The New Zealand under-20 rugby team withstood a stirring challenge from an enterprising England to land their fourth successive junior world championship title with a 33-22 victory in the final in Padova, Italy this morning (NZT).
It took a try to fullback Beauden Barrett six minutes from time to secure the win for the Baby Blacks who were pushed hard by an England side willing to spread the ball and determined to end their unbeaten run in the competition's four-year history.
But Barrett's try and two others to winger Charles Piutau and prop Ben Tameifuna and 18 points from the boot of first five-eighths Gareth Anscombe were enough to earn them the title.
Both sides scored three tries each, but the unerring boot of man of the match Anscombe, who was successful with all seven shots at goal, proved the difference.
England started the better of the two sides, pinning the defending champions deep in their own territory for the opening quarter and were ahead after electric winger Christian Wade avoided halfback TJ Perenara to cross for the opening try in the seventh minute.
It was a struggle for New Zealand to make any headway as England first five-eighths George Ford, at 18 the youngest player at the tournament, kept driving the ball in behind them, using the breeze at their backs to good effect.
But when New Zealand did break out they looked threatening and winger Mitchell Scott was denied a try in the corner before Anscombe got them on the board via a penalty midway through the half.
A break down the sideline from hooker Cody Taylor was finished off by winger Piutau to give the Baby Blacks before Anscombe and Ford traded penalties.
Hawke's Bay prop Tameifuna was driven over by teammates a minute before the break to give New Zealand a 20-10 lead at the interval.
Another Anscombe penalty extended their advantage after the resumption before prop Henry Thomas rumbled down the touchline to score in the corner to give England hope.
Perenara pulled off a try-saving tackle to slip his arms under the flanker Matt Kvesic as he stretched out for the line and then a strong New Zealand drive eased the pressure from the resulting scrum.
Wade's second try after a kick and chase narrowed the gap to a point, and, with England's set-piece dominating, New Zealand's hold on the trophy looked shaky at best.
But another Anscombe penalty extended the lead to four points before Barrett kicked through a pass from Piutau to finally end England's hopes and Anscombe, fittingly, added the conversion.
Coach Mark Anscombe acknowledged his team had beaten a "very good England team" were superior in many areas of the game.
"We showed a lot of will power and heart to keep them out."
- NZPA
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