The Junior All Blacks are highly likely to be crowned the new champions of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

In the third round today, the Junior All Blacks defeated Japan by 52 points to 21. They led 40-nil at the break but Japan produced a good performance in the second half to deny them from recording a huge margin.

The Junior All Blacks now have to beat Tonga in their final game next week to claim the title. New Zealand Maori are the reigning champions but this year they have been replaced by Junior All Blacks.

In the other match today, Samoa beat Tonga by 27-13. Flying Fijians were on bye today.

The next round of games will be played on Saturday at Churchill Park in Lautoka. Fiji will take on Samoa at 3:10pm but before that at 12:10pm Tonga will meet Japan.

A commentary of the Fiji/Samoa match can be heard on our sister station Viti FM.