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Australian under-19 squad on course for rugby title defense

Australia downed France 30-11 and stayed on course to retain the world under-19 rugby championship on Friday, while New Zealand wore out England 34-13.

In Tuesday's semi-finals, Australia will meet South Africa, and New Zealand faces Wales 12 days after winning their tournament-opening match 37-14.

Australia rallied against France to even the score on kicks at 6-6, and poked ahead for the first time five minutes after halftime when winger Blair Connor scored the first of three successive Australian tries. Fellow winger Alfi Mafi followed, then Connor's second.

Raphael Olive's try capped a fine surge for France but Peter Betham's touchdown gave Australia the last say.

England's effort in defense to limit New Zealand to a 10-3 lead by halftime was telling in the second, when New Zealand broke open the match with 24 points and four more tries, often involving scrumhalf Wayne Ngaluafe and flyhalf Daniel Kirkpatrick.

South Africa's pack strangled the life from Ireland's to set up a comfortable 31-5 victory. South Africa led 21-0 before the host got on the board, ensuring the Africans will fare better than last year when they were eighth in defense of the 2005 championship.

Wales carved up Argentina 29-0 with a mix of forward execution and backline smarts. Lineouts launched both first-half tries for flyhalf Gareth Owen and flanker Nic Cudd. Leigh Halfpenny crossed minutes after halftime, and fellow winger Jimmy Norris' bonus-point try at the death sealed Wales spot in the last four.

"We thought we might be a surprise package before the tournament but we haven't really shown that until now," Wales assistant coach Gruff Rees said.

Fiji won its first match at Scotland's expense, 25-23, and Samoa was too good for Japan by 28-12.
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