2018 New Zealand U20s

[Stargazer]

Great break from Xavier Roe; equally good off-load; Faingaanuku scores in the corner! 4 minutes played.

Trask again can't convert: 10 - 0.

[Stargazer]

This is the Japanese squad (15 - 1): Kyohei Yamasawa, Halatoa Vailea, Siosaia Fifita, Yuto Mori, Koga Nezuka, Hiroto Mamada, Shinobu Fujiwara; Asipeli Moala, Hisanobu Okayama, Kai Yamamoto, Ryuga Hashimoto, Kanji Shimokawa, Gakuto Ishida, Miyu Arai, Yusuke Yamada.

Reserves: Yuichiro Taniguchi, Ryunosuke Momoji, Rento Tsukayama, Kaito Aibe, Shota Fukui, Atora Hondo, Yu Saruta, Yoshiyuki Koga.

Some Pacific names in that squad.

[Stargazer]

Nice team try from Koroi. Ten minutes played. Trask converts: 17 - 0 NZ.

[Stargazer]

Stats after 14 minutes:

Tackles made:
15 by both teams

Tackles missed:
1 NZ
15 Japan

That will be more now. Spowart dots down after a pass from Roe after the line-out. Unfortunately, the pass was forward, so the try is correctly disallowed. 15 minutes gone.

[Stargazer]

Great finish from Leicester Faingaanuku after an equally good break from Roe. Trask adds the extras: 24 - 0 NZ after 20 minutes.

[Stargazer]

Wow, what an awesome coast-to-coast try from Bailyn Sullivan! Best try thus far. Should add that Japan's defence is awful.

Very good kick from Trask: 31 - 0 after 22 minutes. This is going to be a massacre. As expected, against the weakest opponent in the tournament.

[Stargazer]

Japan's no. 8, Asipeli Moala, dots the ball down, but the "try" is disallowed. He was offside. 28 minutes gone. Still 31 - 0 NZ

[Stargazer]

Try Tom Christie? Looked held up by Yuto Mori, but try awarded. Trask converts the try. 38 - 0 NZ. One minute to go in the first half.

[Stargazer]

Half time: NZ 38 - 0 Japan (6 tries to nil)

Faingaanuku, Roe and Tucker are my picks of the first half. Sotutu has been disappointing. Hands like Brad Shields; workrate not good enough.

[98blueandgold]

Defence and set piece highlights of nz first half. Agree about Sotutu, Flanders far better option

[Stargazer]

In the mean time, Xavier Roe has scored a try; not converted by Trask. 43 - 0 to NZ after 45 minutes.

[Stargazer]

Roe taken out in the air? Not penalised.

[Stargazer]

Willie Lose should stop talking up Koroi. He does good things, but also stuffs things up. He's not better than the rest.

[98blueandgold]

@stargazer noticed in 2nd try he got smacked in head. If that was nz wld be yellow card for sure, even if tried scored

[Stargazer]

@98blueandgold Yes, the refs have been missing a few high shots and other offending. Not sure that "tackling below the nipple line" has been followed.

Riedlinger-Kapa has replaced Tucker.

[Stargazer]

Try Akau'ola-Laula! Diving over after a good scrum close to Japan's try line.

Trask converts: 50 - 0 to NZ after 53 minutes.

Scott Gregory has come on for Koroi; Plummer replaces Proctor.

[Stargazer]

Awesome try from Spowart, after a great pass from - I think - Plummer?

Try converted. 57 - 0 after 60 minutes.

More replacements coming up.

[Stargazer]

Another try by Spowart, but after great work from Faingaanuku and Christie. Trask can't convert: 62 - 0 NZ after 61 minutes.

Asi, Cobb, Tremain and Renton have come on the field.

[Stargazer]

Numia, Mafileo, Christie and Roe have gone off.

[Stargazer]

Try Trask after a kick-through from Sullivan? TMO checking the grounding.