Rugby: Under-20s cruise into final

Charles Piutau of New Zealand is tackled by Tom Kingston during the IRB Junior World Championship semi match. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand are one step away from winning the under-20 rugby world title for a fourth successive time after clinically dismantling Australia 37-7 in their semifinal in Italy today.

The Baby Blacks' opponents in the final at Stadio Plebescito in Padova on Monday morning (NZT) will be England, who beat France 33-18 in the other semifinal.

The New Zealanders delivered a fiery haka in front of an appreciative, big crowd at Treviso's Stadio Comunale di Monigo but then took a conservative approach in the first half when they opted to grind Australia down by keeping the ball tight.

Australia, who lost last year's final 17-62 to New Zealand in Argentina, chose to send the ball wide at every opportunity and that approach paid dividends in the 13th minute.

The Australian forwards, with openside flanker Michael Hooper getting through a mountain of work, pinned New Zealand deep in defence with a series of rucks before swiftly moving the ball wide for right wing Chris Nasiganiyavi to dart through a hole and dot down for first five-eighth Ben Volavola to convert.

There was no sign of panic, though, from the New Zealanders who stuck to their low-risk gameplan despite having the backline strikepower of players such as Beauden Barrett, Francis Saili, Glen Robertson, Lima Sopoaga, Charles Piutau and Gareth Anscombe to call on.

New Zealand broke a brave Australian defence in the 17th minute when halfback TJ Perenara set his backline off with a quick pass from a midfield ruck.

With fullback Barrett chiming in, Australia were caught short and wing Saili crunched through for a try which Anscombe converted to level the scores.

The leading points scorer of the tournament with 46 before this game, Anscombe slotted the conversion from wide out and then guided home two penalties to give New Zealand a 13-7 lead at halftime.

Skipper and No 8 Luke Whitelock was an outstanding figure in keeping his forwards organised but it was Anscombe who gave his team momentum throughout the 80 minutes with his calm decision making and accurate boot.

After Whitelock had set wing Charles Piutau up for the opening try of the second half, Anscombe slotted a penalty and then pounced on an error by Volavola to score a simple try which he also converted.

With Australia looking unlikely to stage a comeback, New Zealand coach Mark Anscombe rang the changes, giving substitute halfback Mitchell Scott an opportunity to score the side's fourth and final converted try with three minutes remaining.

The final will be the third time in four tournaments that New Zealand and England have faced each other in the title decider.

New Zealand 37 (Francis Saili, Charles Piutau, Gareth Anscombe, Mitchell Scott tries; Anscombe 3 pen, 4 con) Australia 7 (Chris Nasiganiyavi try; Ben Volavola con). Halftime: 13-7.

- NZPA