Junior World Championship, Round Two - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: The first round of the World Rugby U20 Championship 2026 was one to savour for defending champions South Africa.
However, on Thursday, the Junior Boks face a far sterner test when they take on hosts Georgia in their second Pool A clash in Tbilisi.
The Junior Boks laid down an early marker by running in 16 tries, including a penalty try, in a ruthless 104-7 demolition of Uruguay.
That emphatic victory only strengthened their status as favourites to retain the title.
Georgia, meanwhile, suffered a heartbreaking 24-25 defeat to Wales in their tournament opener. Despite the loss, the hosts will be eager to respond in front of a passionate home crowd.
The hosts will also take confidence in their warm-up victory over the New Zealand.
“Some of the guys play in France and we’re expecting a very, very physical game,” Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote said.
“They pride themselves on their set piece. They’re obviously quite emotional about the loss and they want to make things right.
“We understand that. So we’ll be making sure we control our emotion and really play the game that we want to play.”
Foote added: “I think we’re playing them for the fourth time this year.
“So we’re fully aware of what Georgia’s strengths are and we’re fully aware of how we want to play against them.”
Foote has made a couple of changes to his starting XV, with BlitzBok and Sharks utility back Luan Giliomee set to take over at flyhalf.
The selection has sparked plenty of debate, but Giliomee’s exceptional skill set and decision-making suggest the switch from fullback to flyhalf should be a seamless one.
Elsewhere Wales, New Zealand, Scotland, Argentina, England, France and Australia will all be hoping to build on opening day victories and take a step closer to a potential semifinal appearance.
There is plenty of action on offer this Thursday.
In the other Pool A fixture, Wales will look to build on their opening-round victory when they take on Uruguay.
This will be the first meeting between Wales and Uruguay at the Junior World Championship. Wales are just the second European nation Uruguay have faced in the competition, after Ireland, who they lost to in 2009.
A blockbuster clash headlines Pool B, where New Zealand and Scotland battle for top spot.
New Zealand have won each of their four meetings with Scotland at the Junior World Championship by an average margin of 37 points, including a 42-20 victory en route to lifting their sixth and last title in Georgia in 2017.
Even more impressively, New Zealand have won 41 of their 46 pool matches at the tournament – including their last eight in a row – with their 89 per cent win rate being the best of any team at this stage of the competition.
“The first up match against Japan was valuable to get into the tournament against a competitive opponent and in difficult conditions,” said coach Kane Jury.
“It was a great reminder that you can’t take anything for granted in this tournament and we’ll need to be disciplined and clinical against Scotland.”
His Scotland counterpart Fergus Pringle has made four changes to his starting line-up, with Asa Stewart Harris, Alex Bryden, Ollie McKenna and Harvey Preston coming into the side.
“The players put in strong performance against Italy to start the championship,” Pringle said.
“The most pleasing aspect was how we responded to some big momentum swings in the game, finding a way to get back into the game after some costly errors.
“Looking ahead to New Zealand, we want to build on our Italy performance and show consistency in key areas of our game. We’re aware that New Zealand will pose a different challenge to Italy, and it’s a great opportunity to test ourselves against a quality team. The players are really excited by the challenge ahead.”
Italy, meanwhile, will be eager to bounce back when they face Japan, who showed glimpses of their exciting attacking ability despite their Round One defeat to New Zealand.
In what is widely regarded as the tournament’s “Pool of Death”, Argentina take on Ireland, while England face the USA in the other Pool C encounter.
France will look to build on their opening victory when they face fellow Europeans Spain, while Pool D leaders Australia go head-to-head with Fiji in what promises to be another entertaining contest.
*See the teams and predictions below!
