France dismantle NZ to book U20 Final spot against England

WRAP: France made a statement as they dismantled New Zealand by 55-31 to hand the Baby Blacks their heaviest defeat in history at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday evening in the World Rugby U20 Championship semfinals.

The match started at a frantic pace – with both sides put on a great attacking display in what was a 13-try feast.

France opened the scoring as soon as the fourth minute with a try by Joe Quere Karaba after he picked up the ball from the base of the ruck and ran 20 metres to dot down.

Three minutes later – France were at it again showing their attacking best when they showed some great offloading as flyhalf Reus offloaded to Charly Gambini to dot down for their second.

New Zealand responded with a penalty try after a rolling maul by New Zealand was collapsed by Geoffrey Malaterre who was yellow carded in the process.

France responded in the 14th minute when No.8 Mathis Castro Ferreira dotted down for his side to get a 21-7 lead after flyhalf Hugo Reus converted.

Scrumhalf Dylan Pledger responded almost immediately as New Zealand went on the attack, and Pledger – in similar fashion as Quere Karaba sniped and ran in under the posts to hit back.

Reus responded with a penalty in the 19th minute and Castro Ferreira doubled his try scoring tally in the 30th minute after a cross kick by Reus.

Reus extended the lead with a penalty in the 33rd minute as France took a 34-14 lead into the break.

France picked up where they left off in the second half when Ferreira scored his hat-trick after a great offloading display by the defending champions.

The match took a turn when two yellow cards were given almost simultaniously on both sides – with Lorencio Boyer-Gallardo given his marching orders for 10 minutes after a team warning, and moments later wing Stanley Solomon also being yellow carded for a dangerous tackle – which got upgraded to red following a review by the bunker.

New Zealand seemed to find new life soon after and a comeback was on the cards when replacement outside back King Maxwell and centre Aki Tuivailala dotted down in the 55th and 60th minutes respectively.

France struck back with a try through Mathis Ferte in the 64th minute before flank Andrew Smith went over the line in the 67th minute for New Zealand.

France had the last say with a try in the 72nd minute through Xan Mousques which Reus converted and that was enough to see France through to the World Rugby U20 Championship Final for the fourth consecutive time as they look to match New Zealand’s record of four titles in a row when they will face England next week at Cape Town Stadium next Friday evening.

Australia overcome Wales for fifth place Final

Australia booked their place in the fifth place playoff after overcoming a plucky Wales side at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Sunday evening.

Wales opened the scoring with an unconverted try through hooker Isaac Young in the 11th minute, with lock Harvey Cordukes responding four minutes later for Australia as he got over the line with flyhalf Harry McLaughlin-Phillips converting.

Wales reclaimed the lead when centre Macs Page dotted down in the 25th minute but then scrumhalf Rhodri Lewis got yellow carded six minutes later which proved to be costly for his side.

Australia scored two more tries in his absence with centre Kadin Pritchard and wing Archer Saunders bagging tries in the 32nd and 36th minutes respectively – both converted by flyhalf McLaughlin-Phillips who also slotted a penalty attempt to take a 24-12 lead into the break.

Australia drew first blood in the second half to extend their lead when lock and captain Toby MacPherson went over the line in the 49th minute.

Wales responded with a try of their own in the 54th minute through fullback Matty Young – with replacement flyhalf Harri Ford missing the conversion.

Scrumhalf Dan Nelson struck back for Australia in the 64th minute and Page got his second of the night in the 68th minute for Wales before dotting down soon after for this hat-trick to get his side back within striking distance but Australia held on to get the win and book a place in the fifth place Final where they will come up against Argentina on Friday at the Cape Town Stadium.

England book final spot with dominating forward performance over Ireland

Ireland started like a house on fire when they attacked off a lineout and worked their way towards and then over the England line in the second minute when No.8 Oliver Coffey dotted down to open the scoring.

England’s scrum proved to be the difference as they earned several penalties off it to give them field position, and it paid off when Hooker Craigh Wright had a run in for the try after receiving an outside pass from wing Ben Redshaw to dot down and level matters.

