Junior World Championship, Semifinals - Teams and Predictions

SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: Following the conclusion of the pool stages, the top four sides will battle it out for a place in the Final, whilst others will battle it out for the highest possible finish.

Defending champions South Africa will face England, whilst New Zealand will take on France in the respective semifinals on Monday, July 13.

The action, however, starts on Sunday, July 12. Japan face the USA, and Spain lock horns with Uruguay in the respective 13th-place semifinals.

In the fifth-place semifinal battle, Argentina meets Scotland, whilst Australia takes on Wales.

On Monday, hosts Georgia will face Italy in the first ninth-place semifinal, whilst Ireland take on Fiji in the second knockout clash before the start of the respective semis between the big four.

South Africa coach Kevin Foote kept the bulk of the team that defeated Wales, making just four changes in total – two in the forwards and two in the backline, respectively.

Foote said the extra recovery day between the pool phase and semifinals provided an opportunity to freshen up the squad ahead of a demanding encounter.

“We’ve made some rotational changes to the squad, mindful that we had an extra day for recovery, which came at the right time after three pool matches in a relatively short period,” said Foote.

“We have selected what we believe is an exciting team and a combination best suited to our game model against a very good England side.”

England advanced to the semifinals after winning all three of their pool matches and arrive unbeaten, just like the Junior Boks.

“England have shown their quality by winning all three of their pool games,” said Foote.

“They have a strong and successful history in this competition and will be highly motivated for this match. We have prepared well, and now it’s about executing our plan.

“These young men love representing this team and playing for South Africa.

“We are grateful to represent our country and are excited about the challenge that awaits us on Monday.”

*See all the teams and predictions below!

Sunday, July 12

13th place semifinals

Japan v USA

(AIA Arena, Kutaisi – Kick-off: 18.00 GET; 23.00 JST; 10.00 EDT; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Japan by two points

Teams:

Japan U20: 15 Ryuto Koga, 14 Shinnosuke Uchida, 13 Rio Iwakura, 12 Tsunehidemichi Fukuda, 11 Isa Fukada, 10 Takeru Niwa, 9 Soshi Kataoka, 8 Akihiro Tsubone (captain), 7 Yuta Otabe, 6 Riku Fujikubo, 5 Masato Hyakutake, 4 Masato Yanase, 3 Hurato Sasaki, 2 Koshi Tsumura, 1 Song Ha Ri
Replacements: 16 Sota Miura, 17 Keigo Aruga, 18 Keitatsu Motoyama, 19 Yuga Ichikawa, 20 Chikara Fukuda, 21 Kohaku Suda, 22 Yura Morioka, 23 Gentaro Sakata

USA U20: 15 Gavin Holder, 14 Finnian Love, 13 Dane Mitchell, 12 Leo Keesler-Venables, 11 Sialeafuhia Ofa, 10 Declan Cadden, 9 Spencer Huntley (captain), 8 Papaseea Matelau, 7 Harrison Cluff, 6 Liam Hill, 5 Frank Finicle, 4 Pierce Kelly, 3 Tyler Trower, 2 Aiden Stewart, 1 Colin Donnelly
Replacements: 16 Salesi Kafovalu, 17 Sawyer Troupe, 18 Alfie Booth, 19 Tanielu Talaepa, 20 Yiannis Efthymiopoulos, 21 Jack Firebrace, 22 Joseph Sarkees, 23 William Darbishire

Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland), Mariam Goguadze (Georgia)
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay)

Spain v Uruguay

(AIA Arena, Kutaisi – Kick-off: 20.30 GET; 18.30 CEST; 13.30 YUT; 16.30 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Spain by 10 points

Teams:

Spain U20: 15 Telmo Fisher Obieta, 14 Jorje Garreta, 13 Marcos López Camano (captain), 12 Oriol Marsinyac Garcia, 11 Pelayo Serrano, 10 Malakai Hafoka Toca, 9 Bernat Fernández, 8 Bosco Cattaneo, 7 Unax Salvador, 6 Miguel Narvarte, 5 Unax Carballo, 4 Max Artigas, 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 Marcel Cuesta, 21 Manuel Vazquez, 22 Alfonso Enciso, 23 Carlos De La Fuente

Uruguay U20: 15 Nicolas Pittaluga, 14 1Matteo Acosta, 13 Joaquin Fresnedo, 12 Vicente Alvarez, 11 Bruno Baccino, 10 Juan Francisco Pereira, 9 Mateo Ibarburu, 8 Ignacio Merli (captain), 7 Pedro Suarez, 6 Mateo Guarch, 5 Guillermo Curuchet, 4 Nicolas Mattsson, 3 Juan Francisco Bessio, 2 Sebastian Perez, 1 Dario Rodriguez
Replacements: 16 Jose Candia Sciarra, 17 German Gonzalez, 18 Sebastian Rivero, 19 Piero Veglio, 20 Alex Sonneveld, 21 Francisco Lawlor, 22 Bruno Primavesi, 23 Bautista Menchaca

