Ireland U20 14-50 France U20
For the third time in a row France have been crowned World Rugby U20 champions, as Ireland's emotional run through this competition came up short in the final.
Just like Ireland’s 2016 world finalists, Richie Murphy’s side will have to settle for a second place at the Junior World Cup, beaten 50-14 by a ruthless Les Bleuets in the final in Cape Town.
Just as they did against England in the semi-final, France were ruthless in the second half as they consistently made Ireland pay for their errors, with some irresistible counter-attacking rugby, scoring five of their seven tries after the break for a dominant victory.
Given how Ireland have progressed through this competition in the face of adversity following the death of Greig Oliver, there will be regrets over how this final played out, as their errors consistently gave France broken-field possession, the kind they thrive off.
Several of those errors came at the lineout, where communication seemed to be an issue between Gus McCarthy and his jumpers, with two French tries coming off the back of turnover at the setpiece.
While there will be regrets over how they allowed France to score, there can be none over how they approached the game. Twice in the opening half they turned down relatively straightforward shots at goal in favour of going for tries, and on both occasions they made it count with scores for Fintan Gunne and John Devine.
The second of those tries, both converted by Sam Prendergast, had seen them move 14-10 ahead on 30 minutes, but having fallen 17-14 behind at half time, the game flipped early in the second half.
With Paddy McCarthy sin-binned, France made their numerical advantage count with a pair of tries from which they never looked back, with three more tries in the final 12 minutes seeing them run up a heavy score.
Having scored a whopping 27 tries in their opening four games, France had come into the decider as a clear favourite, but despite being underdogs, this Irish side weren't going to be travelling home wondering what might have been.
They swung for the fences right from the kickoff; Prendergast turned down a kickable penalty after just over a minute in favour of going into the corner and backing his team to score a try. It proved to be the right call.
Another penalty followed moments later, and it was Gunne who spotted a French defence that was slow to react, taking a quick tap and bursting towards the line for the game's first try, which Prendergast converted to make it 7-0.
It was a perfect start for Ireland, but they soon invited pressure upon themselves.
First, Prendergast’s loose passed forced Osborne to send a kick out on the full, before the Irish defence came up trumps by holding France up over the line.
Shortly after, on 13 minutes, Gleeson pounced on his opposite number Marko Gazzotti to win a penalty, only for Ireland to lose the lineout on halfway.
It proved a costly error. France, who scored 70% of their tries from counter-attacks, moved the ball wide instantly with Paul Costes, before quick hands from Leo Drouet and Baptiste Jauneau allowed Mathis Ferte run in under the posts to score.
Hugo Reus converted, and on 22 minutes he sent France into a 10-7 lead when he tapped over a penalty after an Irish offside.
With few stoppages and two sides looking to play a quick brand of rugby, the first half was flying by, and in the 30th minute Ireland hit back to retake the lead.
Having won a scrum penalty in midfield, Prendergast hammered a kick to the corner, and while Ireland initially made a meal of the lineout, they recovered possession to win another penalty under the posts.
Again, they turned down a simple shot at goal in favour of going for they try, and once again they were vindicated, with Devine finding the gap in France’s defence, after a clever tap-and-go move saw Paddy McCarthy and Ruadhan Quinn bring them close to the line.
Ireland were 14-10 in front after Prendergast’s second conversion, but their lead lasted just three minutes, Lino Julien forcing his way over after a big Tuilagi carry, while Reus again converted to restore the French lead at 17-14.
France could, and probably should have gone in further in front at the break. Paddy McCarthy was sent to the sin-bin two minutes before half time after Ireland dragged down two mauls in quick succession, and while the French did touch down for what looked like a third try shortly after, Oscar Jegou’s score was chalked off by the TMO after obstruction in the build-up.
While Ireland got into half time just 17-14 behind, their hopes of winning a first world title were all but over within five minutes of the restart.
Two quick French tries saw them take advantage of their extra man as they moved out into a 31-14 lead. Hooker Pierre Jouvin grabbed the first of those, touching down at the back of a maul, before Ireland coughed up possession in their own 22 shortly after, allowing Nicolas Depoortere skip inside McErlean to dive over.
The Irish lineout had been an issue, but their scrum was a consistent positive, and when they won a penalty on 50 minutes, another deep kick to touch from Prendergast gave them possession in the 22, but France had enough to weather the storm, winning a penalty after Sam Berman came in the side at a ruck.
As Ireland chased the game, France stayed composed, and they had the chance to extend their lead just after the hour mark when Reus had a penalty 40 metres out, but his radar was off for the first time in the game, as his kick drifted left and wide.
It didn't matter though. Twelve minutes from time another lost lineout from Ireland saw them welcome more pressure, Ferte diving over in the corner for his second and France’s fifth try, ensuring there wouldn’t be a miracle comeback.
On 75 minutes they popped the corks on their victory as captain Lenni Nouchi sprinted clear for another try, and they brought up their half-century with the final play of the game as Drouet’s try under the posts, converted by Reus, sealed the most dominant of world titles.
Ireland U20: Henry McErlean; Andrew Osborne, Hugh Gavin, John Devine, James Nicholson; Sam Prendergast, Fintan Gunne; Paddy McCarthy, Gus McCarthy, Ronan Foxe; Diarmuid Mangan, Conor O'Tighearnaigh; James McNabney, Ruadhan Quinn, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Max Clein, George Hadden, Fiachna Barrett, Charlie Irvine, Evan O'Connell, Oscar Cawley, Matthew Lynch, Sam Berman.
France U20: Mathis Ferte; Leo Drouet, Nicolas Depoortere, Paul Costes, Theo Attissogbe; Hugo Reus, Baptiste Jauneau; Lino Julien, Pierre Jouvin, Zaccharie Affane; Hugo Auradou, Posolo Tuilagi; Lenni Nouchi (capt), Oscar Jegou, Marko Gazzotti.
Replacements: Thomas Lacombre, Kaddouri Alexandre, Thomas Duchene, Brent Liufau, Mathis Castro Ferreira, Leo Carbonneau, Arthur Mathiron, Clement Mondinat.
Referee: Damian Schneider (UAR)
