U20: France Rule

JUNIOR WORLD CUP: For the first time, pour la premiere fois, France are the champions of the Under-20 rugby world.

For the first time France played in the final of World Rugby's World Championship Final - and they won, 33-25 to the great delight of ,most of the 18 000 crowd that packed Stade de la Méditérranée in Béziers on a sunny day with blue skies to match the jerseys of the enthusiastic young Frenchmen.

It was an intense occasion.

South Africa took the bronze medals by beating New Zealand 42-20 in their play.

Ireland staved off relegation by beating Japan 39-33.

Round 5 Results

Ireland vs Japan, 39-33

Georgia vs Scotland, 39-31

Australia vs Argentina, 41-15

Wales vs Italy, 34-17

South Africa vs New Zealand, 42-30

France vs England, 33-25

Final Standings

1. France

2. England

3. South Africa

4. New Zealand

5. Australia

6. Argentina

7. Wales

8. Italy

9. Georgia

10. Scotland

11. Ireland

12. Japan

Match Details

Final: France vs England, 33-25

For the second time this year France disappointed England's championship ambitions.

In the Six Nations, France's better points' difference meant they were first, England second.

England scored three tries to France's two but it was the boot of flyhalf Louis Carbonel that made 21 winning points for France from penalty kicks.

France led throughout, starting the scoring with a penalty goal and leading 14-8 at half-time.

It was a match played with high intensity for 80 minutes. Every tackle was fierce and produced fierce competition.

France scored the first try. From a five-metre line-out, they bashed and then went to tall flank Cameron Woki who scored in the left corner. 11-3 after 27 minutes.

England's second try came after some 23 advancing phases and was scored by left wing Jordan Olowofela in the right corner off a long pass.

Carbonel goaled another four penalties in the second half to take the score to 26-11 with 11 minutes to play. Two of the penalties were at scrums where France had the upperhand.

England scored their second try. Replacement scrumhalf Rory Brand broke and set England on the attack. They bashed at the line and replacement prop Joey Heyes scored close in. 26-18 with 7 minutes to play.

England were penalised. It was kickable but France opted for a five-metre line-out and bashed. they went left and Cornel grubbered through into England's in-goal where replacement centre Adrien Seguret fell on the ball for a try at the posts. 33-18 with five minutes to play.

England did their phases well again and Olowofela. a wonderful wing, scored to make it 33-25 with just a minute to play.

Scorers:

For France:

Tries: Woki, Seguret

Con: Carbonel

Pens: Carbonel 7

For England:

Tries: Olowofela 2, Heyes

Cons: Grayson 2

Pens: Smith 2

Teams

England: 15 Tom Parton, 14 Gabriel Ibitoye, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Tom Hardwick, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Ben White, 8 Josh Basham, 7 Ben Curry (captain), 6 Ted Hill, 5 James Scott, 4 Joel Kpoku, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Henry Walker, 1 Alex Seville

Replacements: 16 Beck Cutting, 17 Ciaran Knight, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Tom Willis, 20 Aaron Hinkley, 21 Rory Brand, 22 James Grayson, 23 Will Butler

France: 15 Clément Laporte, 14 Lucas Tauzin, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Romain N’Tamack, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Arthur Coville (captain), 8 Jordan Joseph, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Antonin Berruyer, 5 Kilian Geraci, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Demba Bamba, 2 Guillaume Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros

Replacements: 16 Maxime Lamothe, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Daniel Brennan, 19 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 20 Charlie Francoz, 21 Jules Gimbert, 22 Adrien Seguret, 23 Arthur Vincent

Referee: Egon Seconds (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Dan Jones (Wales), Damon Murphy (Australia)

Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

Bronze Medal: South Africa vs New Zealand, 40-30

Like their seniors against England the day before the young South Africans came from behind to beat New Zealand convincingly to take third place.

The South Africans scored first, inside two minutes, and then New Zealand scored to level the scores at 7-7, within five minutes of the start of the game. They scored four tries before a perfect diagonal kick to the left, a New Zealand invention, gave Caleb Clarke a run to the posts for a try, which, the conversion missed, ended the match, an intense match.

A yellow card for big wing Bailyn Sullivan did New Zealand's cause no good. He left when the score was 25-14 to New Zealand and returned with the South Africans leading 26-25.

Scorers

For South Africa

Tries: Green 2, Sandi, Nortjé, Simelane, Ntlabakanye

Cons: Lombard 5

For New Zealand:

Tries: Renton, Plummer, Riedlinger-Kapa, Clarke

Cons: Plummer 2.

