Junior ABs cruise to win over Wales

New Zealand cruised unbeaten through pool play at the junior world rugby championship after thumping Wales 43-10 in Santa Fe this morning (NZT).

The two-time defending champion New Zealanders followed wins over Fiji, 44-11, and Samoa, 77-7, with a dominant display against the previously unbeaten Welsh, leading 31-10 at halftime and running in six tries to one.

There were tryscoring doubles to Canterbury fullback Tom Marshall and Wellington winger Julian Savea while the other tries went to Waikato halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Canterbury centre Telusa Veainu.

Canterbury captain and first five-eighth Tyler Bleyendaal kicked a penalty and five conversions in a 13-point return.

Bleyendaal and Kerr-Barlow combined well to cut open the Welsh defence, particularly in the second half, working off a strong platform from the forwards.

Of concern is a hip injury which ended the game early for Savea, who scored a tournament record-equalling four tries against Samoa.

New Zealand's semifinal will be played on Friday morning although their opponents are still to be determined.

Result: New Zealand 43 (Tom Marshall 2, Julian Savea 2, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Telusa Veainu tries; Tyler Bleyendaal pen, 5 con) Wales 10 (Rhys Williams try; Matthew Jarvis pen, con). Halftime: 31-10.

- NZPA