Referee: Morgan White (Hong Kong China)
Assistant referees: Saba Makharadze (Georgia), Sulkhan Chikhladze (Georgia)
TMO: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China)

Fifth-place semifinals

Argentina v Scotland

(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 18.00 GET; 11.00 ART; 15.00 BST; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Argentina by 15 points

Teams:

Argentina U20: 15 Simon Pfister, 14 Bautista Lescano, 13 Ramon Fernandez, 12 Pedro Coll, 11 Joaquin Daireaux, 10 Manuel Giannantonio, 9 Benjamin Arocena, 8 Federico Torre, 7 Basilio Canas, 6 Tomas Dande (captain), 5 Felipe Hygonenq, 4 Joaquin Pascual Viale, 3 Bautista Salinas Mallea, 2 Nicolas Cambiasso, 1 Fabrizio Cebron
Replacements: 16 Manuel Cueno Camargo, 17 Laureano Diaz, 18 Federico Narvaez, 19 Jeremy Annand, 20 Franco Mizawak, 21 Juan Preumayr, 22 Federico Laporte Serpa, 23 Tomas Canedo

Scotland U20: 15 Rory McHaffie, 14 Dan Kelly, 13 Henry Kesterton, 12 Alex Bryden, 11 Nairn Moncrieff, 10 Jake Dalziel, 9 Hamish MacArthur, 8 Oliver Finlayson-Russell, 7 Harvey Preston, 6 Sam Byrd, 5 Dan Halkon, 4 Christian Lindsay, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Joe Roberts (captain), 1 William Pearce
Replacements: 16 Jack Utterson, 17 Oliver McKenna, 18 Jamie Stewart, 19 Fin Mather, 20 Archie Appleby, 21 Asa Stewart-Harris, 22 Harry Soboil, 23 Ewan Caven

Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
Assistant referees: David Vosalevu (Fiji), Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)

Australia v Wales

(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 20.30 GET; 17.30 BST; 16.30 BST; 02.30 AEST, Monday, July 13)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Australia by 17 points

Teams:

Australia U20: 15 Treyvon Pritchard, 14 Wallace Charlie, 13 Taione Taka, 12 Charlie Bird, 11 Riley Whitfeld, 10 Finn Mackay (captain), 9 Sam Blank, 8 Eli Langi, 7 Marshall Le Maitre, 6 TJ Talaileva, 5 Isaac Fonua, 4 William Ross, 3 Lehopoame Leota, 2 Ewald Kruger, 1 Jacob Job
Replacements: 16 John Greenfell, 17 Kingbenjamin Swerling-Finaipepe, 18 Edwin Langi, 19 Toby Brial, 20 Luca Cleverley, 21 Angus Grover, 22 Jonty Fowler, 23 Tom Farr-Jones

Wales U20: 15 Lewis Edwards, 14 Rhys Cummings, 13 Osian Lewis, 12 Steffan Emanuel (co-captain), 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Carwyn Leggatt Jones, 9 Sion James, 8 Evan Minto, 7 Caio James, 6 Deian Gwynne (co-captain), 5 Osian Justin Williams, 4 Will Evans, 3 Jack Pritchard, 2 Tom Howe, 1 Dylan James
Replacements: 16 Oscar Thomas, 17 George Leyland, 18 Eystyn Cook, 19 Luke Evans, 20 Alex Ridgway, 21 Cai Gealy, 22 Lloyd Lucas, 23 Bailey Cutts

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Vosalevu (Fiji), Soso Japaridze (Georgia)
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)

Monday, July 13

Ninth-place semifinals

Georgia v Italy

(AIA Arena, Kutaisi – Kick-off: 18.00 GET; 16.00 CEST; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Georgia by one point

Teams:

Georgia U20: 15 Nikoloz Khalvashi, 14 Luka Tabatadze, 13 Data Akhvlediani, 12 Davit Barbakadze, 11 Avtandili Zviadadze, 10 Mate Makharadze, 9 Temuri Dzodzuashvili, 8 Mikheil Shioshvili, 7 Luka Narsia (captain), 6 Irakli Kolbaia, 5 Davit Baramia, 4 Giorgi Meparishvili, 3 Gabriel Meparishvili, 2 David Archvadze, 1 Giorgi Turash Tursashvili
Replacements: 16 Giorgi Agniashvili, 17 Luka Iaseshvili, 18 Saba Nozadze, 19 Nikolozi Chkhortolia, 20 Giorgi Ardzenadze, 21 Giorgi Zadadze, 22 Giorgi Khonelidze, 23 Demetre Devdariani

Italy U20: 15 Pietro Celi, 14 Luca De Novellis, 13 Giacomo Falchetto, 12 Riccardo Casarin (captain), 11 Luca Rossi, 10 Roberto Fasti, 9 Mattia Andretti, 8 Jaheim Noel Wilson , 7 Davide Sette, 6 Antony Italo Miranda, 5 Enoch Opoku Gyamfi, 4 Fabio Salvanti, 3 Erik Meroi, 2 Valerio Pelli, 1 Emiliano Mastropasqua
Replacements: 16 Ettore Dinarte Patricio, 17 Christian Brasini, 18 Luca Trevisan, 19 Simone Fardin, 20 Marco Spreafichi, 21 Carlo Antonio Bianchi, 22 Nikolaj Varotto, 23 Edoardo Vitale

Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistant referees: Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland), Morgan White (Hong Kong China)
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay)

Ireland v Fiji

(AIA Arena, Kutaisi – Kick-off: 20.30 GET, 17.30 IST, 16.30 GMT; 04.30 FJT Tuesday, July 14)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Ireland by 20 points

Teams:

Ireland U20: 15 Charlie Molony, 14 Johnny O’Sullivan, 13 Jack Deegan, 12 James O’ Leary, 11 Daniel Ryan, 10 Daniel Green, 9 Christopher Barrett, 8 Diarmaid O’Connell, 7 Alex Lautsou, 6 Josh Neill, 5 Donnacha McGuire, 4 Joe Finn, 3 Sam Bishti (captain), 2 Duinn Maguire, 1 Max Doyle
Replacements: 16 Rian Handley, 17 Adam Cooper, 18 Blake McClean, 19 Sean Walsh, 20 Charlie Keane, 21 Luke Coffey, 22 Sean David Walsh, 23 Harry Waters

Fiji U20: 15 Tevita Vuniwaqa Ledua, 14 Apete Gauna Rokosua, 13 Sailosi Vodonaivalu Taka, 12 Faimalaga Tuvalu, 11 Judah Draiva, 10 Cale Maurice, 9 Isikeli Bari Ratu (co-captain), 8 Ratu Epeli Roseruvakula, 7 Mosese Tamaniceva Tuvasu Tabuakoto, 6 Isoa Koroinawai, 5 Setareki Turagacoke (co-captain), 4 Francis Peters, 3 Raymond Navunikaba, 2 Ratu Osea Dasalusalu, 1 Marika Koroi
Replacements: 16 Timoci Gadolo, 17 Isaac Jacob Rauluni, 18 Sylvestre Vakauliafa, 19 Ratu Naevo, 20 Savenaca Qabale, 21 Suliano Savenaca, 22 Netani Lesimaikimatuku, 23 Maleli Nauvasi

Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Saba Makharadze (Georgia) Mariam Goguadze (Georgia)
TMO: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China)

JWC semifinals

France v New Zealand

(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 18.00 GET; 16.00 CEST; 14.00 GMT; 02.00 NZST Tuesday, July 14)

Prediction:

Rugby365: New Zealand by two points

Teams:

France U20: 15 Axel Guillaud, 14 Paul Zwiler, 13 Adrien Drault, 12 Bastien Rasal, 11 Melvyn Rates, 10 Luka Keletaona, 9 Baptiste Tilloles, 8 Elyjah Ibsaiene, 7 Lucas Andjisseramatchi (captain), 6 Raphael Audebert, 5 Romeo Bonnard Martin, 4 Baptiste Veschambre, 3 Alexandre Langlois, 2 Gabin Garault, 1 Matheo Frisach
Replacements: 16 Elia Masi, 17 Edouard Jabea Njocke, 18 Mael Turpin, 19 Leo Michaux, 20 Bobby Bissu, 21 Valentin Hutteau, 22 Diego Jurd, 23 Hugo Avogardo

New Zealand U20: 15 Cohen Norrie, 14 Ollie Guerin, 13 Siale Pahulu, 12 Haki Wiseman (captain), 11 David Lewai, 10 Mika Muliaina, 9 Charlie Sinton, 8 Patrick Mauga, 7 Caleb Woodley, 6 Bradley Tocker, 5 Jake Frost, 4 Max Fale, 3 Ethan Webber, 2 Josh Findlay, 1 Henry Stuart
Replacements: 16 Xavier Leota, 17 James Moore, 18 Dale Johnston, 19 Finn McLeod, 20 Micah Fale, 21 Jackson Hughan, 22 Logan Williams, 23 Kobe Brownlee

Referee: George Selwood (England)
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane (Australia), Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)

South Africa v England

(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 20.30 GET; 18.30 SAST, 17.30 BST; 16.30 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: South Africa by eight points

Teams:

South Africa U20: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Gert Kemp, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Kebotile Maake, 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 Thomas Beling, 21 Risima Khosa, 22 Jayden Brits, 23 Alzeadon Felix

England U20: 15 James Pater, 14 Tylor Offiah, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Will Knight, 11 Sam Winters, 10 Hugh Shields, 9 Lucas Friday, 8 Connor Treacey (captain), 7 Seb Kelly, 6 Tate Williams, 5 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 4 Elliot Williams, 3 Ollie Streeter, 2 Jimmy Staples, 1 Oliver Scola
Replacements: 16 Jerold Gorleku, 17 Oliver Spencer, 18 Sonny Tonga’uiha, 19 Patrick Hogg, 20 George Marsh, 21 Jonny Weimann, 22 Finn Keylock, 23 George Pearson

Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane (Australia), Saba Abulashvili (Georgia)
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)