Unbeaten Junior All Blacks down host

A four-try first half engineered the Junior All Blacks climb to the top of the Pacific Nations Cup rugby standings as they beat hosts Fiji 45-17 in Lautoka today.

Despite greasy underfoot conditions at Churchill Park both sides sought to play expansively and it was the New Zealanders who displayed superior continuity to improve markedly on their opening round performance in Samoa.

The Junior All Blacks were fortunate to win 17-16 in Apia last week but were far more clinical in their second outing, particularly out wide.

Wing Hosea Gear continued his comeback from a fractured Super 14 campaign with a hat-trick of tries while Ryan Crotty and Anthony Tuitavake were a constant threat in midfield.

A pinpoint cross kick from Stephen Brett, who was added to the squad when Luke McAlister was rushed into the All Blacks, set up Gear's opener in the seventh minute to end a period of early Fijian dominance.

Fiji, who beat Tonga 36-22 in their opening match, then took the lead in the 14th minute.

Alipate Tani's penalty attempt lurched short and wide of the goalposts but Fiji were gifted a 5m scrum when Jason Eaton fluffed the attempted catch.

From a solid platform, Fiji fanned across the field and although the Juniors defence drifted effectively halfback Nemia Kenatale skipped from the base of a ruck down an unpatrolled blindside before rounding behind the goalposts.

Tani had better luck with his conversion but the Juniors were back in control from the restart, Gear handling three times in a sweeping 50m movement that culminated in Tom Donnelly scoring.

The Juniors' next scores came through captain Tamati Ellison and Tuitavake and both were the products of incisive, angled running by a back division well marshalled by Brett.

Tuitavake's try illustrated the Juniors' ruthless streak, as he iced a 50m breakout from turnover ball handled by Rene Ranger and Crotty before the All Blacks utility crossed unopposed.

Leading 24-7 at halftime, the Juniors extended their advantage three minutes into the second spell when Gear forced the ball before driven back.

His power was again evident in the dying minutes when he took two defenders over the line after accepting a neat tap pass from Crotty's replacement Robbie Fruean.

Fiji were locked in catch-up mode after the break and their endeavour was rewarded when No 8 Sakiusa Matadigo and Iliesa Kerasoni scored consolation tries, the latter's while Ellison was in the sinbin for obstruction.

The Junior All Blacks banked the maximum five points to improve to nine points after two matches, three ahead of Samoa. Fiji remain on five.

The Juniors next match is against Japan in Lautoka next Tuesday.