England dominate second half to win world U-20 rugby final
A dominant second-half performance gave England a 21-13 victory over title-holders France in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship final in wet and chilly Cape Town on Friday.
Turning over just 7-6 ahead, England imposed their authority in the second half and a yellow card to No. 8 Mathis Castro Ferreira on 46 minutes hurt France.
While numerically disadvantaged, France conceded eight points, including a second try for the winners, scored by replacement forward Arthur Green.
His score, coupled with three penalty goals from centre Sam Kerr, stretched a one-point lead to 15 before French full-back Mathis Ferte crossed for a consolation post-hooter try.
It was a fourth victory in 10 finals in the age-limit competition for England, and the first since 2016. France had won the last three editions.
"Our set-piece supremacy gave us momentum in the second half. I lead a super special bunch of guys," England captain and loose forward Finn Carnduff told AFP.
France fly-half and skipper Hugo Reus, who slotted two penalties and a conversion, described the final as "very disappointing".
"We had a good tournament, but not a good final. So many things went wrong for us in the second half tonight."
Kerr kicked three penalties and a conversion from seven shots at goal and the first of two England pushover tries came from lock Joe Bailey.
Record six-time champions New Zealand had to settle for third place this year after a 38-24 play-off win over Ireland in a curtain-raiser to the final.
