There will be a mini Crunch for the final of the World Rugby U20s Championship on Sunday as Under-20s Six Nations champions France take on England in Béziers.
The two teams who battled it out for the Championship three months ago will go head-to-head once more, as England seek their fourth title at this level while Les Bleuets go in search of their first.
While the French won the Under-20s Six Nations, it was England who came out victorious in the meeting between the two sides, winning 22-6, coincidentally on the same ground that the final will be played at 6pm (BST).
On that occasion England coped with the conditions better than their hosts, and claimed victory thanks to 17 points from the boot of Tom Hardwick, at fly-half that day, but used at inside centre for much of this tournament.
Despite the memory of that encounter, France forwards coach Eric Dasalmartini has warned his players not to think of this match as a chance for revenge.
He said: “They are two very different competitions with different squads. We’re not in the same mindset as during the Six Nations, it’s the end of a saga, our adventure, that’s why it’s a unique match and not a chance at revenge.”
England came through their hardest test to date to reach the final, holding on to beat South Africa 32-31 in the semi-finals having qualified as top seeds from the group stages.
With Harlequins’ Marcus Smith at fly-half and Sale Sharks’ Ben Curry captaining from the back row, they have two players with extensive top-flight experience, something France can also claim as an asset.
Les Bleuets will be hoping that fly-half Louis Carbonel recovers from a knock he picked up late against New Zealand, whom France beat 16-7, with his combination with Romain Ntamack having flourished in the last two games.
France will also look to Cameron Woki and skipper Arthur Coville, who have been regulars for Bordeaux-Bègles and Stade Français respectively this season.
Earlier in the day Italy will look to consolidate a strong campaign against Wales, having beaten the Welsh for the first time at this level in March.
The Azzurrini narrowly missed out on a semi-final spot, and then were beaten by Australia in their play-off clash, despite a fine hat-trick from winger Giovanni D’Onofrio.
They will now take on Wales, whom they beat 18-7 in Colwyn Bay during the Under-20s Six Nations, to try to secure seventh place which would be their best-ever result at this level.
Wales opened their campaign with a good win over Australia, but they struggled in their play-off clash with Argentina, going down 39-15.
Elsewhere, Scotland take on Georgia in the battle for ninth spot, while Ireland will face Japan in the 11th place play-off with the losers dropping into next year’s World Rugby U20s Trophy.
