France win hat-trick of titles as Japan suffer relegation in World Rugby U20 Championship tourney

France have won the World Rugby U20 Championship for a third consecutive tournament, adding to their triumphs in 2018 and 2019 with a 50-14 victory over Ireland in the final at the Athlone Sports Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

Les Bleuets were not perfect but when it really mattered, they put on a show, especially in the second half after an even-handed first half that saw the lead change hands four times.

The game-changing moment came when Paddy McCarthy was sin-binned just before half-time and Les Bleuets capitalised to the tune of 14 points.

Ireland battled bravely to the last but France made it a Bastille Day to remember.

The flamboyant French youngsters turned on the style in the second half to claim a hat-trick of World Rugby U20 Championship titles.

With the senior team bidding to become men’s Rugby World Cup winners later this year, Les Bleuets set a fine example for them to follow with, at times, breathtaking display of running rugby.

Ireland made a good feast of it before the break as they sought to go one better than 2016 when they finished runners-up to England, but France blunted their attacking lineout weapon and scoring opportunities were limited.

By the same token, France were utterly clinical when it mattered, converting 11 entries into the Irish 22 into a half-century of points.

Having been reduced to 14 men after losing McCarthy to the sin-bin for collapsing a maul, Ireland were relieved to only trail 17-14.

But France did not allow them any respite at the start of the second half, converting on their first visit to the 22, with Pierre Jouvin getting the try.

Three minutes later France scored again to really set Ireland back on their heels. With Reus converting both tries, Ireland had conceded 14 points while McCarthy was off the field and by the time he returned, Les Bleuets led 31-14.

Ireland dug in desperately in an attempt to stay in the final but after 25 minutes without scoring, including a rare penalty miss for Hugo Reus, France decided to go through the gears.

Number eight Marko Gazzotti was everywhere and received his third Mastercard Player of the Match award in South Africa and with it the overall Mastercard Player of the Tournament accolade. Dogged defence, brilliant kick-chases, powerful runs and hits, Gazzotti produced the lot, other than a try.

Once Ferté got his second, on 69 minutes, there was no holding France back.

Captain Lenni Nouchi galloped over from 40 metres out after Jegou caught Ireland unawares by picking up at the base and there was still time for Drouet to get in on the act, the winger finishing off another fluent handling move.

Engin Firat coy on Harambee Stars' World Cup chances

With Reus rediscovering his radar and slotting the final two conversions, France brought up a half-century of points in what was a victory for running rugby.

Earlier, South Africa ended their home tournament on a high with a 22-15 win over England in a physical third-place play-off.

In the opening match of the final day, Dewi Passarella scored a hat-trick of tries as Italy beat Japan 45-27 to win the 11th-place play-off and secure their place in next year's U20 Championship as the Japanese were relegated back to the U20 Trophy.

Ons Jabeur - the Tunisian battling her way into tennis history

The fifth-place play-off got play underway at Athlone Sports Stadium in Cape Town, two tries each for Henry O'Donnell and Toby MacPherson helping Australia to a 57-33 win over Wales.

Argentina secured ninth place with a 43-22 defeat of Fiji at Danie Craven Stadium, with the seventh-place play-off wrapping up the action in Stellenbosch as New Zealand finished strongly to beat Georgia 50-26.

Reporting by World Rugby