U-20 World Cup final: France 50-14 Ireland
Three French tries during Gus McCarthy's sin-bin proved crucial, as a powerful Les Bleus displayed their flair in a ruthless second-half display to down Ireland in the World Cup final.
Ireland made the dream start in the fourth minute, showing incredible guts in twice turning down kickable penalties. The latter, Fintan Gunne's quick tap and score through a sea of French bodies, was just reward.
Ireland were straight on the back foot from there, holding up an effort from Nicolas Depoortere, but the defending champions drew level shortly afterwards. Ireland lost a lineout in French territory, and in typical "jouez, jouez" style, they twice offloaded to put Mathis Ferte in under the posts.
Hugo Reus nailed a penalty to put France ahead for the first time at the start of the second quarter, but Ireland bit back against the run of play. Centre John Devine burrowed over and Sam Prendergast converted to make it 14-10 on 33 minutes.
Ruadhan Quinn let the restart drop, however, and prop Lino Julien punished to put the favourites back in front just a minute later. And the task got tougher as opposite number Paddy McCarthy was sin binned.
Ireland rode the storm, with Posolo Tuilagi culpable of a foolish obstruction that cost his side a certain try just before the break. The French won the ball off a restart once more to start the second half, and a rolling maul try from hooker Pierre Jauvin saw them 24-14 ahead.
Outside centre, Depootere, then got on the score sheet, despite justifiable calls for off-feet at a ruck in the build-up. The Irish lineout was a continuing fault all the while.
The 2016 finalists made more headway when McCarthy returned to the fray, but unforced errors prevented Murphy's men from narrowing the 17-point gap.
It was a rather error-strewn latter period, as Ireland dominated the ball but were forced to commit numbers to the rucks. Indeed, it was France looking the more likely to score on the breakaway.
And that they did, capitalising on an overload on the blindside, and Ferte grabbed his second as he bundled over in the corner to seal it at 36-14. Captain and Montpellier backrow Lenni Nouchi and winger Leo Drouet added further gloss as Les Bleus showed their quality to claim the crown once more.
Ireland U20: Henry McErlean; Andrew Osborne, Hugh Gavin, John Devine, James Nicholson; Sam Prendergast, Fintan Gunne; Paddy McCarthy, Gus McCarthy (c), Ronan Foxe; Diarmuid Mangan, Conor O'Tighearnaigh; James McNabney, Ruadhan Quinn, Brian Gleeson.
Subs: 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 (c), Oscar Jegou, Marko Gazzotti.
Subs: Thomas Lacombre, Alexandre Kaddouri, Thomas Duchene, Brent Liufau, Mathis Castro Ferreira, Leo Carbonneau, Arthur Mathiron, Clement Mondinat.
