ENGLAND were crowned World Rugby Under 20 champions for the third time in four years after an emphatic 45-21 victory over Ireland at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Martin Haag’s side scored three first half-tries through Joe Marchant, Callum Chick and Worcester Warriors lock Huw Taylor with Harry Mallinder converting all three in a fine first half of rugby to go into the break 21-0 up.

Ireland came back into the game with converted tries from Adam McBurney and Shane Daly but Mallinder crossed twice himself, also kicking two conversions and a penalty.

A second try from Marchant, which Mallinder converted, added further gloss to England's victory despite Ireland's late consolation through Max Deegan.

Warriors hooker Jack Singleton also started for England with club-mate Andrew Kitchener on the replacements bench.

The six-try victory rounded off a memorable day for England following the success of the senior side in sealing a 3-0 series whitewash over Australia.

Head coach Martin Haag said: 'We’ve shown incredible team spirit, which is a key ingredient to any side.

"The performance was outstanding. I thought the way we adapted and turned defence into attack was brilliant.

"We played with high intensity, the first half was superb.

"We still missed some opportunities and in the second period we let them back in but the way the players handled the pressure over the 80 minutes is massive credit to them.

'We’re in a good place, the first-half performance was electric to watch. That’s how these guys want to play - they want to play an exciting brand of rugby.

"Sometimes there are a few errors that come with this but they want to express themselves and it’s great we’ve been able to implement that approach in a short space of time, they’ve come on in leaps and bounds.

"Rory Teague (assistant coach_ must take credit for the great work he's done with the backs and the attack.

‘These players have a huge amount of potential, they have a bright future ahead of them and this is just part of their rugby journey.

"The key thing for me is that they’ve made some friendships and bonds that will last for life and have made a little bit of history for themselves.

"Some of this group will be available next year and we want to continue the great work that is being done at under 16 and 18 by John Fletcher and the player pathway.

"We saw England complete a series whitewash and the majority of those guys have come through that pathway. Our challenge as coaches is to continue that." 

England: Malins (Saracens); Aspland-Robinson (Harlequins), Marchant (Harlequins), Williams (London Irish), Gallagher (Saracens); Mallinder (Northampton), Green (Yorkshire Carnegie); Boyce (Yorkshire), Singleton (Worcester), B Walker (Saracens), South (Harlequins), Taylor (Worcester), Nott (Sale), Evans (Leicester), Chick (Newcastle). Replacements: Piper (Harlequins), West (Wasps), Stuart (Wasps), Kitchener (Worcester), Willis (Wasps), Randall (Gloucester), Wright (Yorkshire), Thorley (Gloucester).