Kiwi skipper in Blue: Sam Tuitupou

The young Kiwis outscored their opponents by two tries to one, with the Australians' only try coming in the last five minutes as they threw everything at the New Zealanders in their last-ditch bid for victory.

New Zealand's tight five controlled the game well at rucks and mauls, making Australia fight for every scrap of possession, although the Australians did scrum well, especially on New Zealand's ball.

Kiwi first five-eighth Stephen Donald, who had crisp service from his scrum-half Jimmy Cowan, made some good decisions from the No.10 position, kicking his side out of trouble when they were on the back foot and into the Australian 22 when they were on the front foot.

Donald also weighed in with 11 points from his boot, taking over as the designated goal-kicker after fullback Ben Atiga had missed two early attempts at goal.

Atiga's first failed kick at goal was from a fairly simple penalty attempt, with his second miss a failed conversion kick after a try in the 15th minute from all-action Kiwi second rower Ross Kennedy.

Kennedy showed good skill from a few metres out to finish a movement that had begun with clean line-out ball, which Donald and his skipper Tuitupou set up in the midfield.

Cowan put Kennedy into a hole on the edge of the Australian 22, with the big Hurricane having enough presence of mind to go inside before powering over the tryline.

Australia suffered more misery just after the 20-minute mark when their scrum-half Josh Valentine was sin-binned for an infringement with New Zealand on attack.

Donald slotted the subsequent penalty to put his team ahead by 8-0, but soon after Valentine's return from the sin bin, his captain and halfback partner Lachlan MacKay was binned for an infringement at the tackle.

Donald again slotted the resulting penalty, putting his side ahead by 11-0 at half-time, while the Australians were unable to get any rhythm at all, mainly because of the two sin-binnings, MacKay's yellow card affecting them the most.

Australian fullback Mark Gerrard, who had missed two first-half penalties, finally put his side on the scoreboard early in the second half, but Donald cancelled that out shortly before the advent of the final quarter, giving his side an 11-3 lead.

New Zealand wing Hayden Pedersen came very close to sealing the win for his side after chasing a kick-ahead into the Australian in-goal area, a knock-on from the Kiwi flyer giving the scrum to the defending side.

The Kiwis upped their level of play in the closing stages, using their pack to drive the ball up, only for some desperate Australian defence to hold them out.

But New Zealand stuck to their task and when Atiga ran back a failed Valentine clearance, the ball was re-cycled quickly, with Donald holding the ball for Pedersen to power through tackles from Gerrard and Jone Tawake en route to the match-sealing try.

Donald converted, putting side ahead by 21-3, with a spectacular late try by Australian wing Elia Tuqiri giving the scoreline some respectability, although the Kiwis should have scored more points.

"We made a lot of unforced errors," admitted New Zealand coach Bryce Woodward. "But I guess it doesn't really make a massive difference. It's a Final, all that matters is who wins.

"We've worked hard for this and I'm delighted for the boys."

Australian skipper Lachlan MacKay was bitterly disappointed after the game, saying: "We just couldn't get going. It was very disappointing, but all credit to New Zealand, they outplayed us on the day."

Man of the match: For Australia, Elia Tuqiri was a handful on attack and powerhouse No.8 Jone Tawake had his moments. For the Kiwis, fullback Ben Atiga ran well from the back and first five-eighth Stephen Donald kicked cleverly. Up front openside flanker Thomas Harding scavenged for possession, lock Ross Kennedy won his line-out ball, with hooker John Pareanga's line-out throwing making his life a lot easier. In the end, Kennedy wins Planet Rugby's vote for his all-action display in the New Zealand second row, winning crucial line-out ball, defending strongly and scoring a superb first-half try.

The scorers:

For New Zealand Under-21:
Tries: Kennedy, Pedersen
Con: Donald
Pens: Donald 3

For Australia Under-21:
Try: Tuqiri
Con: Gerrard
Pen: Gerrard

Yellow card(s): Josh Valentine (Aus U21, 23), Lachlan MacKay (Aus U21, 36)

The teams:

New Zealand U21: 15 Ben Atiga, 14 Hayden Pedersen, 13 Lifeimi Mafi, 12 Sam Tuitupou (captain), 11 Pehi Te Whare (Anthony Koonwaiyou, 65), 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Thomas Harding, 6 Jerome Kaino (Adam Thomson, 60), 5 Ross Kennedy, 4 Kane Thompson, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 John Pareanga, 1 John Afoa (Soane Tonga'uiha, 68).
Unused replacements: 16 Roger Dustow, 18 Kevin O'Neill, 20 Tobias Morland, 21 Tusi Pisi.

Australia U21: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Elia Tuqiri, 13 Chris Siale (Drew Mitchell, 58), 12 Gene Fairbanks, 11 Peter Hynes (Cameron Shepherd, 70), 10 Lachlan MacKay (captain), 9 Josh Valentine (Nicholas Haydon, 78), 8 Jone Tawake, 7 Lei Tomiki (Luke Doherty, 60), 6 Rocky Elsom (Luke Doherty, 31-40, Mitchell Chapman, 60), 5 William Caldwell, 4 Martin Wilson, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Steve Moore (Nick Churven, 72), 1 Peter Waring (Marco Cecere, 70).