Wales v Uruguay
(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 13.00; 10.00 UK time; 06.00 UYT; 09.00 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Wales by 12 points
Teams:
Wales U20: 15 Tom Bowen, 14 Dylan Scott, 13 Bailey Cutts, 12 Jack Hoskins, 11 Brogan Leary, 10 Lloyd Lucas, 9 Cai Gealey, 8 Alex Ridgway, 7 Sam Morgan, 6 Deian Gwynne (co-captain), 5 Osian Williams, 4 Luke Evans, 3 Yestyn Cook, 2 Oscar Thomas, 1 Dylan James
Replacements: 16 James Talamai, 17 George Tuckley, 18 Isaac Godfrey, 19 Tom Cottle, 20 Evan Minto, 21 Sion Davies, 22 Carwyn Leggatt Jones, 23 Steff Emanuel,
Uruguay U20: 15 Nicolas Pittaluga, 14 Bruno Baccino, 13 Joaquin Fresnedo, 12 Vicente Alvarez, 11 Alfonso Fernandez, 10 Justo Ferrario Pereira, 9 Pierre Cotarmanac’h, 8 Ignacio Merli (captain), 7 Pedro Suarez, 6 Mateo Guarch, 5 Guillermo Curuchet, 4 Nicolas Mattsson, 3 Juan Manuel Sagario, 2 Sebastian Perez, 1 Dario Rodriguez
Replacements: 16 Jose Candia Sciarra, 17 Sebastian Dalmao Rivero, 18 Juan Francisco Bessio, 19 Felipe Costa, 20 Manuel Ponte, 21 Francisco Lawlor, 22 Matteo Acosta, 23 Bruno Primavesi
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Soso Japaridze (GRU) & Shoti Tsagareishvili (GRU)
TMO: Paulo Duarte (FPR)
France v Spain
(AIA Arena, Kutaisi, Georgia – Kick-off: 13.00; 11.00 CEST; 09.00 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: France by 20 points
Teams:
France U20: 15 Melvyn Rates, 14 Hugo Avogardo, 13 Diego Mascarenc, 12 Bastien Rasal, 11 Paul Cellio Zwiler, 10 Luka Keletaona, 9 Valentin Hutteau, 8 Lilian Baret, 7 Lucas Andjisseramatchi (captain), 6 Raphael Audebert, 5 Leo Michaux, 4 Alban Portat, 3 Zak Price, 2 Yanis Basse, 1 Edouard Jabeka Njocke
Replacements: 16 Elia Masi, 17 Matheo Frisach, 18 Alexandre Langlois, 19 Romeo Bonnard Martin, 20 Bobby Bissu, 21 Baptiste Tilloles, 22 Diego Jurd, 23 Adrien Drault
Spain U20: 15 Malakai Hafoka Toca, 14 Telmo Fisher Obieta, 13 Marcos López Camano (captain), 12 Oriol Marsinyac Garcia, 11 Pelayo Serrano, 10 Mateo Antem, 9 Bernat Fernández, 8 Bosco Vilallonga Martinez Cattaneo, 7 Unax Salvador, 6 Miguel Narvarte, 5 Unax Carballo, 4 Manex Pujana, 3 Solomon Ibeoba, 2 Iván Farace, 1 Daniel Chico Ayo
Replacements: 16 Mauro Del Campo, 17 Joan Barcenilla D’Onghia, 18 Daniel Navarro, 19 Rocklyn Kenneally, 20 Manex Pujana Lendinez, 21 Manuel Vazquez, 22 Inigo Rapallo, 23 Mateo Aragon
Referee: Christopher Allison (SARU)
Assistant Referees: Saba Makharadze (GRU) & Shota Tevzadze (GRU)
TMO: Matt Rodden (HKCR)
Argentina v Ireland
(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia -Kick-off: 15.30; 12.30 UK time; 11.30 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Argentina by 15 points
Teams:
Argentina U20: 15 Simon Pfister, 14 Bautista Lescano, 13 Pedro Coll, 12 Benjamin Ordiz Yujnovsky, 11 Luciano Avaca, 10 Federico Serpa Laporte, 9 Juan Preumayr, 8 Federico Torre, 7 Jeronimo Sorondo, 6 Tomas Dande (captain), 5 Bautista Benavides, 4 Joaquin Pascual Viale, 3 Bautista Salinas Mallea, 2 Manuel Cueno Camargo, 1 Benjamin Farias Cerioni
Replacements: 16 Nicolas Cambiasso, 17 Fabrizio Cebron, 18 Federico Narvaez, 19 Felipe Hygonenq, 20 Basilio Canas, 21 Valentino Reggiardo, 22 Manuel Giannantonio, 23 Ramon Fernandez
Ireland U20: 15 Noah Byrne, 14 Charlie Molony, 13 Jack Deegan, 12 James O’Leary, 11 Daniel Ryan, 10 Tom Wood, 9 Christopher Barrett, 8 Diarmaid O’Connell, 7 Alex Lautsou, 6 Josh Neill, 5 Donnacha McGuire, 4 Joe Finn, 3 Sami Bishti (captain), 2 Rian Handley, 1 Max Doyle
