England makes impressive comebacks to defeat France and book third JWC Final outing – Rugby news
Two-times International Rugby Board (IRB) Junior World Championship (JWC) runners up England under 20s side have secured their third Final’s appearance after they defeated the French under 20s side 33 – 18 on Wednesday, June 22 at Stadio Comunale di Monigo,
Treviso.
England under 20s finished after topping Pool C in the 2011 JWC with 14 points coming from three wins from three matches.
England started the match strongly and was the first to score in the match courtesy of their winger Christian Wade’s second minute try. England failed to capitalise on the conversion and handed France the advantage.
Later, France’s under 20s side enjoyed good play as they scored 10 points in the span of 10 minutes. France equalised with their prop Sebastien Taofifenua’s sixth minute try followed by their centre Jean Pascal Barraque’s conversion. Jean Pascal Barraque
followed with another penalty goal in the 11th minute of the game.
Once the scores were even, England retained ball and territory possession and took control of the game. England’s fly half, George Ford, scored his first penalty of the game in the 13th minute of the match to reduce the lead by just two points.
In next two quarters both teams tried to score but the gridlock endured.
A few minutes before half-time, George Ford was at it again and he scored a try in the 36th minute to take the scorecard to 13 – 10. The score remained the same until the end of the first-half.
France under 20s started the second half strongly and equalised with Barraque’s 45th minute penalty goal. France’s winger, Marvin O'Connor, scored a try in the 50th minute of the game to again put France in the lead. France failed to
score on the conversion at 13 – 18.
England however, recovered and slowly started to control ball possession and gain territory. England denied France from scoring any other points in the game while managing to score 15 points in the remaining two quarters.
England’s fullback, Ben Ransom, scored a try in the 55th minute followed by Ford’s conversion to put England back on top. Ford followed by two successful penalties in the 63rd and 70th minute. England finished the match strongly
courtesy of their number eight Alex Gray’s last minute try followed by Ford’s conversion to take the score to 33 – 18. Ford scored 18 points in the match.
England under 20s will take on the winners of the Australia versus New Zealand encounter. The final of the 2011 JWC will be played on June 26 at Stadio Plebiscito, Padova.
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