Scrumhalf Jack Murphy struck back with a penalty attempt to retake the lead in the 30th minute before England struck back with their second try when scrumhalf Ollie Allan dotted down following a break by fullback Ioan Jones.

The lead changed twice in the final five minutes – with a try for Ireland by flank Bryn Ward who sniped to dot down under the posts after setting up a few phases off a lineout maul.

Sean Kerr – who was outstanding with the boot and in general play levelled matters at 17-17 before Murphy reclaimed the lead a minute later.

England attacked from just inside their own half and scored after the half-time hooter when Kerr dotted down with flyhalf Benjamin Coen missing the conversion to take a 22-20 lead into the break.

No tries were scored in the second half but England’s scrum dominance paid off with Kerr slotting two penalties in the 52nd and 58th minutes respectively.

Ireland fought bravely and threw everything at England but to no avail – with England’s defence holding firm.
Ireland conceded a penalty at the breakdown in the 79th minute which Kerr slotted to book his side into the 2024 World Rugby U20 Final.

Georgia edge past Fiji

In the second ninth place semifinal – Georgia had a hard fought victory to book their place in the ninth place Final.

Georgia received a yellow card as early as the third minute when Lock Davidt Lagvilava got an early 10-minute rest, but still managed to get the first two scores with penalties in the 13th and 18th minutes respectively through the boot of flyhalf Luca Tsirekidze.

Fiji crossed the line first with a try by centre Ponipate Tuberi in the 21st minute which was converted by fullback Isikeli Basiyalo.

Georgia struck back with a converted try of their own through hooker Mikheil Khakhubia in the 25th minute in the followed by a penalty by Tsirekidze in the 30th minute for a 16-7 lead.

Fiji prop Luke Nasau recieved a yellow card in the 37th minute followed by a try by wing Tarieli Burtikashvili for Georgia in the 38th minute.

Fiji had the last say on the stroke of half-time when wing Aisea Nawai crossed the line with Basiyalo missing the conversion to trail 12-21 heading into the sheds.

Georgia’s discipline proved to be an issue when flank Andro Dvali was yellow carded in the 48th minute but this didn’t affect their play as flank Giorgi Gergedava dotted down in the 53rd minute.

Fiji closed the gap with tries in the 55th and 59th minutes respectively to wing Waisake Salabiau and Aisea Nawai who bagged his second of the evening up until that point with both conversions being missed by Tuberi which proved costly in the end.

Captain and No.8 Nika Lomidze dotted down for a converted try in the 64th minute for Georgia with Fiji hitting back two minutes later with a try by replacement outside back Avakuki Niusalelekitoga.

Wing Luka Keshelava responded with a try for Georgia in the 70th minute but Nawai responded two minutes later for his hat-trick.

Georgia conceded a yellow card through replacement lock Murtazi Tskhadadze well after the full-time hooter sounded but Fiji couldn’t bank the win with one final opportunity as Georgia booked their spot to face Italy in the ninth place semifinal.

Argentina do the double over Junior Springboks

Argentina opened the scoring in the fifth minute as flyhalf Santino Di Lucca kicked a successful penalty.

Flyhalf Tyloor Sefoor levelled matters in the 17th minute with penalty of his own.

Argentina then responded with a try in the 19th minute by hooker Juan Greising Revol after a counter attacking run by Du Lucca and a kick to the corner – with South Africa losing the lineout that lead to the hooker’s score.

Captain Efrain Elias extended Argentina’s lead with another try – after South Africa conceded a penalty for playing the man in the air on Argentina’s 5-metre line to give Argentina better field position.

They went on the attack and had another penalty advantage but it wasn’t needed as Elias picked the ball up from the base of the ruck and went over to score the try.

South Africa struck back when Argentina had possession stripped in the tackle and Sefoor stepping and selling the dummy before offloading to centre Jurenzo Julius who dotted down in the 26th minute for his first of two tries of the afternoon.

The hosts had another opportunity to strike back but knocked the ball on short of the try line.

