Junior All Blacks thrash Queensland

The Junior All Blacks have sent a message to the national selectors.

They have thumped Queensland 48-10 at Ballymore in the first match of their Australian tour, scoring eight tries to two.

Joe Rokocoko challenged his All Black non-selection by picking up a hat-trick, while Scott Hamilton, Stephen Donald, Steven Bates, Corey Flynn and Casey Laulala also crossed over for tries.

Captain Steven Bates says they are out to impress as they are all after a call up to the All Blacks.

One player who certainly stood out was Rokocoko, who looks to be near the top of his game.

Bates says the 23 test veteran made something special happen every time he touched the ball.

Elton Flatley and Steve Kefu dotted down for the Reds, and Bates believes the home team put up more of a fight than the score suggests.

He says it was tight, but they tended to get flurries of tries which blew out the score line.

The New Zealand side led 21-5 at halftime.

The Juniors play Australia A in Canberra on Sunday in the first of two internationals.

- NEWSTALK ZB