Donald, Donnelly, Hamilton, Nonu, Braid
Cons: Donald 6
Pens: Donald

Teams:

Junior All Blacks:
15 Cory Jane, 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Ma'a Nonu, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Anthony Tuitavake, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Andrew Ellis, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Marty Holah (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Hoani MacDonald, 3 John Afoa, 2 Derren Witcombe, 1 Clarke Dermody.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Campbell Johnstone, 18 Mose Tuiali'i, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Tane Tu'ipulotu

Australia A:
15 Peter Hewat, 14 Cameron Shepherd, 13 Junior Pelesasa, 12 Ryan Cross, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Sam Norton-Knight, 9 Josh Holmes, 8 David Lyons, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Hugh McMeniman, 5 James Horwill, 4 Alister Campbell (c), 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Troy Takiari, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Jone Tawake, 20 Josh Valentine, 21 Gene Fairbanks, 22 Lachlan Turner.