Tevita Li runs away to score one of his three tries in the Junior All Blacks' semifinal win over France. Photo / Getty Images
Tevita Li runs away to score one of his three tries in the Junior All Blacks' semifinal win over France. Photo / Getty Images
New Zealand are much closer to that elusive 80-minute performance after dispatching France 45-7 in their World Under 20 Championship semifinal in Calvisano this morning.
A Tevita Li hat-trick, a brace from Akira Ioane, flawless goalkicking by Otere Black, a sterling effort by centre Anton Lienert-Brown, more accuracy at the breakdown and some parsimonious defence highlighted a much sharper allround effort by the young national side and secured safe passage into this Sunday's final.
Their opponents will be two-time defending champions England, who accounted for South Africa 28-20 in the other semifinal.
New Zealand started with more intent after being too profligate early in all of their pool games. But after a penalty goal to first five Otere Black, the old demons resurfaced.
France put the shunt on at scrumtime and scored a well-executed lineout drive try to tighthead prop Clement Costets.
Li hit back, running a nice angle off a superb Lienert-Brown break - one of four tries set up by the centre, who gave his finest attacking display - and New Zealand were away.
But before they could fully exert their dominance, we saw a ridiculous intervention by the TMO, who ruled out a tremendous team try by TJ Faiane due to a marginal high tackle several phases beforehand by Lienert-Brown. It was not the last of this type of interference, as hooker Liam Polwart was later scrutinised for a high tackle, even though the referee had already penalised him for that offence!
New Zealand opted for quick scrum ball, and Ioane ploughed over for his first try at 27 minutes.
Lienert-Brown, with a sweet inside ball, again set by Li for his second. By now the North Harbour flyer had sole possession, superseding Zac Guilford, of the New Zealand tryscoring record at this tournament. He extended that record to 13 before no-side.
Ioane's second score was too easy, just picking up the ball from the base of the ruck and putting a big fend on the lone French defender in his path.
At 31-7 by halftime, the contest was over, and New Zealand were not as clinical in the second spell, if still fully in control. France were able to slow their ball, but it was too little, too late.
Incredibly, Lienert-Brown set up Li for a third try with a chip over the top, with the bounce favouring the flying left wing.
Jack Goodhue, who had tackled solidly all day on the wing, finished off another Lienert-Brown break to put the exclamation point on this New Zealand display.
Akira Ioane of New Zealand holds off Damian Penaud to score. Photo / Getty
Ioane was powerful and prominent in the pack, while the rest of the low numbers were industrious. Black was composed and authoritative with his play, barring one knock-on off a difficult pass, while the midfield of Faiane and Lienert-Brown combined sweetly.
Li is not the first New Zealand wing of Tongan extract to terrorise French defences, and he now has six tries in this tournament to match his seven from 2014. One wonders why he has yet to make a similar impact on Super Rugby with the Blues.
"I'm really proud of the boys. Our forwards worked hard on their analysis and came out on top," said Li.
"I'm just lucky enough to have guys to feed off. I just take the scraps and finish," he said modestly of his new record.
New Zealand is now into their first final since 2012 and their sixth overall, and must rate a strong chance of lifting their fifth world title.
"It feels like a lot of pressure on us, but we want to rise to the occasion. Nothing can get better than finals footy."
New Zealand 45 (Tevita Li 3, Akira Ioane 2, Jack Goodhue tries; Otere Black 6 con, pen) France 7 (Clement Costets try; Thomas Ramos con) Halftime: 31-7
