New Zealand showed just why they are favourites to lift the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship title with a impressive display against Ireland, running in nine tries to triumph 65-10 at Cardiff Arms Park on Wednesday.
The convincing victory sets up a Pool A finale with Argentina at the same venue on Saturday with the winner advancing to the semi-finals with their title dreams still alive irb.com reported.
The New Zealand under-20's were always in control as they combined slick passing and offloading out wide with an abrasive work ethic up front to secure a comfortable win.
Crusader winger Kade Poki scored the first try, while hooker Quentin MacDonald, flanker Luke Braid and Sean Maitland also scored to lead 34-3 at the break
Ireland showed more intensity in the second half and they held plenty of early possession, but when Poki slid over for his second try the game was well and truly over as a contest with New Zealand leading 39-3.
Grayson Hart went over early in the second half as New Zealand threatened to pile on the points, but Ireland to their credit never gave up and finally breached their opponent's line when number 8 Patrick Mallon barged over the line in the 65th minute.
Porter kicked the conversion, but New Zealand had the final say when replacement wing Andre Taylor, who had replaced Poki in the 68th minute, stake his own claim for a starting berth against Argentina with a rapid hat-trick to push his side past the well half century mark.
If New Zealand qualify for the semi-finals of the IRB Junior Rugby World Cup ONE Sport will broadcast it live from 12:20am on Friday the 20th of June.
