England to meet Wales in JWC final

England will meet Wales in the final of the IRB Junior World Championships on Sunday after they beat New Zealand and South Africa in the semi-finals today.
The final will be the first between two teams from the Northern Hemisphere and guarantees a new name on the winner’s trophy.
Playing against the most successful side in JWC history, England started well using their big ball carriers to cross the gain line and building 12 phases before drawing a penalty in front of the opposition posts.
Exeter Chiefs fly-half Henry Slade slotted the simple kick but the lead was short lived.
A quick lineout from the Baby Blacks was recycled and spread out wide for the loitering hooker Epalahame Faiva to touch down for an uncoverted try.
Slade restored their lead with a penalty before captain Jack Clifford burst through the tackle of New Zealand skipper Ardie Savea and raced clear. The Harlequins No.8 ran 30 metres untouched before offloading to back-row partner Matt Hankin for a scintillating score.
New Zealand appeared flustered by England’s combative style and began to force their attacking play. Outside-centre Jason Emery, the sole representative of the 2012 side, in particular fell afoul of this approach and his loose pass was intercepted by Bath flyer Anthony Watson to sprint in from half way.
A Simon Hickey penalty provided some comfort for the Baby Blacks and cut the deficit to 20-8 at the break.
Exeter University student Slade and Kiwi replacement Jade Te Rure exchanged penalties early on in a second half that sustained the intensity.
New Zealand, buoyed by their bench men, began to make ground more easily and after a series of phases Emery atoned for his earlier error by making the most of some space out wide to bring the lead down to 23-18.
Inspired by captain Savea, brother of All Black winger Julian, the New Zealanders closed the gap to two points thanks to a second Te Rure penalty on 71st minute.
Yet England refused to be denied and imposed their physical dominance with a series of commanding runs that resulted with a close range try from London Irish’s Tom Smallbone. A closing penalty from Slade sealed their first win over New Zealand at age grade level by 33-21.
Earlier, Wales had upset the odds with a last gasp win over the reigning champions South Africa.
A try from winger Ashley Evans was converted by Sam Davies in a thrilling encounter at the Stade de la Rabine that ended 18-17.
The two home nations will now meet at the same stadium to decide who will be crowned the world’s finest.
For England:
Tries: Hankin, Watson, Smallbone
Conversions: Slade 3
Penalties: Slade 4
For New Zealand:
Tries: Faiva, Emery
Penalties: Hickey, Te Rure 2
Conversion: Te Rure
England U20s: Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs); Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Harry Sloan (Harlequins), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors); Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Alex Day (Northampton Saints); Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons); Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby), Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie); Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby), Matt Hankin (Saracens), Jack Clifford (Harlequins, Capt.).
Replacements: Scott Spurling (Saracens), Alec Hepburn (London Wasps), Tom Smallbone (London Irish), Tom Price (Leicester Tigers), David Sisi (Bath Rugby), Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby), Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby), Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers).
New Zealand U20s: Joseph Webber; Lolagi Visinia, Jason Emery, Michael Collins, Fa’asiu Fuatai; Simon Hickey, Tayler Adams; Donald Brighouse, Epalahame Faiva, Sione Mafileo; Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu; Joseph Edwards, Ardie Savea (Capt.), Adam Burn.
Replacements: Nick Grogan, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Christopher Vui, Jordan Manihera, Teihorangi Walden, Sheridan Rangihuna, Jade Te Rure, Boyd Wiggins.
SAM KNIBBS