Ten days ago, the three-time reigning champions were beaten 27-26 by New Zealand in pool play, but when expectational blindside Joe Quere Karaba strode through the middle of an unguarded ruck and sprinted 25 metres for a try after three minutes, warning signs were ominous.
France scored again in the seventh minute with a breathless break down the left flank. Winger Hoani Bosmorin zoomed inside the 22, passed outside to first-five Hugo Reus who was knocked towards the sideline by opposite Rico Simpson. Reus offloaded mid-air to trailing lock Charly Gambini.
New Zealand enjoyed 62% of possession and 55% of territory throughout but missed 27 of their 57 tackles as they slumped to a 34-14 halftime deficit
The French offloading was mesmerising at times and Reus played a Christophe Lamaison type blinder tormenting the Kiwis with his pin-point kicking; 20 points from the tee and two crosses that directly led to tries. The last was a 'cherry on top' moment to bring up a half century for France.
The French loose forwards were simply better on the day. Strapping No.8 Mathis Castro was unstoppable near the line and when New Zealand hinted at a resurgence it was snuffed out by a Quere Karaba intercept.
New Zealand scrummaged strongly with tighthead prop Josh Smith enjoying a rousing game. The lineout drive was occasionally destructive too. A penalty try from a sturdy push was the source of New Zealand’s first try.
Halfback Dylan Pledger has been consistently good. His 30 metre runaway try when New Zealand trailed 24-7 was a worthy Aaron Smith impersonation
Things threatened to completely derail after halftime when Castro completed his hat-trick in the 45th minute and it became 41-14.
Four minutes later, New Zealand winger Stanely Solomon was sent off for a head to head contact on French halfback Leo Carbonneau.
Carbonneau backchatted the referee and New Zealand scored a try from the ensuing penalty. King Maxwell the finisher is from Gisborne Boys’ High School. Maxwell studies medicine and Health Science at the University of Auckland. The top scholar received the Michael Garner Scholarship to help fundraise his studies.
New Zealand scored again on the hour mark and there was some hope at 41-24 until fullback Mathis Ferte finished the Quere Karaba intercept.
Gambini topped the tackle count with 18 while Quere Karaba had 15. New Zealand’s top tackler was openside Johnny Lee with seven. In the carrying department, New Zealand second-five Xavi Taele led all comers with a dozen.
Remarkably France lost all three of their home Six Nations matches this year and finished third in the championship, their worst display since 2008. However, France is now seeking to equal New Zealand’s record of four consecutive World titles set between 2008 and 2011.
France will play England in the final. The English defeated Ireland 31-20 in the other semifinal. With draws (32-32 & 34-34) in their previous two games, a close contest was expected.
At halftime England only led 22-20, but in the second-half the English pack squeezed Ireland in submission. Sean Kerr scored 21 points while openside Henry Pollock (16 tackles) and three man-of-the-match awards in the Six Nations is one to mark for the future.
New Zealand plays Ireland for third on Saturday at 2:30am NZT.
New Zealand Under 20: 31 (Penalty try, Dyan Pledger, King Maxwell, Aki Tuivailala, Andrew Smith tries; Rico Simpson 3 con) France Under 20: 55 (Joe Quere Karaba, Charly Gambini, Mathis Castro 3, Mathis Ferte, Xan Mousques tries; Hugo Reus 7 con, 2 pen) HT: 14-34