England lost 30-18 to France in the their last pool game yesterday but they have made it through to the World Rugby U20s Championship semi-finals.
The reigning champions finished best second and will now take on South Africa, who have impressed in their three pool wins, next Monday.
Damian Penaud scored twice in the first half for the French, who will play New Zealand in the other semi-final, but James Chisholm went over just before the break to reduce the gap to 17-8.
Thibault Estorge scored France’s thrid try early in the second half and despite a late where they were awarded a penalty try England had to suffer their first defeat in the competition in two years.