IRB U20 World Championships

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Chris York was on the scoresheet for England © Getty Images

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Tournaments/Tours IRB Junior World Championship

Teams Argentina | Australia | England | France | Ireland | Italy | New Zealand | Scotland | South Africa | Wales

England won the opening match of their Junior World Championship 2009 bid by thrashing hosts Japan 43-0 at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium on Friday in Pool B. The hosts - who are entirely made up of students - put in a plucky performance but were outmuscled by their counterparts.

Japan started well against the visitors - who are all professionals- and defended desperately until England opened their account after 14 minutes with flanker Josh Ovens scoring a try after a recycled manoevre.

The visitors went on to score six tries in the pouring rain in front of 9,120 fanatical home fans even though they finished the game with 13-men after prop Joe Marler was sent off for punching an opponent. Marler will now miss the next two games in the competition through suspension. The other try-scorers were Chris York, captain Luke Eves, George Lowe, Carl Fearns and Courtney Lawes.

Japan coach Masahiro Kunda, was pleased with his sides efforts. He said: "Obviously I am disappointed we couldn't win and we couldn't get any points on the board. But I think we played as well as we could. There was just too much of a gap in experience between the two sides."

England coach Mark Mapletoft was also full of praise for the hosts' performance. He said: "If they can show more patience in the attacking third I am sure they can score tries and win games."

England captain Luke Eves was complimentary about the opposition. He said: "Japan were brilliant defensively at times. They made low tackles and made it hard for us to make breaks."

In the earlier kick-off in Pool B Samoa beat Scotland 17-14 in a close fought game with Winston Wilson kicking a dramatic last mintue drop-goal for victory. Alex Dunbar scored the only try for the Scots after 50 minutes, which saw them go 14-7 ahead but they could not hold on and lost out to Wilson's heroics.

In Pool A defending champions New Zealand thrashed Uruguay 75-0 in Nagoya scoring 13 tries. The holders were too quick and powerful for the South Americans who also thrilled the crowd with their traditional pre-match Haka.

In the other match in the group Ireland beat Argentina 16-9 to avenge their loss in the pool stages of last year's tournament. Nevin Spence scored Ireland's try and Ian McKinley scored three penalties and a conversion.

In Pool C tries from twin brothers Sias and Robert Ebersohn helped South Africa defeat Fiji 36-10 in Osaka with France beating Italy 43-13 in the other pool match.

In Pool D Wales ran in six tries to beat Tonga 51-5 at the Best Amenity Stadium, Fukuoka. Captain Justin Tipuric scored two tries while Simon Gardiner, lloyd Williams, Nick Reynolds and Ashley Sweet all scored a touch-down each. In the group's other game Australia scored 14 tries to beat Canada 86-0.

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