Junior All Blacks down plucky Tonga

Hooker Cory Fynn drives towards the goaline. David Fairey / Getty Images

Junior All Blacks 38 Tonga 10

The Junior All Blacks have won the inaugural Pacific Five Nations rugby tournament after beating a resilient Tonga 38-10 in New Plymouth tonight.

The Junior All Blacks posted their third win from as many matches to clinch the title ahead of their final outing against Japan in Dunedin next Saturday.

First five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth scored two tries in his 21-point haul at Yarrow Stadium where Samoa earlier thumped Japan 53-9.

The Junior All Blacks were rampant in their 56-12 win over Samoa last week, but they encountered a tougher Pacific island outfit today.

Throughout the match the Tongan forwards matched their opponents in all facets and were solid in the set pieces.

Tongan flanker and skipper Nili Latu was a constant menace, competing vigorously in the rucks to create numerous turnovers, but it was the superior class of the Junior All Blacks backline which provided the difference.

The deft stepping of centre Anthony Tuitavake, his North Harbour teammate and wing Viliame Waqaseduadua and the speed of fullback Sosene Anesi saw them punch holes through the Tongan defence.

Second five-eighth Tamati Ellison was an able distributor and ensured his potent backline was well supplied as they constantly attacked out wide.

The Junior All Blacks never surrendered the lead after Tuitavake scored a try in the seventh minute, but Tonga kept battering away at their more experienced opposition.

The scoreline was inflated late in the match when Stephen Donald's grubber kick was latched on to by fellow replacement Cameron McIntyre in the in-goal area.

"We actually let them play their game. They were physical and hard and we knew they would come at us," Junior All Blacks captain Corey Flynn said.

"A couple of times we were a little standoffish, we wouldn't seal off our ball and the likes of Nili took it to us."

After Tuitavake opened the scoring, veteran winger Caleb Ralph produced a deft kick in the 24th minute which Waqaseduadua collected and beat the cover defence to score in the corner.

The Junior All Blacks led 10-3 following a Pierre Hola penalty for Tonga, then Hola's counterpart Jimmy Gopperth replied for a 13-3 lead.

The Hurricanes pivot was involved again shortly afterwards when he took the ball on a short blindside, but ducked back towards the ruck and launched himself over the pile to score.

His conversion saw the hosts reach the break 20-3 ahead.

A Gopperth penalty after halftime extended that lead, but Tonga then dominated the next phase of play after the forwards again showcased their power.

After a rolling maul was held up over the tryline, Tonga attacked again and tireless Bay of Plenty hooker Aleki Lutui barrelled his way over.

Hola converted to trim the deficit, but the Junior All Blacks' superior class in the backs saw them break out again from within their own half, with Gopperth finishing the movement.

Junior All Blacks 38 (Jimmy Gopperth 2, Anthony Tuitavake, Viliame Waqaseduadua, Cameron McIntyre tries; Gopperth 3 pen, con, McIntyre con)
Tonga 10 (Aleki Lutui try; Pierre Hola pen, con).
HT: 20-3.

- NZPA