JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – France matched a record and settled a score as they crushed Ireland 50-14 to win the World Rugby under-20 (U20) Championship at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
The French became only the second team after New Zealand to win the tournament three consecutive times, and they avenged a Six Nations U20 Championship loss in Ireland this year. Losing in Cork cost France the European title, but they are now world champions.
“It was an incredible performance and it will take some time to realise that we are world champions again,” France captain and flanker Lenni Nouchi told AFP on Friday. Ireland skipper and hooker Gus McCarthy admitted that his side “struggled in the line-outs, but I am proud of the boys. All credit to a great French team”.
Ireland led twice in the opening half before France took a 17-14 half-time advantage through a try from prop Lino Julien.
The Irish suffered what proved a huge blow when prop Paddy McCarthy was yellow-carded.
France took advantage of the numerical advantage to score early second-half tries from hooker Pierre Jouvin and centre Nicolas Depoortere with fly-half Hugo Reus converting both.
The defending champions had a 31-14 lead and there was no way back for Ireland, who developed several multi-phase attacks only for France to execute turnovers.
