Final heartache for young Chiefs

England’s bid to retain their World Rugby Under-20 Championship was ended in the final on Saturday by New Zealand, who edged to a narrow 21-16 victory at Cremona in Italy.

Max Clark got England off to the perfect start with an early try, but a lack of discipline proved costly as the young All Blacks fought back to lead 11-10 at half-time.

Akira Ioane further increased New Zealand’s lead only for Rory Jennings to reduce the deficit, but England ran out of time as they finished strongly without adding to the score.

Exeter Chiefs’ Jack Innard was an unused replacement, while fellow Chiefs prospect Sam Skinner played the final five minutes after coming on from the bench.

Despite the obvious disappointment, England Under-20 head coach Jon Callard could not hide his pride at the efforts of his young charges throughout the tournament.

“I am honoured and privileged to be in a position to be talking about such fine young men,” he said. “They have been a great advert for the game and great ambassadors for their clubs and country. I can’t speak highly enough of them and I know that a lot of them will go on to further honours.

“We were the smallest of margins away from finding the solution there, if it had gone on for another ten minutes we may have snuck it but we couldn’t quite adapt and deliver that one play in the crucial moment that would have made the difference and we will learn from that moving forward.

“We are hugely disappointed with the result of this match but massively pleased with the way the lads have dug in and played some great rugby during the tournament. There is real talent in this group and I’m sure they will be pushing hard for places in the senior side in years to come.

“New Zealand defended well and were aggressive in the tackle. In the end they got the upper hand in the breakdown, they managed to slow us down and prevent quick attack.”

England team v New Zealand

15. Aaron Morris (Saracens)
14. George Perkins (Saracens)
13. Nick Tompkins (Saracens)
12. Max Clark (Bath Rugby)
11. Howard Packman (Northampton Saints)
10. Rory Jennings (Bath Rugby)
9. James Mitchell (Sale Sharks)

1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Rugby)
2. Jack Walker (Yorkshire Carnegie)
3. Paul Hill (Yorkshire Carnegie)
4. Will Witty (Newcastle Falcons)
5. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, capt)
6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton)
7. Will Owen (Leicester Tigers)
8. James Chisholm (Harlequins)

Replacements:

16. Jack Innard (Exeter Chiefs)
17. Sebastian Adeniran-Olule (Harlequins) on for Genge (54 mins)
18. Ciaran Parker (Sale Sharks) on for Hill (78 mins)
19. Kieran Treadwell (Harlequins) on for Witty (54 mins)
20. Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) on for Owen (75 mins)
21. Will Homer (Bath Rugby) on for James Mitchell (50 mins)
22. Lloyd Evans (Gloucester) on for Rory Jennings (71 mins)
23. Piers O’Conor (Wasps) on for Morris (32 mins)