A solid week's training has paid generous dividends for the New Zealand Under-20 team ahead of next week's IRB Junior World Championship in Auckland.
The squad looked sharp and assured in a surprisingly one-sided romp against the Chiefs Development side at Blake Park yesterday at the end of a nine-day camp based at Mount Maunganui.
The 47-19 win, played out in front of an excellent crowd basking in the autumn sunshine, is a massive confidence boost ahead of their opening match against Samoa in Albany on Monday.
Last Friday the New Zealand Under-20s struggled to impose themselves in a loss to the Blues Development side but there was a dramatic improvement yesterday.
A fired up forward pack, including Bay of Plenty prospect Troy Callander, ripped into the Chiefs from the start, with the first of their seven tries coming in the opening minute.