Under-20s Six Nations Grand Slam winners Ireland and reigning world champions France will renew their rivalry in the World Rugby U20s Championship final after two stunning semi-final victories.
Ireland were first to book their place in the showpiece, beating hosts South Africa 31-12 before France saw off England 52-31 in Cape Town.
The previous two Under-20s Six Nations meetings between the sides have been decided by two points or fewer and while both of those matches went Ireland’s way, France head into the final as the only team in the competition with a 100% record.
Richie Murphy’s side advanced to their first final since 2016 courtesy of tries from Brian Gleeson, Sam Berman and a double from James Nicholson.
The Six Nations victors withstood immense first-half pressure to take a 7-0 lead into the break when winger Nicholson touched down after a super crossfield pass from Sam Prendergast.
South Africa levelled shortly after the restart when Imad Khan crossed, but there was daylight between the sides after scores from Gleeson and the menacing Nicholson.
Berman all but made sure of victory before Prendergast added an extra three points to ensure Coetzee Le Roux’s late try was little more than a consolation.
France too were on the backfoot for most of the first half against England but a sensational second-half comeback ensured they would have the chance to defend their crown.
England started brightly and assumed an early 17-0 lead thanks to brilliant scores from Sam Harris and Alex Wills before Mathis Ferté and Paul Costes reduced the deficit to just three points.
Chandler Cunningham-South crossed on the stroke of half time to give England a ten-point cushion at the break but that was soon wiped out by some typically brilliant play from Les Bleuets.
A penalty try kickstarted the turnaround following a series of infringements just short of the whitewash which led to replacement Finn Carnduff being shown a yellow card.
Captain Lenni Nouchi then powered his way over to give France the lead for the first time on 54 minutes and they didn’t look back from there as Marko Gazzotti, Oscar Jegou and Hugo Reus all crossed before a last-gasp penalty from the latter carried them past the 50-point mark.
England did leave with something to savour after a fantastic score from Cassius Cleaves and will now look to beat South Africa to bronze on Friday in a repeat of the 2014 final.
Earlier on Sunday, Wales progressed to the fifth-place play-off after ousting Georgia 40-21 and will find Australia for company in their final match in Athlone.
Italy, meanwhile, will contest for 11th spot after a 41-26 defeat to Fiji, with Japan their opponents in the first game of the final day’s action in South Africa.
