Scotland book place in World Rugby U20 Trophy final

Both sides had dished out drubbings of Samoa and Hong Kong China to set up a Pool A decider, but this was not much more of a contest as Scotland dominated from the outset. 

Geordie Gwynn scored a first half brace, while Finlay Doyle, Freddy Douglas, Jack Hocking and fly-half Andrew McLean - who finished with a 21-point haul - also crossed. 

Gwynn's first try came with the game less than 10 minutes old as he finished off a fine break by McLean to score. McLean’s conversion put the hosts 7-0 ahead inside 10 minutes.  

The winger’s second score on 24 minutes was an individual thing of beauty, collecting an offload from Freddy Douglas before stepping three Japanese defenders to race clear.  

The visitors enjoyed their best period of the game on the half-hour and were denied their first points only by outstanding work from captain Liam McConnell and try scorer Gwynn.  

Scotland were denied a third on 40 minutes, Euan McVie held up over the try line after a period of pressure inside the Japanese 22, but the hosts led 12-0 at the interval.  

Gwynn turned provider early in the second half, coming off his left wing to create an overlap on the right and putting Finlay Doyle, the scorer of consecutive hat-tricks the first two games, over in the corner. McLean’s conversion extended Scotland’s advantage to 19 points.  

Scotland added a fourth when fly-half McLean showed great power to barrel over from close range before landing the touchline conversion to give Scotland a comfortable lead.  

The result was put beyond Japan when Freddy Douglas powered over from a maul moments after his opposite number Koki Kawagoe was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle.  

Tasuku Masuyama and Shusui Kamei scored consolation tries for Japan late on, but fittingly Scotland had the final say as Jack Hocking raced clear from Hector Patterson's break to score the hosts' sixth try. McLean rounded off another comprehensive win with the conversion. 

Here are five things we learned from Hive Stadium.  

Geordie Gwynn wings in to take centre stage 

The versatile Ealing Trailfinders man was primarily used in the centre during the Six Nations, but has looked a far more dangerous prospect on the wing in this competition. His two first half tries put Scotland in control and were outstanding finishes. He showed great power for the first to bounce off a would-be tackler after McLean’s break. The second was all about his footwork as Gwynn beat three defenders – two of them in close quarters.  

Freddy Douglas must play pro rugby next season 

The openside has been one of the outstanding players from this under-20s crop. He is too good to spend the next 12 months playing ‘A’ matches. To continue his development, he needs to play top-tier professional rugby. The challenge will be to find a place for him.

He’s currently with Edinburgh, but they have Scotland caps Hamish Watson and Luke Crosbie vying for the number seven jersey. Throw in former U20 captain Connor Boyle and it’s difficult to see a route for Douglas despite his showings here. 

Scotland's power beats Japanese pace 

This match was a mismatch of styles, and it was Scotland's power-based game that came out on top of the free-flowing Japanese running game. The visitors could not get on the front foot in close quarters and, though they tried to run from everywhere, they were usurped by Scotland's superior physicality. 

Impact from the bench

Kenny Murray said during the week this was his first choice side, but some of the players on the bench - Seb Stephen, Ruaraidh Hart, Hector Patterson and Jack Hocking - have impressed throughout this tournament. 

Each of them took their opportunity here to give Murray more food for thought as he mulls over his team for the final. 

Favourites for the final  

USA booked their place in Wednesday’s final, but their 30-17 win over Kenya, who finished bottom of Pool B, was not as convincing as had been anticipated. With Scotland’s players coming through a tougher test here, more used to a higher standard of rugby, and with home advantage on their side, they should be favourites to return to the U20 World Championship for the first time since 2019.  

Japan U20: Jingo Takenoshita, Kent Lioka (Masuyama 67), Yamato Ueda, Takaya Motohashi, Kohaku Edisawa, Ryunosuke Ito, Joji Takaki (Yoshikawa 71); Jinnosuke Mori (Kerakawauchi 48), Kenshin Shimizu (Tanaka 74), Towa Nunobiki (Hatta 48), Chuka Ishibashi, Yotaro Monobe (Isobe 45), Shusui Kamei, Koki Kawagoe, Yoshiaki Taian (Masuo

Try: Masuyama (69), Kamei (73)

Yellow card: Kawagoe (53) 

Scotland U20: Fergus Watson (Hocking 59), Finlay Doyle, Johnny Ventisei, Findlay Thomson (Yule 57), Geordie Gwynn (Shearer 74); Andrew McLean, Conor McAlpine (Patterson 65); Robbie Deans (White 57), Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (Stephen 59), Ollie Blyth-Lafferty  Euan McVie, Ryan Burke (Hart 57), Liam McConnell (captain), Freddy Douglas, Tom Currie (Cockburn 68)

 Tries: Gwynn (8, 24), Doyle (44), McLean (48), Douglas (54), Hocking (79)

Conversions: McLean (8, 45, 49, 54, 80)

Penalties: McLean (57, 65)

Drop-goals: 

Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)