France win hat-trick of Under-20 Rugby World Championship titles

With the senior team bidding to become men's Rugby World Cup winners later this year, Les Bleuets set a fine example for them to follow with, an at times, breathtaking display of running rugby.

Ireland made a good fist of it before the break as they sought to go one better than 2016 when they finished runners-up to England, but France blunted their attacking lineout weapon and scoring opportunities were limited.

By the same token, France were utterly clinical when it mattered, converting 11 entries into the Irish 22 into a half-century of points.

It was Ireland who were on the scoreboard first, though, the U20 Six Nations champions being rewarded for a fast start when scrum-half Fintan Gunne took a quick tap penalty and squirmed through Posolo Tuilagi's legs for an opportunist score in the fourth minute.

However, France quickly served noticed of what they are all about when a brilliant handling move down the left resulted in a try for Mathis Ferté.

Classy centre Paul Costes started the move with an out-the-back offload to winger Léo Drouet, who also managed to get the ball away in contact to find Baptiste Jauneau. The scrum-half, a livewire throughout, sped down the touchline before drawing his man to perfection and delivering the try-scoring pass to Ferté.

Unforced errors and needless penalties stymied Les Bleuets' attempts to strike again, though, and after Hugo Reus slotted a penalty, Ireland reclaimed the lead when centre John Devine hit the line at pace to finish off a crash-ball move.

Sam Prendergast was on the money again with his conversion and Ireland looked set to lead at half-time for the fifth consecutive game of the tournament. But, in the end, they were grateful to be only three points adrift after France reclaimed the lead and then had a try disallowed just before the interval.

Tuilagi played a big part in both incidents, creating just enough space with a big carry that sucked in two defenders in the build-up to prop Lino Julien's try. But he was also responsible for Oscar Jegou's effort being ruled out after the TMO spotted the giant second-row had obstructed an Irish defender.

Having been reduced to 14 men after losing Paddy McCarthy to the sin-bin for collapsing a maul, Ireland were relieved to only trail 17-14.

But France did not allow them any respite at the start of the second half, converting on their first visit to the 22, with Pierre Jouvin getting the try.

Three minutes later France scored again to really set Ireland back on their heels. Showing their brilliance in transition play, Les Bleuets worked the ball into the hands of Nicolas Depoortere, who exploited a weak shoulder in defence, straightened up, and powered his way to the line for his fifth try of the tournament.

With Reus converting both tries, Ireland had conceded 14 points while McCarthy was off the field and by the time he returned, Les Bleuets led 31-14.

Ireland dug in desperately in an attempt to stay in the final but after 25 minutes without scoring, including a rare penalty miss for Hugo Reus, France decided to go through the gears.

Number eight Marko Gazzotti was everywhere and received his third Mastercard Player of the Match award in South Africa and with it the overall Mastercard Player of the Tournament accolade. Dogged defence, brilliant kick-chases, powerful runs and hits ¦ Gazzotti produced the lot, other than a try.

Once Ferté got his second, on 69 minutes, there was no holding France back.

Captain Lenni Nouchi galloped over from 40 metres out after Jegou caught Ireland unawares by picking up at the base and there was still time for Drouet to get in on the act, the winger finishing off another fluent handling move.

With Reus rediscovering his radar and slotting the final two conversions, France brought up a half-century of points in what was a victory for running rugby.