Rugby
ESPN staff 6y

France defeat England to claim maiden World Rugby U20 Championship title

France claimed a maiden World Rugby U20 Championship title after they downed England 33-25 in a thrilling contest.

Contesting their first Championship final, the hosts put on a dominant display with fly-half Louis Carbonel kicking 23 points and inspiring his side to a famous victory.

Les Bleuets took the lead early in the match through a penalty and led throughout the rest of the contest with Cameron Woki's first-half try and Carbonel's boot cancelling out England's Jordan Olowofela's score to take a 14-8 lead into the break.

England fought back in the second, with Olowofela grabbing a second after replacement Joe Heyes touched down for England, but a Adrien Seguret try and Carbonel's continued accuracy with the boot sealed the win.

"We've won the final against England and it's just a dream," said France playmaker Romain Ntamack. "It's been very difficult to believe all through this tournament but this is very good.

"England played a very hard game and are a very good team, we defended a lot but we showed solidarity and we won the match."

England entered their six consecutive U20 Championship final on the hunt for their fourth title, but the result was much different than their 22-6 win over France at the same ground in the 2018 Under-20s Six Nations.

"I'm pretty gutted to be honest," said England captain Ben Curry. "They're a great team and that's why they won it, they took their opportunities.

"We maybe weren't clinical enough and penalties killed us but fair play to the French team, they were the better side.

"To get to the final you've got to play well, we've not performed well in this game but I don't know how many players our age can say they've played in front of 20,000-odd people.

"When it comes to the seniors this is a great experience for the lads and we'll learn from it.

"It's been a really good tournament, not many people spend three weeks away from their club and we'll definitely take it as a learning experience."

The Junior Springboks shocked the Junior All Blacks to seal third place after their forwards powered over New Zealand in the second half to win 40-30.

Using their bigger men, South Africa wore New Zealand down to run in four consecutive tries in the second half to turn around a 14-25 halftime deficit.

New Zealand Under-20s captain Tom Christie said he was gutted with the result but his team had fought all the way.

"It's unfortunate for us but credit to South Africa, they came out physical, they really brought the game to us and that showed on the scoreboard unfortunately," he said.

The lead switched several times in the opening 40 minutes with South Africa finding the chalk early, after wing Tyrone Green picked up a loose pass just a minute into the contest to run 50 metres downfield for the opening try. New Zealand were quick to hit back just minutes later with their own try through halfback Jay Renton.

South Africa scored once more through Sazu Sandi, but New Zealand continued to add to their total after a charge down saw Harry Plummer over the line alongside lock Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa who burst into space for his own try. Plummer added to the lead with a penalty.

South Africa couldn't be held back in the second though, with Green finding the chalk for the opening try of the half before lock Ruan Nortje gave South Africa the lead. Centre Wandisilie Simelane, and flanker Phendulani Buthelezi sealed the deal with two more tries, before New Zealand had the last say of the match, scoring a consolation try through wing Caleb Clarke.

Meanwhile, Australia went one better than their sixth place finish at last year's tournament, with the Junior Wallabies downing Argentina U20s in a comfortable 41-15 victory.

The Australians were in complete control for most of the match, finding the scoreline through Harry Hockings after 10 minutes of unrelenting pressure.

Argentina hit back quickly, though, after a crossfield kick caught the Australians napping and sent Mateo Carreras over the linein the 15th minute.

The Australians continued to work hard and hit back with another five pointer through Efi Maafu, before the Aussies added to their total with a penalty to head into the sheds 17-7 up at halftime.

Argentina were first on the board in the second, through a De La Vega Mendia penalty. But cynical play saw halfback Manuel Nogues sin binned for a deliberate knockdown.

Australia made the most of the undermanned Argentina side, scoring through Tom Ross, before Argentina added to their score with a Santiago Grondona try.

An Isaac Lucas try in the final minutes put the icing on the cake for Australia, ending an otherwise disappointing U20s campaign.

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