South Africa were crowned World Champions at under 19 level in Bondoufle after they overcame New Zealand with a stunning performance to win 22-18 in the final.

Captain Paul Delport led from the front with a wonderful opportunist try midway through the first half, and centre Earl Rose kept his nerve to kick the rest of the points.

In the preceding match, played on the same pitch, France the hosts showed their true class to beat Argentina 45-24 in a try feast of a third/fourth play-off.

Wales meanwhile beat Scotland in a tight game 10-6 to finish seventh this year, one above the Scots. Japan overcame Georgia 28-20 in Suresnes to come ninth.

Italy and Russia contested the lowest-scoring match of the championship, a tight 6-3 battle won by Italy to finish eleventh.

In Gennevilliers Korea beat battling Namibia 21-5 to finish thirteenth in pool A, and in the bottom game of the group Romania ran out victorious against Canada 13-3.