Kiwis have no answer to French forward dominance

FRANCE booked their place in a first ever World Rugby U20 Championship final with a stunning victory over holders New Zealand in front of a packed-house in Perpignan.

New Zealand and France entered the semifinals as the best attacking teams and boasting the most offloads between them. But it was defence that dominated this match.

Missed tackles counted against the Kiwis as they frequently found themselves in desprate situations, battling French dominance in territory and possession.

The big French pack was at the heart of this win as tight and loose forwards combined to rampage up the middle and they also enjoyed a dominance at scrum time.

New Zealand, with all their dangers out wide, never got into the French 22 in a serious attacking situation until the 70th minute. By then it was too late.

The only score of the first half was a 30th minute penalty to Louis Carbonel, after France had turned down repeated opportunities to go for goal but been frustrated with their lineout drives in the New Zealand 22.

France blew a golden chance to increase their lead on the stroke of halftime when left wing Matthis Lebel dropped the ball from a cross kick with the line open.

Lebel made amends three minutes into the second half with a good break which set up centre Romain Ntamack to score.

With the conversion New Zealand were 10-0 adrift and things quickly got worse when France monstered New Zealand in a scrum and Carbonel landed his second penalty.

France missed two long-range penalty attempts but Carbonel eventually slotted one on 63 minutes to extend the lead to 16-0.

New Zealand struck in the 70th minute, making the most of their best attacking foray with scrum-half Harry Plummer over in the corner.