New Zealand lifted the Under 21 World Cup with a 21-10 win over Australia at the Kassam Stadium on Sunday.

New Zealan's Ben Atiga is tackledThe young All Blacks were just two quick and slick for their Antipodean neighbours, and the margin of victory by no means flattered them.

They led 11-0 at the interval, and although Australia did briefly threaten with a fightback at the start of the second period, New Zealand were always in charge.

Right from the first whistle, the Kiwis looked easily the more potent of the two sides.

They took the lead with an unconverted try in the 13th minute, when second row Ross Kennedy showed strength and a neat side-step to go over from ten metres out.

And they stretched their lead to 8-0 in the 25th minute, fly half Stephen Donald slotting a long-range penalty after Aussie scrum half Josh Valentine was sin-binned for killing the ball.

Losing a man was precisely what the rather cynical Australians deserved, as they had conceded a string of penalties in the opening quarter.

Their willingness to commit offences was punished again just before the break.

No sooner had Valentine returned to the pitch, than half-back partner Lachlan MacKay was yellow-carded for going off his feet at the breakdown.

Donald landed the resulting penalty to make it 11-0 at the interval.

The Aussies hit back after the break, however.

In the group games between the two sides, Australia had battled back from 24-0 down to draw 37-37 -- and that fightback must have been preying on New Zealand minds when Mark Gerrard made it 11-3 with a penalty.

Australia suddenly looked dangerous, but the All Blacks soaked up the pressure and restored their 11-point advanteg in the 58th minute with another Donald penalty.

Winger Hayden Pedersen then had a chance to seal it for New Zealand, but he failed to ground the ball from his own chip ahead.

He made amends, however, four minutes from time when he cut a beautiful angle to burst through the Aussie defence and score wide out on the left.

Donald's conversion made it 21-3, and Elia Tuqiri's thrilling score in injury time, converted by Gerrard, was no more than a consolation.

Australia: Gerrard, Tuqiri, Siale (Mitchell 59), Fairbanks (Kefu 80), Hynes, MacKay, Valentine, Waring (Cecere 58), Moore, Shepherdson, Wilson, Caldwell, Elsom (Chapman 32-36, 62), Tomiki (Doherty h-t, Churven 76), Tawake. Sin-bin: Valentine (25-35), MacKay (37-47).

New Zealand: Atiga, Pedersen, Mafi, Tuitupou (Pisi 76), Te Whare (Koonwaiyou 73), Donald, Cowan, Afoa (Tongauiha 70), Pareanga, Fairbrother, Thompson, Kennedy, Kaino, Harding, Waldron (Thomson 69).

RESULTS

Final: New Zealand 21, Australia 10. 3rd place play-off: South Africa 30, Argentina 34. 5th place: Wales 20, France 24. 7th place: England 22, Scotland 33. 9th place: Ireland 24, Italy 19. 11th place: Japan 48, Canada 27.