ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Thursday Jul 13, 2023

World Rugby U20 Championship Final Preview – Six Nations Powerhouses Collide

The 14th edition of the World Rugby U20 Championship is nearing its conclusion as Six Nations rivals Ireland and France ready themselves for a final battle of epic proportions.

ADVERTISEMENT

Reigning champions, France are gunning for a third consecutive title, whilst Ireland are looking to back up their consecutive Six Nations Grand Slam titles with a world title.

Clearly head and shoulder above the competition this season, there can be no doubt that the two best teams are in the final.

Mirroring the senior international stage, the two sides have led the way in innovation, playing style and professionalism in this championship.

Key Players

France have a squad stacked with players who feature regularly on the professional stage. Yet, the presence of Posolo Tuilagi has been the biggest talking point of the tournament for Les Bleus.

A man amongst boys at 6’4” and 150kg, Posolo the latest member of the iconic Tuilagi family. Following in his father Henry’s footsteps as a hard-hitting forward, Posolo showed his full array of skills as he manhandled the New Zealand pack during the pool stages.

Whilst Posolo has hogged the headlines, scrumhalf Baptiste Jauneau has been sublime. Just as the rugby world were getting used to the fact that Antoine Dupont is leap years ahead of any other scrumhalf. Few would have expected that a potential world-class French nine was already in the making.

For Ireland, three players have stood above the rest in Leinster flyhalf Sam Prendergast and Munster backrow duo Ruadhan Quinn and Brian Gleeson.

ADVERTISEMENT

Long touted as the next great Irish flyhalf, Prendergast is far and away the best playmaker in this year’s competition. His pinpoint kicking game, physicality in defence and silky running has been key feature of the Irish game so far.

In the backrow, the Quinn and Gleeson double act has been a marvel for Irish fans as they have physically overpowered all come throughout the tournament.

Prediction

France enters the clash as favourites given they have won the past two editions of the tournament and have swept all before them so far this year.

Whilst there can be no denying the greatness of Les Bleus, Ireland will hold no fear of their European brethren.
Winning both of their two most recent meetings, Ireland knows they have the firepower to go toe-to-toe with the French physicality.

Key to this will be how Prendergast controls proceedings as the Irish pack should, by and large, gain parity.

ADVERTISEMENT

Should this happen, the Irish backline holds the edge and could well prove to be the difference. With the likes of John Devine, Andrew Osborne and James Nicholson all lethal when given half a chance, the men green have the ability to score points in quick succession.

Throw into the mix the emotional drive of this team, given the tragic incidents that have occurred throughout this tournament, and one gets a feeling fate might be on the Irish side.

This will be a titanic clash and, on paper, has all the makings of an all-time final between arguably the two most professional sides ever to play at this level.

Whilst the two packs will duke it out, Ireland’s panache will see them home. Ireland by five.

Related Articles

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    Andy Farrell responds to Mack Hansen face...

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    Ireland World Cup shirt being mocked by fans...

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    Giant pitch invader leaves fans in stitches...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    South African schoolboy produces the greatest goosey in the sport

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible team try showcases thrills of the grassroots game

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Highlights video shows just why Vakatawa’s return is so highly anticipated

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Individual brilliance as player scores off his own kick off

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Match Report: Australia challenge the All Black HAKA in extraordinary test

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Shocking record set to be broken at this year’s World Cup

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Tom Curry receives ban following red card tackle against Argentina

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Off the ball 'punches' being called out by fans following All Blacks vs Springbok match

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Scott Barrett's World Cup on the rocks following reckless shoulder charge

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Bizarre tackle school video divides viewers

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Shocking record set to be broken at this year’s World Cup

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible team try showcases thrills of the grassroots game

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Dane Coles stunned as he hears news of Steve Hansen joining the Wallabies

  • 6 WEEKS AGO

    Moment of madness leads to incredible Springbok score

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    Highlights video shows just why Vakatawa’s return is so highly anticipated

View All

Funnies

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Irish players prove the work/life balance is possible even at a World Cup

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber offers ice cold response at the press conference

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Stone Cole’d: Dan Cole channels his inner Steve Austin in brilliant behind the scenes action

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Chaos ensues as off-field substitute is caught up in try scoring opportunity

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Springboks set to sing additional song post national anthem in future test matches

View All

Amateur

  • 38 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 38 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 61 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 61 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 61 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 3 HOURS AGO

    Springbok players pay tribute to incredible fans that support them around the world

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Springbok’s reign as world champions in peril as Dupont returns

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Jersey Reds player evicted from own home following club collapse

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Irish players prove the work/life balance is possible even at a World Cup

  • 3 DAYS AGO

    Watch Namibian wingers display incredible speed against Uruguay

View All