PNC - NZ Maori Crowned 2008 Champions

The win means the IRB Pacific Nations Cup stays in New Zealand following the Junior All Blacks consecutive victories in 2006 and 2007.

Australia A had opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a try for rugby league convert Timanu Tahu, the centre slicing through a hole in the Maori defence to reward the home side for a period of prolonged pressure on the visitors’ line.

With the Maoris’ lineout not working well and both sides making errors to waste scoring opportunities, it was not until the last five minutes of the first half that the scoreline changed with two quick tries by the visitors.

First the Maori disrupted an Australia A lineout, turning over the ball before All Black scrum half Piri Weepu flicked the ball out to Tanerau Latimer to spin over for his side’s opening try to level the scores after Weepu’s conversion.

Three minutes later co-captain Liam Messam scythed through the Australia A defence from 30 metres out, slipping inside Tahu and capitalising on Brett Sheehan’s slip to race clear for a try to give New Zealand Maori a somewhat flattering 14-7 half time lead.

Australia A coach Phil Mooney sent on Sam Norton-Knight and Hugh McMeniman – who had flown in from Brisbane after playing in the Wallabies defeat of France the day before – and within 10 minutes two Gerrard penalties had cut the deficit to 14-13.

Gerrard pulled another attempt wide just before the hour, but Australia A did regain the lead in the 65th minute when the ball was swung first one way then the other before Tahu shrugged off poor tackles from Calum Bruce and Tamati Ellison to score his second try. 

The missed conversion left Australia A leading 18-14, an advantage they held until two minutes from time when Ellison dummied to pass outside, slipped Morgan Turinui’s tackle and fed flanker Waldrom inside to score what proved to be the winning try.

New Zealand Maori top the standings with 21 points after five victories in their debut campaign, one more than Australia A with Samoa best of the rest, albeit only on point differential from Fiji with Japan fifth and Tonga sixth.