New Zealand have won a fourth successive IRB Junior World Championship title, although they were made to work exceptionally hard for a 33-22 victory in a thrilling final at Stadio Plebiscito in Padova, Italy, on Sunday.

The destiny of the distinctive trophy was in doubt until the final few minutes when Baby Blacks full back Beauden Barrett chased down his own toe poke to touch down to the delight of his teammates and ecstatic New Zealand fans in the crowd.

England came as close as anyone has ever come to beating New Zealand in their 20 Junior World Championship matches, but for the third final in four years it was the men wearing the red rose on their chest who were left in tears at the final whistle.

Both sides scored three tries in the final, Charles Piutau, Ben Tameifuna and Barrett for New Zealand with a Christian Wade brace and Henry Thomas touchdown for England.

However, it was the perfect kicking record of New Zealand fly half and man of the match Gareth Anscombe which proved the difference, with his opposite number George Ford missing three kicks at goal.

In the other matches on the final day, Australia avenged their defeat by France in the pools stages with a 30-17 victory in the third place play-off final with captain Colby Faingaa their talisman.

South Africa ran in a record-equaling 16 tries to overwhelm Fiji 104-17 to secure fifth spot, while Wales also finished on a positive note by beating Ireland 38-24 to match their seventh place finish of last year in Argentina.

Argentina held off a Scotland fightback to claim ninth place overall with a 15-14 victory in Rovigo, where Italy saved their best to the last day to beat Tonga 34-22

Pool A
10 Jun, Argentina 8-34 Wales Stadio Plebiscito, Padova
10 Jun, Italy 7-64 New Zealand Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
14 Jun, New Zealand 92-0 Wales Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
14 Jun, Italy 3-27 Argentina Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
18 Jun, Italy 6-56 Wales Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
18 Jun, Argentina 15-48 New Zealand Stadio Plebiscito, Padova

Pool B
10 Jun, Australia 54-7 Tonga Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
10 Jun, France 24-12 Fiji Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
14 Jun, Australia 50-25 Fiji Stadio Plebiscito, Padova
14 Jun, France 27-14 Tonga Stadio Plebiscito, Padova
18 Jun, Fiji 36-18 Tonga Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
18 Jun, Australia 25-31 France Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso

Pool C 10 Jun, England 33-25 Ireland Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
10 Jun, South Africa 33-0 Scotland Stadio Plebiscito, Padova
14 Jun, England 39-18 Scotland Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
14 Jun, Ireland 26-42 South Africa Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
18 Jun, England 26-20 South Africa Stadio Plebiscito, Padova
18 Jun, Ireland 30-13 Scotland Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo

9th Place Semifinal 
22 Jun, Scotland 30-11 Tonga Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
22 Jun, Argentina 12-8 Italy Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo

5th Place Semifinal 
22 Jun, 18:00 Wales 20-34 Fiji Stadio Plebiscito, Padova
22 Jun, South Africa 57-15 Ireland Stadio Plebiscito, Padova

Cup Semifinals 
22 Jun, England 33-18 France Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
22 Jun, New Zealand 37-7 Australia Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso

11th Place Playoff  26 Jun, 12:00 Tonga 22-34 Italy Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo

9th Place Playoff  26 Jun, 14:10 Scotland 14-15 Argentina Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo

7th Place Playoff  26 Jun, 12:00 Wales 38-24 Ireland Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso

5th Place Playoff  26 Jun, 14:10 Fiji 17-104 South Africa Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso

3rd Place Playoff  26 Jun, 17:00 France 17-30 Australia Stadio Plebiscito, Padova

Final  26 Jun, England 22-33 New Zealand Stadio Plebiscito, Padova