England U20s thump Ireland to reach JWC final

England U20s are only 80 minutes away from defending their World crown after thumping Ireland 42-15 in the Junior World Championhip semi-finals in North Harbour today.
Playing with the high-tempo that saw them outplay Australia in the group stages, four first-half tries tore Ireland to pieces to have the game won at the break.
Harry Sloan, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Howard Packman and Tom Woolstencroft all went over while Billy Burns was perfect with the boot slotting the four conversions as well as two penalties to lead 34-3.
With the final clearly on their minds, England took their foot off the pedal in the second half to see Garry Ringrose and Alex Wootton go over for the Irish.
England will now take on 2012 Champions South Africa in the final at Eden Park on Friday after the Baby Boks beat the hosts New Zealand 32-25 in very tight and physical encounter.
Walshe said: “We’re pleased with how we played – particularly in that first half, we challenged the guys to start well and they delivered. Ireland were physical and caused us problems, but we dealt with them well.
“It feels just as special this year as it did last – South Africa will provide a real test for us, but we’re excited – it doesn’t get much bigger.”
The England pack made a big point early on when they steamrolled the Irish scrum against the feed to earn a penalty and see Burns put them on the board.
That soon turned into a 13-0 with Harlequins centre Sloan barging his way over and Burns slotting the conversion and a second penalty.
Ireland eventually woke up and a penalty from Nick McCarthy put them on the board but that was as good as it got as they conceded three more tries before the break.
First, tighthead Paul Hill showed his stepping and offloading skills hands to send his prop partner Hobbs-Awoyemi over the line before Packman made it 27-3 by the half-hour collecting a perfectly weighted cross-field kick from Burns to dive under the posts.
The forwards and Bath hooker Woolstencroft rounded up a stunning first-half grabbing England’s fourth try from the back of a well-worked catch and drive to end the half like it.
With England not as focussed in the second half, Ireland got two tries back through Ringrose and Wootton although London Wasps openside Gus Jones scored his fifth try of the competition for the English while Packman kicked a drop-goal.