Argentina went on the counter attack and went coast to coast, leaving the Junior Springboks’ defence in shambles and slipping tackles which lead to wing Gregorio Perez Pardo’s try to take a 24-10 lead into half-time.

South Africa struck first in the second stanza after Argentina conceded back to back penalties which lead to a 5-metre attacking lineout to the hosts that resulted in a try to flank Sibabalwe Mahashe in the 44th minute.

It went back and forth for the next 20 minutes before Timoteo Silva went over for another try for Argentina in the 65th minute after another great counter-attacking play by the South Americans.

Fullback Benjamin Elizalde added a penalty in the 73rd minute and Silva looked to have scored a brace two minutes later but was denied due to a forward pass.

Julius dotted down in the 76th minute after breaking a tackle and beating four defenders for a magnificent solo effort try to get his side within 10 points.

Argentina had an opportunity to strike back immediately after reclaiming the restart and got a penalty to which they kicked to the corner for the lineout but was penalised for obstruction.

South Africa went quickly with the tap and go and Julius made another break and had support on his inside but failed to get the pass away.

The ball was played back but then knocked on as the final whistle blew that saw Argentina beating the hosts for the second time in 10 days.

Italy see off Spain

In the ninth-place semifinal at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch – Italy booked their spot in the Final by defeating Spain by 28-15.

Spain had a horrid start with a yellow card to flank Jokin Zolezzi in the seventh minute with Italy lock Giacomo Milano dotting down for the try in the eighth minute.

Spain finally struck back with a try through centre Alberto Carmona in the 32nd minute.

Italy hit back with a try in the 44th minute through centre Marco Scalabrin.

Spain conceded a penalty try and a yellow card due to cynical play in the 48th minute as prop Aniol Franch had to sit out 10 minutes for his indiscretion.

Spain however didn’t lie down and dotted down whilst playing with 14 players when prop Hugo Gonzales went over in the 50th minute and flyhalf Gonzalo Otamendi slotting a penalty kick to get Spain back within four points.

Scrumhalf Simone sealed the deal with penalties in the 66th, 74th and 80th minutes respectively to see Italy book their place in the ninth place Final.

Argentina v South Africa, 34-24

Scorers:

For Argentina:
Tries: Silva, Perez, Pardo, Elias , Revol
Cons: Elizalde, Di Lucca 3
Pens: Di Lucca, Elizalde

For South Africa:
Tries: Mahashe, Julius 2
Pen: Sefoor
Cons: Van Niekerk, Sefoor 2

Teams:

South Africa: 15 Michail Damon, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Phillip-Albert van Niekerk, 11 Litelihle Bester, 10 Tyloor Sefoor, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Tiaan Jacobs, 7 JF van Heerden, 6 Sibabalwe Mahashe, 5 Jaco Grobbelaar, 4 Thomas Dyer, 3 Zachary Porthen (captain), 2 Ethan Bester, 1 Ruan Swart
Replacements: 16 Juan Smal, 17 Liyema Ntshanga, 18 Casper Badenhorst, 19 Bathobele Hlekani, 20 Divan Fuller, 21 Hassiem Pead, 22 Bruce Sherwood, 23 Ezekiel Ngobeni.

Argentina: 15 Benjamin Elizalde, 14 Timoteo Silva, 13 Tomas Bocco, 12 Felipe Ledesma, 11 Gregorio Perez Pardo, 10 Santino Di Lucca, 9 Jeronimo Llorens, 8 Juan Bernasconi, 7 Santons Fernandez de Oliveira, 6 Juan Penoucos, 5 Alvaro Garcia Iandolino, 4 Efrain Elias, 3 Gael Galvan, 2 Juan Greising Revol, 1 Diego Correa
Replacements: Juan Vivas, 17 Joaquin Yakiche, 18 Marcos Camerlinckx, 19 Felipe Bruno, 20 Julian Rossi, 21 Agustin Sareli, 22 Tomas Di Biase, 23 Tomas Medina.