Pens: Plummer 2

Teams

New Zealand: 15 Ngane Punivai, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Harry Plummer, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Kaleb Trask, 9 Jay Renton, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Tom Christie (captain), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, 4 Laghlan McWannell, 3 Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, 2 Ricky Jackson, 1

Replacements: 16 Flynn Thomas, 17 Sione Asi, 18 Suetena Asomua, 19 John Akau'ola-Laula, 20 Will Tremain, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Scott Gregory, 23 Jamie Spowart

South Africa: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Sihle Njezula, 10 David Coetzer, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Phendulani Buthelezi, 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni

Replacements: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Dian Schoonees, 21 Jack Hart, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Manuel Rass

Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)

Assistant referees: Pali Deluca (Argentina), Vincent Blasco Baque (France)

Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

5/6th Place: Australia vs Argentina, 41-15

The match was much closer than the points suggest as Australia scored two runaway tries, both converted, in the last few minutes.

Scorers:

For Australia:

Tries: Hockings, Lucas, Maafu, Hansen, Ross

Cons: Lonergan 2, Harrison 2, Hockings

Pens: Lonergan 2

For Argentina:

Tries: Grondona, Carreras

Con: De La Vega Mendía

Pen: De La Vega Mendía

Teams

Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Leopoldo Herrera, 13 Juan Pablo Castro, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía, 9 Manuel Nogués, 8 Bautista Pediment, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Joaquín de la Vega (captain), 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Salvador Ochoa, 3 Lucio Sordoni, 2 Leonel Oviedo, 1 Rodrigo Martínez

Replacements: 16 Agustín Milet, 17 Agustín Mansilla, 18 Vivas, 19 Ignacio Gandini, 20 Santiago Ruiz, 21 Gonzalo García, 22 Juan Bautista Daireaux, 23 Pablo Avellaneda

Australia: 15 Lawson Creighton, 14 Matt McTaggert, 13 Semisi Tupou, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Hamish Stewart, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Josh Kemeny, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rory Suttor, 5 Harry Hockings, 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Tom Ross, 2 Efi Maafu, 1 Harry Hoopert,

Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 George Francis, 18 Charlie Hancock, 19 Esei Ha’angana, 20 Pat Tafa, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Isaac Lucas, 23 Will Harrison

Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco (France), Thibault Santamaria (France)

Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

7/8th Place: Wales vs Italy, 34-17

At half-time Wales led 24-7 and there was no doubt who the winner would be.

Italy created their own problems. The ended the first half with two players in the sin bin, Lodovico Manni and Michele Mancini Parri. They were joined in ignominy by Danilo Fischetti in the first minute of the second half. That meant that Italy were down to 12 men.

Scorers

For Wales:

Tries: Conbeer, Davis, Llewellyn, Penalty Try

Cons: Evans 3 (The penalty try is worth seven points.)

Pen: Evans 2

For Italy:

Try: D'Onofrio, Taddia, Romano

Con: Rizzi

Teams

Wales: 15 Joe Goodchild, 14 Corey Baldwin, 13 Ioan Nicholas (captain), 12 Max Llewellyn, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Cai Evans, 9 Harri Morgan, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Lennon Greggains, 5 Max Williams, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Rhys Carre

Replacements: 16 Iestyn Harris, 17 Rhys Davies, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Jack Pope, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Ben Thomas, 23 Dewi Cross

Italy: 15 Michelangelo Biondelli, 14 Alessandro Fusco, 13 Matteo Moscardi, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Giovanni D’Onofrio, 10 Antonio Rizzi, 9 Nicolò Casilio, 8 Antoine Koffi, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Lodovico Manni , 5 Edoardo Iachizzi, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Michele Mancini Parri, 2 Matteo Luccardi, 1 Danilo Fischetti

Replacements: 16 Niccolò Taddia, 17 Guido Romano, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Davide Ruggeri, 21 Luca Crosato, 22 Filippo did Marco, 23 Simone Cornelli

Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Flavien Hourquet (France), Mathieu Noirot (France)

Television match official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)

9/10th Place: Georgia vs Scotland, 39-31

Each team scored five tries. The difference was the boot of Georgia's excellent scrumhalf, Gela Aprasidze.

