Baby Boks crash out of JWC

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Wales and England will meet in the final of the IRB Junior World Championship in Vannes, France on Sunday, June 23.
The final pairing was decided at the Stade de la Rabine on Tuesday after two sensational games in front of an energetic crowd in the north west of France.
Wales provided the upset of the night after they beat reigning champions South Africa 18-17, with out-half Sam Davies slotting a touchline conversion to beat the Junior Boks in the last few minutes after a try by Ashley Evans.

For the first time, an IRB Junior World Championship final will be contested without New Zealand. The Baby Blacks were upset by England's Under 20s after a tough encounter in Vannes, with the English emerging victorious, 33-21. Despite a strong performance by New Zealand in the second half, the English were always in control and will now go onto face their 6 Nations rivals Wales for the trophy on Sunday.

IRB Tournament Director Philippe Bourdarias said: "We saw again today the reason why the IRB Junior World Championship is so popular with Rugby fans around the world - exciting and open, running Rugby."
"It just goes to show how competitive the Game has become at this level over the last few years. It's the first time New Zealand won't take part in a final. Wales and England performed really well and deserve to be competing in the final. It's going to be an extraordinary match on Sunday here in Vannes."

The other matches on Tuesday saw a win for hosts France over Ireland and Argentina beat Australia in the fifth place semi-final. In the seventh place semi-finals, Samoa recorded a famous win over their Pacific rivals Fiji with the last play of the game, and Scotland soundly beat the USA 39-3 in Nantes.

As well as the England-Wales final, New Zealand will place South Africa in the battle for bronze, France will challenge Argentina in the fifth place play-off, Ireland face Australia in the seventh place final, Samoa take on Scotland for ninth and Fiji will play USA in the battle to avoid last place in the tournament.