Joseph inspires France to U20 title with win over England

PARIS: Teenager Jordan Joseph inspired France to a 23-14 victory over three- t ime champions England on Sunday to claim a maiden World Rugby under- 20 Championship title.

Joseph, just 17 and recently signed with Top 14 giants Racing 92, was part of a French pack that outplayed their English counterparts, France’s Toulon fly-half Louis Carbonel kicking 23 points in an exceptional display with the boot for the first- time fi nalists.

“It’s only the under- 20s, but in a few years we hope to do the same thing,” Carbonel said, with France to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

A tearful France skipper Arthur Coville added: “For those people who say the French youth training set- up isn’t in a good place at the moment, it’s simply not the case.”

Carbonel opened the scoring in the fi fth minute, booting a longrange penalty at a packed Stade de la Mediterranee in Beziers which was basking in sunshine.

The England scrum were soon under the cosh, Carbonel hitting his second penalty before Marcus Smith responded.

Carbonel went wide, however, when trying to convert a try from Cameron Woki, on hand to fi nish off some fi ne close- quarter scrambling by Toulouse winger Maxime Marty.

Smith then missed a penalty as England sought a way back into a half in which they dominated possession.

Instead it was Carbonel who turned the screw with a third penalty after England captain Ben Curry infringed.

England did reduce the arrears, however, going through more than 20 phases before a looping Tom Paxton pass found Jordan Olowofela with a chink of space, the winger making no mistake to dot down in the corner. Smith missed the extras to leave it 14- 8 to France at the break. — AFP