Italy v Spain, 28-15

Scorers:

For Italy:
Tries: Milano, Scalabrin, Penalty try does not require conversion
Con: Brisighella
Pens: Brisighella 3

For Spain:
Tries: Gonzalez, Carmona
Con: Otamendi
Pen: Otamendi

Yellow cards: Zolezzi, Franch

Teams:

Italy: 15 Vittorio Padoan, 14 Mikro Belloni, 13 Marco Scalabrin, 12 Federico Zanandrea, 11 Nicola Bozzo, 10 Francesco Imberti, 9 Simone Brisighella, 8 Lorenzo Casilo, 7 Jacopo Botturi (captain), 6 Nelson Casartelli, 5 Giacomo Milano, 4 Piero Gritti, 3 Samuele Mirenzi, 2 Davide Ascari, 1 Valerio Siciliano
Replacements: 16 Francesco Gentile, 17 Federico Pisani, 18 Nicola Bologini, 19 Mattia Midena, 20 Cesare Zucconi, 21 Mattia Jimenez, 22 Martino Pucciariello, 23 Patrick de Villiers.

Spain: 15 Luciano Richardis, 14 Julien Burgullios, 13 Alberto Carmona, 12 Yago Fernandez Vilar, 11 Hugo Pichardie, 10 Gonzalo Otamendi, 9 Javier Lopez de Haro, 8 Valentino Rizzo, 7 Jokin Zolezzi, 6 Nicolas Moleti, 5 Manex Ariceta Maestro (captain), 4 Pablo Guiaro, 3 Aniol Franch, 2 Diego Gonzalez Blanco, 1 Hugo Gonzalez
Replacements: 16 David Gallego, 17 Alberto Gomez, 18 Adam Lliares, 19 Antonio Gamez, 20 Nicolas Gali, 21 Unax Zuriarrain, 22 Gabriel Rocaries, 23 Martin Serrano.

England v Ireland, 31-20

Scorers:

For England:

Tries: Allan, Wright, Kerr
Cons: Kerr 2
Pens: Kerr 4

For Ireland:
Tries: Coffey, Ward
Cons: Murphy 2
Pens: Murphy 2

Teams:

England: 15 Ioan Jones,14 Ben Redshaw, 13 Ben Waghorn, 12 Sean Kerr, 11 Alex Wills, 10 Ben Coen, 9 Ollie Allan, 8 Nathan Michelow, 7 Henry Pollock, 6 Finn Carnduff ©, 5 Junior Kpoku, 4 Joe Bailey, 3 Afolabi Fasogbon, 2 Craig Wright, 1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour
Replacements: 16 James Isaacs, 17 Cameron Miell, 18 James Halliwell, 19 Olamide Sodeke, 20 Kane James, 21 Lucas Friday, 22 Josh Bellamy, 23 Toby Cousins

Ireland: 15 Ben O’Connor, 14 Finn Treacy, 13 Wilhelm de Klerk, 12 Hugh Gavin, 11 Hugo McLaughlin, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Oliver Coffey, 8 Brian Gleeson, 7 Bryn Ward, 6 Sean Edogbo, 5 James McKillop, 4 Alan Spicer, 3 Jacob Boyd, 2 Danny Sheahan, 1 Ben Howard
Replacements: 16 Stephen Smyth, 17 Emmet Calvey, 18 Patreece Bell, 19 Billy Corrigan, 20 Luke Murphy, 21 Tadhg Brophy, 22 Sean Naughton, 23. Sam Berman

Georgia v Fiji, 40-36

Scorers: 

For Georgia:
Tries: Lomidze, Keshelava, Gergedava, Khakhubia, Burtikashvili
Cons: Tsirekidze 3
Pens: Tsirekidze 3

For Fiji:
Tries: Salabiau, Avakuki, Niusalelekitoga, Tuberi, Nawai 3
Cons: Basiyalo, Tuberi 2

Teams:

