England win the 2014 World Cup... No not that one, but rugby's Junior World Championship as Under-20's retain their title

Tries from Nathan Earle and Joel Conlon see England Under-20's win the Junior World Championship to show signs of a bright future for English rugby

England Under-20's win the Junior World Championship (Getty Images)

England came from behind to snatch an eight-point lead then held out a desperate South Africa 21-20 to retain its junior rugby world championship title at Eden Park on Friday.

South Africa, world champion two years ago, led 10-3 after 19 minutes but England scored 18 points in 15 minutes on either side of halftime to open a 21-13 lead.

Their rally began with a 55-meter penalty to fullback Aaron Morris and included tries to winger Nathan Earle and replacement Joel Conlon.

The Junior Boks then came back with a 64th-minute try to center Jesse Kriel — his second of the final — to cut England's lead to one point. England found the strength to hold out South Africa for the last 16 minutes to claim back-to-back world titles.

AP