Rugby: Skipper 'gutted' as the Baby Blacks fail to fire semi shot

Vilimoni Koroi is dejected after yesterday's loss. Photo / Photosport

The French Under-20 side have shown their senior team how to beat New Zealand following a dominant display over the Baby Blacks in the semifinals at the Junior World Championship.

New Zealand went into the game as six-time winners of the tournament as well as defending champions but failed to fire a shot in their 16-7 defeat.

France will play England in Monday's final while the Baby Blacks will face South Africa in the bronze medal game. It will be France's first appearance in the Under-20 championship final while England are three-time winners of the event.

The French scrum dominated throughout the encounter with prop Demba Bamba and No8 Jordan Joseph standout performers.

New Zealand were the heavy favourites going into the semifinal in Perpignan, having scored 19 tries and conceding just three during pool play but amazingly they failed to breach the French 22m until the final quarter of the game.

The last time to two sides clashed was at the same stage in last year's tournament when New Zealand won 39-26.

France held a 3-0 halftime lead before crossing for the only try of the game shortly after halftime when Romain Ntamack, son of French great Emile Ntamack, scored.

Louis Carbonel converted the Ntamack try and added two further penalties in the second half to extend the lead to 16-0.

New Zealand finally crossed in the 70th minute when first-five Harry Plummer scored in the left-hand corner before converting his own try.

Minutes later New Zealand looked set for a second before a fumble close to the line squandered a chance with numbers out wide.

French then held on in the closing stages to secure a famous win at this level.

"I'm immensely gutted at the result. But I'm very far from disappointed with the lads. My lads played with a lot of heart and a lot of pride," said New Zealand skipper Tom Christie.

"I think we were unlucky sometimes and, yes, some of our mistakes were at times our errors but I can't fault my boys. They [France] are an amazing outfit and when you make mistakes they will punish you."