Scorers

For Georgia:

Tries: Japaridze, Marjanishvili 2, Gigolashvili, Gogichashvili

Cons: Abzhandadze 4

Pens: Abzhandadze 2

For Scotland:

Tries: Smith, Trotter 2, Rowe, Miller

Cons: Chapman 2, Thompson

Teams

Georgia: 15 Beka Mamukashvili, 14 Deme Tapladze, 13 Sandro Svanidze, 12 Lasha Lomidze, 11 Kote Marjanishvili, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Gela Aprasidze, 8 Tornike Jalaghonia, 7 Tengiz Gigolashvili, 6 Beka Saghinadze (captain), 5 Lasha Jaiani, 4 Arsen Machaladze, 3 Luka Japaridze, 2 Levan Papidze, 1 Giorgi Nutsubidze

Replacements: 16 Tengiz Zamtaradze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Lucs Azariashvili, 19 Gia Kharaishvili, 20 Alexander Kalmakhelidze, 21 Luka Dvalishvili, 22 Giorgi Tsiklauri, 23 Temur Tchitchinadze

Scotland: 15 Paddy Dewhirst, 14 Logan Trotter, 13 Cameron Hutchison, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Callum McLelland, 9 Charlie Chapman, 8 Devante Onojaife, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Guy Graham, 5 Marshall Sykes, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 3 Finlay Richardson, 2 Robbie Smith (captain), 1 Ross Dunbar

Replacements: 16 Finlay Scott, 17 Sam Grahamslaw, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Charlie Jupp, 20 James Miller, 21 Charlie Gowling, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Fraser Strachan

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Assistant referees: Pali Deluca (Argentina), Mathieu Noirot (France)

Television match official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)

11/12th place: Ireland vs Japan, 39-33

Japan scored five tries to Ireland's four but the boot of Harry Byrne was enough to save the Irish from relegation.

It was Ireland's only win in five matches, which may have produced a sigh of relief rather than a cheer.

Scorers

For Ireland:

Iries: O'Brien, Stewart, Sheehan, Sylvester

Cons: Byrne 2

Pens: Byrne 5

For Japan:

Tries: Tsukayama, Fifita 2, Vailea 2

Cons: Mori 4

Teams

Japan: 15 Kyohei Yamasawa, 14 Halatoa Vailea, 13 Sioeli Vakalahi, 12 Yuto Mori, 11 Siosaia Fifita, 10 Hiroto Mamada, 9 Atora Hondo, 8 Asipeli Moala, 7 Hisanobu Okayama (captain), 6 Kai Yamamoto, 5 Ryuga Hashimoto, 4 Kanji Shimokawa, 3 Rento Tsukayama, 2 Miyu Arai, 1 Yusuke Yamada

Replacements: 16 Yuichiro Taniguchi, 17 ,Gakuto Ishida 18 Shohei Oyama, 19 Kaito Aibe, 20 Shota Fukui, 21 Shinobu Fujiwara, 22 Itsuki Kodama, 23 Yu Saruta

Ireland: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 James Hume, 13 Sean O'Brien, 12 Peter Sylvester, 11 Tommy O'Brien, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Jonny Stewart, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Matthew Agnew, 6 Jack Daly, 5 Jack Dunne, 4 Cormac Daly, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Jordan Duggan

Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney, 17 Jakub Wojtkowicz, 18 Joe Byrne, 19 Charlie Ryan, 20 Joe Dunleavy, 21 Hugh O'Sullivan, 22 Conor Dean, 23 Tom Roche

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)

Assistant referees: Dan Jones (Wales), Damon Murphy (Australia)

Television match official: Graham Hughes (England

7/8th Place: Wales vs Italy, 24-7

Previous Results

Round 1 Results

New Zealand vs Japan, 67-0

Wales vs Australia 26-21

England vs Argentina, 29-18

Italy vs Scotland, 27-26

South Africa vs Georgia, 33-27

France vs Ireland, 26-25

Round 2 Results

New Zealand vs Wales, 42-10

Australia vs Japan, 54-19

Argentina vs Scotland, 29-13

England vs Italy, 43-5

South Africa vs Ireland, 30-17

France vs Georgia, 24-12

Round 3 Results

New Zealand vs Australia, 27-18

Wales vs Japan, 18-17

England vs Scotland, 35-10

Italy vs Argentina, 30-26

France vs South Africa, 46-29

Georgia vs Ireland, 24-20

Round 4 Results

England vs South Africa, 32-31

France vs New Zealand, 16-7

Australia vs Italy, 44-15

Argentina vs Wales, 39-15

Georgia vs Japan, 24-22

Scotland vs Ireland. 45-29

Winners

2008: New Zealand

2009: New Zealand

2010: New Zealand

2011: New Zealand

2012: South Africa

2013: England

2014: England

2015: New Zealand

2016: England

2017: New Zealand

2018: France