England win World Rugby U20 Championship title
A 21-13 win secured the title for England.
England won the World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time since 2016 thanks to a 21-13 win over France.
Tries from Joe Bailey and Arthur Green, as well as 11 points from Sean Kerr off the tee secured the victory for Mark Mapletoft’s men, while France’s Hugo Reus added eight points from the boot to Mathis Ferté’s try.
England began well with numerous visits to the French 22, but it was France who opened the scoring with Reus converting a penalty with 10 minutes played.
France looked to have scored the first try of the game eight minutes later but it was disallowed for a knock-on in the buildup.
England’s scrum had already shown signs of its power and won a penalty from the resulting scrum. They kicked long and won another penalty from a strong driving maul, which allowed them to set up again five metres out. Kane James broke away and crossed the line, but was held up to relieve the pressure on France.
The pack continued to dominate and won a penalty on the half hour mark, this time choosing to go for the posts. However, Kerr’s kick rebounded off the upright and kept England scoreless. A second penalty attempt from Kerr just moments later fell short and wide.
Eventually France’s ill-discipline was punished when England kicked to the corner and showed all aspects of their game. A powerful driving maul allowed the backs to work it through the hands to within metres of the line, before the forwards took over and Bailey crashed over to get his side’s first points. Kerr converted and gave his side a 7-3 lead with five minutes left of the half.
France then turned the tables at scrum time and won a penalty that Reus converted on the stroke of half-time to make it 7-6 at the break.
A yellow card for a high tackle by Mathis Castro-Ferreira saw England gain the numerical advantage five minutes into the second half. England then built patiently and won a penalty on the 22, which Kerr slotted for a four-point lead.
Moments later England won the ball in the French half and Ben Waghorn put a deft kick into the corner and forced France to knock on under pressure. From the resulting scrum England had the advantage but didn’t need it as replacement Green powered over. Kerr’s conversion went wide, meaning England led 15-6 with just over 25 minutes left.
Minutes later a late tackle on Ben Coen allowed Kerr to add a further three points from the tee. Back to a full complement, France then looked to hit back, but good rush defence from England forced a forward pass and kept the English line uncrossed.
Another penalty from Kerr put his side 21-6 with 13 minutes left and England held out until the clock went red, when France’s Ferté scored a consolation at the death and Reus converted. However, it was England who celebrated not just a 21-13 win, but also a first Championship title in eight years.
Teams
England
Starting
15. Ioan Jones, 14. Angus Hall, 13. Ben Waghorn, 12. Sean Kerr, 11. Alex Wills, 10. Ben Coen, 9. Ollie Allan, 1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2. Craig Wright, 3. Afolabi Fasogbon, 4. Joe Bailey, 5. Junior Kpoku, 6. Finn Carnduff (c), 7. Henry Pollock, 8. Kane James
Replacements
16. James Isaacs, 17. Cameron Miell, 18. James Halliwell, 19. Olamide Sodeke, 20. Arthur Green, 21. Lucas Friday, 22. Josh Bellamy, 23. Jack Bracken
France
Starting
15. Mathis Ferté, 14. Maxence Biasotto, 13. Fabien Brau-Boirie, 12. Robin Taccola, 11. Xan Mousques, 10. Hugo Reus (c), 9. Léo Carbonneau, 1. Lino Julien, 2. Barnabé Massa, 3. Thomas Duchêne, 4. Charly Gambini, 5. Timothé Mézou, 6. Joé Quere Karaba, 7. Geoffrey Malaterre, 8. Mathis Castro-Ferreira
Replacements
16. Thomas Lacombre, 17. Samuel Jean-Christophe, 18. Thomas Marceline, 19. Charles Kante Samba, 20. Brent Liufau, 21. Sialevailea Tolofua, 22. Mathys Belaubre, 23. Desperes
England's U20 Championship results and fixtures
England 40-21 Argentina
England 48-11 Fiji
South Africa 12-17 England
England 31-20 Ireland
England 21-13 France
