New Zealand started their defence of the Oceania U20s Championship with a comprehensive 63-3 win over Fiji on Friday night at Bond University on the Gold Coast.
The Kiwis were measured throughout the 80 minutes but set up their big win with four tries in the first half and near flawless kicking display from their young flyhallf Tiaan Falcon.
They were helped in that first stanza by a solid breeze at their backs and Falcon was able to makes the most of that with his kicking out of hand and off the tee.
Falcon ended up with 23 points off the boot while fullback Will Jordan notched up a hat-trick of tries.
The Kiwis were dominant at the breakdown throughout and got plenty of metres from their No.6 Dalton Papalii and No.8 and skipper Luke Jacobson.
Opensider Tom Christie was another solid contributor and managed to get over for two tries in the second half.
RESULT
Oceania U20s Championship
New Zealand 63
Tries: Jordan 3, Christie 2, Sauni, Papalii Leger
Cons: Falcon 7, Mateo
Pens: Falcon 3
Fiji 3
Pen: 1
TEAM
New Zealand Under 20 team to face Fiji
1. Harrison Allan - Canterbury
2.JP Sauni - Auckland
3.Ryan Coxon - Waikato
4.Jacob Pierce - Auckland
5.Sam Slade - Auckland
6.Dalton Papalii (VC) - Auckland
7.Tom Christie - Canterbury
8.Luke Jacobson (C) - Waikato
9.Kemara Hauiti Parapara - Wellington
10. Tiaan Falcon - Hawke’s Bay
11.Jona Nareki - Otago
12. Orbyn Leger - Counties Manukau
13. Tamati Tua - Northland
14.Tima Faingaanuku - Tasman
15.Will Jordan - Tasman
Replacements
16. Asafo Aumua - Wellington
17.Tim Farrell - Hawke’s Bay
18. Pouri Rakete-Stones - Hawke’s Bay
19. Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington
20.Adrian Choat - Auckland
21.Carlos Price - Wellington
22. Ciarahn Matoe - Taranaki
23.Caleb Clarke - Auckland
COMING UP
2017 Oceania Rugby U20s Championship
Round 2, Tuesday May 2
New Zealand vs Samoa, 3pm AEST
Australia vs Fiji, 5pm AEST
Round 3, Saturday May 6
Samoa vs Fiji, 5pm AEST
Australia v New Zealand 7pm AEST