Replacements: 16 Duinn Maguire, 17 Adam Cooper, 18 Blake McClean, 19 Dylan McNeice, 20 Ben Blaney, 21 James O’Dwyer, 22 Charlie O’Shea, 23 Robert Carney
Referee: Reuben Keane (RA)
Assistant Referees: Ben Connor (WRU) & Soso Japaridze (GRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Australia v Fiji
(AIA Arena, Kutaisi, Georgia – Kick-off: 15.30; 21.30 AEST; 23.30 FJT; 11.30 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Australia by 17 points
Teams:
Australia U20: 15 Wallace Charlie, 14 Tom Farr-Jones, 13 Zach Fittler, 12 Treyvon Pritchard, 11 Taione Taka, 10 Finn Mackay, 9 Sam Blank, 8 Isaac Fonua, 7 Marshall Le Maitre, 6 Eli Langi (captain), 5 Toby Brial, 4 William Ross, 3 Lehopoame Leota, 2 Ewald Kruger, 1 Jacob Job
Replacements: 16 John Greenfell, 17 Matthew Sauao, 18 Edwin Langi, 19 Kenneth Harris, 20 TJ Talaileva, 21 Angus Grover, 22 Jonty Fowler, 23 Charlie Bird
Fiji U20: 15 Netani Immanuel Shane Lesimaikimatuku, 14 Maleli Nauvasi (co-captain), 13 Tevita Vuniwaqa Ledua, 12 Sailosi Vodonaivalu Taka, 11 Sevuloni Rakoto Sauleirogo Satala, 10 Cale Maurice, 9 Isikeli Bari Ratu, 8 Ratu Epeli Roseruvakula, 7 Mosese Tamaniceva Tuvasu Tabuakoto, 6 Savenaca Qabale, 5 Setareki Turagacoke (co-captain), 4 Marley Chandra, 3 Jehoshua Paul Serupepeli Ratulomai, 2 Isaac Jacob Rauluni, 1 Marika Koroi
Replacements: 16 Ratu Osea Dasalusalu, 17 Sylvestre Vakauliafa, 18 Raymond Navunikaba, 19 Francis Peters, 20 Isoa Koroinawai, 21 Epeli Rokosemani Vocea, 22 William Tawakedina, 23 Savenaca Durusolo Vagadai
Referee: Luke Rogan (USAR)
Assistant Referees: Saba Makharadze (GRU) & Shota Tevzadze (GRU)
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (URU)
England v USA
(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 18.00; 15.00 UK time; 10.00 USA time; 14.00 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: England by 30 points
Teams:
England U20: 15 George Pearson, 14 Zac Finch, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Finlay Cunnison, 11 Tylor Offiah, 10 Finn Keylock, 9 George Newman, 8, George March 7 Jack Lewis, 6 Seb Kelly (captain), 5 Freddie Ogden-Metherell, 4 Patrick Hogg, 3 Sonny Tonga’uiha, 2 Jerold Gorleku, 1 Oliver Scola
Replacements: 16 Kealan Freeman-Price, 17 Alan Poku, 18 Ollie Streeter, 19 Elliot Williams, 20 Connor Treacey, 21 Jonny Weimann, 22 Hugh Shields, 23 Sam Winters
USA U20: 15 Gavin Holder, 14 Blake Miller, 13 Dane Mitchell, 12 Jameson Beatty, 11 Finnian Love, 10 Jack Firebrace, 9 Spencer Huntley (captain), 8 Papaseea Matelau, 7 Franck Finicle, 6 Liam Hill, 5 Lyndon Bailey, 4 Pierce Kelly, 3 Tyler Trower, 2 Aiden Stewart, 1 Oliver Kirk
Replacements: 16 Sawyer Troupe, 17 Colin Donnelly, 18 Alfie Booth, 19 Jayden Williams, 20 Harrison Cluff, 21 William Darbishire, 22 Joseph Sarkees, 23 Marco Lapierre
Referee: David Vosalevu (FRU)
Assistant Referees: Kevin Bralley (FFR) & Mariam Goguadze (GRU)
TMO: Paulo Duarte (FPR)
New Zealand v Scotland
(AIA Arena, Kutaisi – Kick-off: 18.00; 15.00 UK Time; Friday, July 3 02.00 NZT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: New Zealand by 15 points
Teams:
New Zealand U20: 15 Cohen Norrie, 14 Kele Lasaqa, 13 Siale Pahulu, 12 Haki Wiseman (captain), 11 David Lewai, 10 Mika Muliaina, 9 Charlie Sinton (vice-captain), 8 Patrick Mauga, 7 Caleb Woodley (vice-captain), 6 Bradley Tocker, 5 Jake Frost, 4 Max Fale, 3 Ethan Webber, 2 Josh Findlay, 1 Henry Stuart