Georgia: 15 Otari Metreveli, 14 Luka Keshelava, 13 Luka Kobauri, 12 Giorgi Khaindrava, 11 Tareli Burtikashvili, 10 Luka Tsirekidze, 9 Sandro Jigauri, 8 Nika Lomidze (captain), 7 Andro Dvali, 6 Giorgi Gergedava, 5 Temur Tsulukidze, 4 Davit Lagvilava, 3 Davit Mtchedlidze, 2 Mikheil Khakubia, 1 Luka Ungiadze
Replacements: 16 Tamaz Tchamiashvili, 17 Luka Kotorashvili, 18 Davit Kuntelia, 19 Murtazi Tskhadadze, 20 Luka Suluashvili, 21 Mikheil Kachlavashvili, 22 Gela Kheladze, 23 Nugzari Kevkhishvili

Fiji: 15 Isikeli Basiyalo, 14 Aisea Nawai, 13 Harrison Valevatu, 12 Ponipate Tuberi, 11 Waisake Salabiau, 10 Ratu Isikeli Rabitu, 9 Samuela Ledua, 8 Simon Koroiyadi, 7 Ronald Sharma, 6 Ebernezer Tuidraki, 5 Malakai Masi, 4 Nalani May (captain), 3 Luke Nasau, 2 Moses Armstrong-Ravula, 1 Mataiasi Tuisireli
Replacements: 16 Iowane Vakadrigi, 17 Anare Caginavanua, 18 Breyton Legge, 19 Ilisea Erenavula, 20 Ratu Nemani Kurucake, 21 Pauliasi Korobiau, 22 Benjamin Naivalu, 23 Avakuki Niusalelekitoga

New Zealand v France, 55-31

Scorers: 

For New Zealand:
Tries: Pledger, Maxwell, Smith, Tuivailala, Penalty try does not require conversion
Cons: Simpson 2

For France:
Tries: Ferte, Gambini, Castro, Mousques, Karaba, Ferreira 3
Cons: Reus 7
Pens: Reus 2

Yellow cards: Malaterre, Boyer-Gallardo
Red card: Solomon

Teams:New Zealand: 15 Sam Coles, 14 Xavier Tito-Harris, 13 Aki Tuivailala, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 Stan Solomon, 10 Rico Simpson, 9 Dylan Pledger, 8 Mosese Bason, 7 Johnny Lee, 6 Andrew Smith, 5 Liam Jack, 4 Tom Allen, 3 Josh Smith, 2 Vernon Bason (captain), 1 Will Martin
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 Sika Pole, 18 Gus Brown, 19 Cam Christie, 20 Matt Lowe, 21 Riley Williams, 22 Isaac Hutchinson, 23 King Maxwell

Australia v Wales, 36-29 

For Australia:
Tries: Cordukes, MacPherson, Pritchard, Saunders, Nelson
Pen: McLaughlin-Phillips
Cons: McLaughlin-Phillips 4

For Wales:
Tries: I.Young, M.Young, Page 3
Cons: Wilde, Ford

Teams:

Wales: 15 Matty Young, 14 Kodie Stone, 13 Macs Page, 12 Louie Hennessey, 11 Aidan Boshoff, 10 Harri Wilde, 9 Rhodri Lewis, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Harry Beddall, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Nick Thomas, 4 Jonny Green, 3 Sam Scott, 2 Isaac Young, 1 Jordan Morrisgons RFC)
Replacements: 16 Harry Thomas, 17 Ioan Emmanuel, 18 Kian Hire, 19 Gethyn Cannon, 20 Lucas de la Rua, 21 Lucca Setaro, 22 Harri Ford, 23 Steffan Emanuel

Australia: 15 Shane Wilcox, 14 Ronan Leahy, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 Jarrah McLeod, 11 Archie Saunders, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Dan Nelson, 8 Jack Harley, 7 Dane Sawers, 6 Aden Ekanayake, 5 Harvey Cordukes, 4 Toby Macpherson (captain), 3 Nick Bloomfield, 2 Ottavio Tuipulotu, 1 Lington leli.
Replacements: 16 Bryn Edwards, 17 Nathaniel Tiitii, 18 Trevor King, 19 Eamon Doyle, 20 Ollie McCrea, 21 Austin Durbidge, 22 Billy Dickens, 23 Boston Fakafuanua