A game of 2 great halves.

Today saw a classic example of 2 halves, up 40 to zip at half time the Junior All Blacks got a fright as the Japanese charged back at them.

Right from the moment the Junior All Blacks team bus rolled up to Churchill Park, a bunch of men wearing headphones jumped off in a confident mood. They look like rock stars with tattoos and they played like legends in an explosive first 40 minutes. This play injected talent galore into the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup & all watching saw world class rugby.

In sunny conditions is front of a jovial Fijian crowd the points started early and kept on coming. The JABs showed irresistible form in the first half, scoring six unanswered tries. Victor Vito showed more toe than a roman sandal as he bolted 40 meters to get the show on the road. This rocked and shocked the Japanese and they were guilty of looking at, not tackling the muscular NZ team as they ran past.

After Mr Vito started them off, more tries for Gear, Colin Slade, Craig Clarke and Sione Lauaki followed before they walked into the sheds for the break. Looking up at the scoreboard and seeing 40-0 looked ominous, cricket score predictions started to flow around the grounds and after the first 40 there was no reason why not.

Whatever JK -John Kirwan said to his men at the break worked a treat. Out ran a band of men that had belief, they fired into anyone in black that moved and things started to go their way. In the pile up collisions called rucks, the pill all of a sudden started falling on their side. The runners off the ruck went straight, at times they got smashed into reverse, but the team scrambled to back them up and keep valuable possession. Their effort was immense and the rewards soon followed.

The Japanese won the second spell 21-12, in the process they scored three stunning tries & converted them. Hitoshi Ono, Jack Tarranta and Koji Taira all got that wonderful feeling of getting over the white line for try time. The local crowd adored them more and more with every burst, this lift was a boost they repaid with more guts shown on the pitch.

Wing Hosea Gear maintained his sublime form, scoring two tries today has taken his personal tally to five for the tournament, the leading mark. He looks very calm, he swoops on the chances that come his way and this kind of spark should see him get promotion to the next level.

Japans gallant fight back was extinguished with a patient NZ side, using the full width of the ground they drew men and strolled in on the wings to secure the win. The heart rate of the NZ coaching staff would have registered some alarming levels with what Japan did today, after coasting at 40; they should have gone for the closure with style. In the end they were challenged, tested and made to make decisions under pressure. It showed a brief glimpse, or hope that they are beatable. If you can keep the ball, pressure them and play smart you can rack up the points, Japan showed the way and got a lot of respect in the process today.

In the team huddle at full time Coach John Kirwan expressed to his team how proud he was of them, he said “Boys you just have to believe, I have so much belief in this team and if you play like you did in the second half we will beat Tonga and Fiji.”