It was heartbreak for Harry Wilson and Bo Abra, and their Junior Wallabies team-mates as France became the third team to claim back-to-back World Under-20 Championship titles with a pulsating 24-23 victory in Sunday's (AEST) final in Rosario.
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The boot of Toulon five-eighth Louis Carbonel proved the difference with the Aussies outscoring the French three tries to two.
Former Red Devils junior Wilson was one of the Junior Wallabies tryscorers, wriggling his way over despite the attention of several tacklers early in the second half to level the scores at 18-all after Carbonel had booted a penalty on the stroke of half-time to give the French an 18-13 lead at the break.
Wilson had minutes earlier had the ball stripped from him by French No.8 Jordan Joseph, who was the player of the 2018 tournament, as he threatened to score from a few metres out.
Will Harrison added the extras to put the Aussies ahead 20-18.
Carbonel and Harrison then traded penalties, before a scrum penalty with 15 minutes remaining saw Carbonel land the crucial blow.
The Aussies had the chance to reply from long-range but the kick went wide.
Then came the moment that would have had Wilson's family over in Argentina and back home on their feet prompted commentator Karl Te Nana to remark "What about Harry Wilson!".
From just inside the French half, the backrower ran a great angle and burst through. When the defence closed down the passing option to Fraser McReight in support, Wilson pulled another trick out of his bag, grubbering the ball through for his backrow partner, who was just jostled out of the race to the ball by opposing captain Arthur Vincent.
"The timing of his run, hitting the angle, decides to dummy and then puts it on the toe. How good is that from a backrower?," Te Nana commented.
Touted by Fox Sports commentator Andrew Swain, who was in Argentina covering the tournament, before the final as one of five Junior Wallabies destined for stardom, Wilson was again a standout.
Referred to by Swain as the "unsung hero" of the Junior Wallabies pack, he was the second top tackler for the tournament with 72.
Seeking to become the first Australian side to win the title, McReight said afterwards he was "super gutted for my team".
"We really lifted the tempo in the second half but unfortunately that wasn't enough to get the job done," he said.
Junior Wallabies coach Jason Gilmore said he was "really proud" of his playing group.
"It was a tough loss to cop," Gilmore said.
"Our boys showed plenty of courage but unfortunately just fell short."
Former Pirate Abra didn't get on in the final but played a key part in the Aussies' campaign.