Replacements: 16 Alani Fakava, 17 Dane Johnston, 18 Alex Hewitt, 19 Johnny Falloon, 20 Micah Fale, 21 Jackson Hughan, 22 Logan Williams, 23 Kobe Brownlee
Scotland U20: 15 Rory McHaffie, 14 Dan Kelly, 13 Henry Kesterton, 12 Alex Bryden, 11 Nairn Moncrieff, 10 Jake Dalziel, 9 Asa Stewart-Harris, 8 Harvey Preston, 7 Jack Utterson, 6 Christian Lindsay, 5 Dan Halkon, 4 Alfie Blackett, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Joe Roberts (co-captain), 1 Oliver McKenna
Replacements: 16 Jamie McAughtrie, 17 Will Pearce, 18 Jackson Rennie, 19 Sam Byrd, 20 Oliver Finlayson-Russell, 21 Matthew Fick 22 Ross Wolfenden, 23 Campbell Waugh
Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (UAR)
Assistant Referees: George Selwood (RFU) & Giga Mshvenieradze (GRU)
TMO: Matt Rodden (HKCR)
Italy v Japan
(AIA Arena, Kutaisi – Kick-off: 20.30; 18.30 CEST; Friday, July 3 01.30 JST; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: Japan by 5 points
Teams:
Italy U20: 15 Pietro Celi, 14 Luca De Novellis, 13 Giacomo Falchetto, 12 Riccardo Casarin (captain), 11 David Luisato, 10 Roberto Fasti, 9 Mattia Andretti, 8 Davide Sette, 7 Jaheim Noel Wilson, 6 Antony Italo Miranda, 5 Fabio Salvanti, 4 Simone Fardin, 3 Luca Trevisan, 2 Valerio Pelli, 1 Christian Brasini
Replacements: 16 Ettore Dinarte Patricio, 17 Giacomo Messori, 18 Emiliano Mastropasqua, 19 Enoch Opoku Gyamfi, 20 Marco Spreafichi, 21 Carlo Antonio Bianchi, 22 Nikolaj Varotto, 23 Edoardo Vitale
Japan U20: 15 Ryuto Koga, 14 Shinnosuke Uchida, 13 Rio Iwakura, 12 Tsunehidemichi Fukuda (captain), 11 Isa Fukada, 10 Takeru Niwa, 9 Soshi Kataoka, 8 Akihiro Tsubone (captain), 7 Kise Sin, 6 Riku Fujikubo, 5 Masoto Hyakutake, 4 Kotaro Kumagae, 3 Haruto Sasaki, 2 Sota Miura, 1 Song Ha Ri
Replacements: 16 Seia Kawanai, 17 Keigo Aruga, 18 Kanta Kawagoe, 19 Taiga Yamazaki, 20 Masato Yanase, 21 Kohaku Suda, 22 Yuta Otabe, 23 Yura Morioka
Referee: Ru Campbell (SRU)
Assistant Referees: George Selwood (RFU) & Papuna Tchiqaberidze (GRU)
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (URU)
South Africa v Georgia
(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 20.30; 18.30 SA Time; 16.30 GMT)
Prediction:
Rugby365: South Africa by 25 points
Teams:
Georgia U20: 15 Nikoloz Khalvashi, 14 Luka Tabatadze, 13 Data Akhvlediani, 12 Davit Barbakadze, 11 Leonide Saldadze, 10 Mate Makharadze, 9 Daviti Tsiklauri, 8 Mikheil Shioshvili, 7 Luka Narsia (captain), 6 Giorgi Zazadze, 5 Nikoloz Chkhortolia, 4 Giorgi Meparishvili, 3 Levani Ezieshvili, 2 Giorgi Agniashvili, 1 Luka Iaseshvili
Replacements: 16 David Archvadze, 17 Nikoloz Balanchivadze, 18 Saba Nozadze, 19 Andria Bilanishvili, 20 Irakli Kolbaia, 21 Temuri Dzodzuashvili, 22 Demetre Devdariani, 23 Davit Arobelidze
South Africa: 15 Akahluwa Boqwana, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Samuel Badenhorst, 12 Markus Muller, 11 Jack Benade, 10 Luan Giliomee, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Kebotile Maake, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Wasi Vyambwera, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele (captain), 1 Oliver Reid.
Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Rambo Kubheka, 18 Luan van der Berg, 19 Jaythen Orange, 20 Risima Khosa, 21 Jayden Brits, 22 Jordan Steenkamp, 23 Alzeadon Felix.
Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)
Assistant Referees: Kevin Bralley (FFR) & Ben Connor (WRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
