Australia U18s have blown out New Zealand Secondary Schools with a thumping 81-48 win in Canberra.
The future of Australian Rugby shone as bright at Viking Park as the hosts laid ran a point-a-minute over their Trans-Tasman rivals.
Centres Treyvon Pritchard and Cyrus Bloomfield were rampant, carving up the Kiwi defence with a combined five-try haul.
Pritchard, brother of Brumby Kadin, displayed the class that saw the Reds already lock him up on a multi-year development deal, scoring a double and setting up more.
Waratahs prospect Bloomfield crossed for a hat-trick and was everywhere in the win, laying on two assists for good measure, while Heinz Lemoto and Isaac Fonua backed up their 2024 heroics from 2024 in a dominant forwards display.
The Aussies started their 12-try spree with a powerful rolling maul that put them on the NZ goal-line, allowing Levi Slater to power over.
A mistake from the restart from the Kiwis following a Jimmy Taylor penalty was punished when winger Brody Folkes finished beautifully in the corner.
Pritchard then produced a world-class break as the Queenslander stepped and juked several defenders, setting up Lemoto to power over for Australia’s third try in the 16th minute and a 19-3 lead.
Alanai Fakava got the Kiwis back in the game from the rolling maul, which Bloomfield answered following another strong Pritchard carry.
This failed to slow down the visitors, with sensational number eight Rupeni Raviyawa taking the game into his own hands.
The highly-touted prospect scored twice before half-time to reduce the margin to 26-22.
With the game suddenly in the balance, it was the experience of Australia U20 star Nicholas Conway that sparked a run of tries for the hosts.
Conway started and finished a lovely break from inside the 22, riding the contact for a crucial try.
This settled the Aussies, and they went to work, with lock Isaac Fonua picking and going from the ruck to extend the lead.
From here, it was a try fest as a wild passage of play fell the way of the Aussies as Pritchard finally got a try of his own, with Kingsley Uys throwing the final pass.
Marco Miln stopped the run of tries for the Kiwis, capping off his strong afternoon with a try.
It was Pritchard who once again hit back, kicking the loose ball ahead and racing clear, before backing up his pop pass to bring up the half-century.
An excellent try-saver from Brody Folkes kept the Kiwis out but they hit back through Tom Perkins with a rare rolling maul try.
But it was Australia’s day as Bloomfield’s second and third put the result out of question.
Tries to Ed Kasprowicz and Chayse Geros right before the siren saw the Aussies go past a point a minute as they finished with flair.
The two teams will battle again on Saturday, with the Australian Schoolboys also recording a strong win over their Fijian counterparts.
Australia U18 81 (Tries: Bloomfield 3, Pritchard 2, Lemoto, Folkes, Conway, Kasprowicz, Slater, Geros, Fonua; Cons: Mackay 7, Mesritz 2; Pens: Mackay) def New Zealand 48 (Tries: Raviyawa 2, Fakava, Pahulu, Guerin, Perkins, Miln; Cons: Taylor 5; Pens: Taylor)
