England finish fifth in World Rugby U20 Championship after 45-26 win over Wales

England U20 45 - 26 Wales U20

England came up with a clinical performance as they outplayed Wales with a 45-26 win to seal the fifth place in the World Rugby U20 Championship.

It was total domination from England in the opening 15 minutes where they scored 21 unanswered points to kick-start the proceedings. A converted try from Hodge in the fifth minute was followed by a touchdown from Will Capon in the 10th minute.

Wales were further hampered with Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler sin-binned in the 13th minute that also resulted in a penalty try for England that took their tally to 21 points which became 28 before the break as Joe Heyes also crossed over and Hodge kicked the extras.

Wales showed better response at the start of the second half with back to back tries from Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake to make the scoreline 28-14 and the gap remained the same at the end of the third quarter with Fraser Dingwall and Ed Scragg trading tries.

Any chance of a comeback from Wales was put off with England slotting their sixth try through Ted Hill in the 74th minute as they completed a comfortable win despite Rio Dyer's last minute consolation try for Wales.

England captain Fraser Dingwall said: “It’s important to look back on this tournament and say we have grown. To kick on and get four wins out of five, I think that is a good show.”

Wales captain Dewi Lake said: “I spoke about it before the game we had to come out firing. Any time you go 21 points down to team as good as England, and how clinical they are, it’s hard to come back.”