JWC- NZ win the trans Tasman battle and march into the final.

New Zealand became the first team to reach the final of the IRB TOSHIBA Junior World Championship 2009 when they beat Australia 31-17 at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo.

Wing Zac Guildford and full back Robbie Robinson led the way as the defending champions set up a clash with either England - who they beat in the 2008 final - or South Africa on Sunday.

Guildford scored two tries and Robinson rounded off an impressive display with New Zealand’s fourth as the Baby Blacks bounced back from a 14-7 deficit.

With points always going to be at a premium, both sides tried to get the scoreboard ticking over whenever the opportunity arose.

But with the defences holding firm and both goal kickers struggling with their direction, the only scores of the first 40 minutes came from tries that summed up each team’s strength.

The early exchanges saw the Australian pack have the edge in the loose, while the New Zealand back three looked very dangerous with ball in hand.

From a ruck on the halfway line in the eighth minute, New Zealand went blind and Robinson made a good 30-metre break before offloading to Guildford, who touched down under the posts. Aaron Cruden added the conversion to put his side 7-0 up.

Parity was restored for the Australians in the 19th minute when hooker Damien Fitzpatrick dived under a couple of defenders following a period of sustained pressure close to the New Zealand line - the first try the Baby Blacks had conceded in the Championship.

Richard Kingi’s conversion was the final score of the half, as both teams tackled one another to a standstill. The second half, though, was a far more open affair.

Ben Tapuai made the most of a poor clearance kick from New Zealand scrum half Frae Wilson to open the scoring in the 41st minute as Australia took the lead for the first time.

But the New Zealanders always looked dangerous on the counter and they levelled the scores in the 50th minute. Australia won a turnover on their own line but Matt To’omua’s clearance kick was charged by his opposite number Cruden, and Shaun Treeby dived on the loose ball for the try.

A minute later and New Zealand were back in front. Cruden kicked ahead from the kick off and a stumble by Australia full back Dane Haylett-Petty allowed Guildford to gather the ball and race away for his second try.

Cruden kicked the conversion and was then on target with a penalty in the 55th minute as New Zealand stretched their advantage to 10 points.

Kingi reduced that to seven with a penalty in the 59th minute, but a great try by Robinson, who beat four defenders on his way to the line, ensured it was New Zealand who will play in Sunday’s final.

POST MATCH REACTION

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie: "I am really proud of the boys, it was a big effort against a very good Australian side so we are rapt. I think we applied a fair bit of pressure in the first half and we didn't turn that into points unfortunately, but I think we stressed at half time that we had just got to keep that momentum going and if we could maintain it that pressure would turn into points."

New Zealand captain Aaron Cruden: “I think we played really well throughout the 80 minutes. In the first half we applied a lot of pressure but we weren’t able to turn it into points. As the second half went on we were able to put the pressure into points.

“We really did have to strike back quickly after the scored first [after half time] and that’s exactly what we did. The boys showed a lot of character and we were able to gain a lot of momentum from those two quick tries.

“We talked a lot during the week about the physicality that we needed to bring and I think the boys really fronted. I’m sure there are going to be a few sore bodies, but it’s all worth it if we end up winning this tournament.”

New Zealand try scorer Zac Guildford: “They are our cousins from across the ditch and neither of us wanted to take a step backwards. It was a true test match and both teams played really well.” 

Australia Head Coach David Nucifora: “It’s pretty soul-destroying. Today we weren’t good enough. We made too many mistakes and had a pretty ugly five minute spell after half time. 17 points in five minutes and we didn’t get in a position to dominate them in the second half.

“I thought we didn’t play enough football at times. We could have kept playing and put them under a bit more pressure, but they probably controlled the tackle zone a bit better than us and slowed our ball down a lot.”

Australia captain Damien Fitzpatrick:

"We knew it was going to be a tough game and that is exactly what it was, we came out in the second half thinking we were really in the game, we scored that early try but then it was simply our mistakes that let them run away with it there at the end and the boys are very disappointed, but look we have got to some how try and come over that and finish strong and win our game on Sunday."