Preview: JWC Finals Day
On Sunday, the Junior World Championship reaches its final day which will decide whether New Zealand or England end the tournament in Wales as the first-ever winner of the Junior World Championship.
At the other end of the spectrum it will also decide which team of USA and Japan will be relegated to the Junior World Trophy next year, to be replaced in the Championship by Uruguay.
Fixtures:
21 June
15/16th: Japan vs USA in Wrexham
13/14th: Fiji vs Tonga in Wrexham
22 June
11/12th: Italy vs Canada in Cardiff
9/10th: Ireland vs Scotland in Newport
7/8th: Samoa vs Argentina in Newport
5/6th: France vs Australia in Cardiff
3rd/4th: Wales vs South Africa in Swansea
1st/2nd: New Zealand vs England in Swansea
New Zealand vs England on Sunday, 22 June
Top seeds New Zealand and sixth seeds England will contest the final at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea on Sunday (7pm) after coming through their respective semifinals in midweek.
New Zealand, who have scored 204 points in their four games to date, will start as rather warm favourites against an England side who have defied their ranking to see off Australia and South Africa along the way.
Nigel Redman’s side have shown pace and power throughout the pool stages and semi final game against the young Springboks with Joe Simpson, Miles Benjamin and Hugo Ellis leading from the front.
But with captain Chris Smith leading a New Zealand side that boasts senior Super 14 players in Zac Guildford, Sean Maitland, Kade Poki and Masi Manu, it will, without doubt, provide England with their toughest challenge so far.
England Under-20: 15 Noah Cato, 14 Mark Odejobi, 13 Luke Eves, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Alex Goode, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Hugo Ellis (captain), 7 Calum Clark, 6 Jon Fisher, 5 Gregor Gillanders, 4 Ben Thomas, 3 Alex Corbisiero, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Nathan Catt.
Replacements: 16 Scott Freer, 17 Billy Moss, 18 Scott Hobson, 19 Matthew Cox, 20 Ben Youngs, 21 Rob Miller, 22 Seb Stegmann.
Wales vs South Africa on Sunday, 22 June
Wales will be hoping to use home advantage once again when they aim to outgun South Africa in Swansea (Sunday, 5pm) to finish third.
Coach Patrick Horgan has been monitoring his injured troops since Wednesday’s bruising semi final against the All Blacks and will be asking for one more heroic performance against last season’s Under 19 runners up.
Despite going down 31-6 at Rodney Parade, the hosts were combative and competitive and displayed a defensive strength which they will need against the Baby Boks.
Horgan said, “Obviously it was disappointing to have missed out on a place in the final, but we will certainly be looking to sign off with a victory on Sunday.”
SA Under-20: 15 Wilton Pietersen, 14 Cecil Afrika, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Francois Brummer, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze (captain), 7 Thiliphaut Marole, 6 Nick Koster, 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Henri Bantjes, 1 Jean-Jacques Rossouw.
Replacements: 16 PJ van Vuuren, 17 Frederick Kirsten, 18 Corné Fourie, 19 Sabelo Nhlapo, 20 Johan van Deventer, 21 Dewaldt Duvenhage, 22 Vainon Willis.
Wales Under-20: Jason Tovey, Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Rhys Williams, Nathan Rees, Gareth Owen, Gareth Williams, Ryan Bevington, Ryan Prosser, Scott Andrews, Haydn Pugh, Ashley Sweet, Josh Turnbull (captain), Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Phillips.
Replacements: Ben Roberts, Sam Hobbs, Pat Palmer, Jake Thomas, Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar, Daniel Evans
France vs Australia on Sunday, 22 June
The race for fifth place unfolds at Cardiff Arms Park (Sunday, 3pm) where the highly fancied Australians are aiming to put behind them the disappointment of losing out to England in their final pool game at Newport. France, who lost out to Wales in their deciding pool game provide the opposition.
Argentina vs Samoa on Sunday, 22 June
Argentina and Samoa meet in Newport for 7th place (Sunday, 3pm)
Scotland vs Ireland on Sunday, 22 June
It’s an all Celtic affair in the battle for ninth place – Ireland and Scotland come together at Rodney Parade in Newport (Sunday, 1pm) after reaching their play off final via the back door.
Scotland needed extra time to edge out Canada whilst Ireland were overtime winners against the Italians in Cardiff.
Italy vs Canada on Sunday, 22 June
Italy and Canada are the sides battling it out for 11th place in Cardiff (Sunday, 1pm),
Fiji vs Tonga on Saturday, 21 June
These two Island teams meet in the 13th place play-off (5pm).
Fiji: 15 William Saukuru, 14 Patemio Kocoturaga, 13 Isikeli Vuruna, 12 Eroni Tara, 11 Wiliame Umu, 10 Sakiusa Malai, 9 Anare Vakawaletabua, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Jese Cirikisuva (captain), 6 Uraia Vecenadavui, 5 Tevita Tuiloa, 4 Temo Vakaloloma, 3 Jeke Lalai, 2 Saula Qalomai, 1 Serupepeli Qaranivalu
Replacements: Seru Cakobau, Saulo Romumu, Waqabaca Kotobalavu, Ofa Unaloto, Alexander Rokobaro, Peni Rokodiva, John Stewart
USA vs Japan on Saturday, 21 June
Relegation faces the loser.
Match Officials
15/16th: Japan vs USA in Wrexham
Referee: James Bolabiu (Fiji)
Touch judges: Robin Goodliffe (England), Andrea Pasquin (Italy)
Assessor: Tappe Henning (IRB)
13/14th: Fiji vs Tonga in Wrexham
Referee: Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan)
Touch judges: Robin Goodliffe (England), Andrea Pasquin (Italy)
Assessor: Tappe Henning (IRB)
11/12th: Italy vs Canada in Cardiff
Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Touch judges: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland), David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Assessor: Bob Francis (New Zealand)
9/10th: Ireland vs Scotland in Newport
Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Touch judges: David Bodilly (Wales), David Jones (Wales)
Assessor: Les Peard (Wales)
7/8th: Samoa vs Argentina in Newport
Referee: James Leckie (Australia)
Touch judges: David Bodilly (Wales), David Jones (Wales)
Assessor: Les Peard (Wales)
5/6th: France vs Australia in Cardiff
Referee: Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
Touch judges: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland), David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Assessor: Bob Francis (New Zealand)
3rd/4th: Wales vs South Africa in Swansea
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Touch judges: James Bolabiu (Fiji), Robin Goodliffe
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (France)/James Bailey (Wales)
Television match official: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)/Andrew Small (England)
1st/2nd: New Zealand vs England in Swansea
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Touch judges: James Bolabiu (Fiji), Robin Goodliffe
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (France)/James Bailey (Wales)
Television match official: Derek Bevan (Wales)
