Junior World Championship, Finals - Teams and Predictions

PREVIEW: Kevin Foote, who is in his second season at the helm of the Junior Boks, said his squad has used the week effectively to prepare for a formidable French outfit in the World Rugby Junior World Championship Final.

France and defending champions South Africa have illuminated this year’s tournament, with the Junior Springboks now looking to retain the trophy for the first time and become the first to go back-to-back since their opponents in 2018-19.

They edged out New Zealand 23-15 in a classic Final in Rovigo last year and showed their quality when defeating England 53-37 in an action-packed semifinal in Tbilisi on Monday.

“This group has been together since the beginning of the year, and they understand the way we want to play,” said Foote.

“We’ve used this week to sharpen our readiness and focus on the areas where we felt we could improve.

“The pleasing aspect of this group is their honesty and accountability. The players are open with each other in their assessments, and together we’ve identified solutions and worked hard on those areas.

“We believe we have prepared well for what will be a massive challenge.”

Foote praised the squad’s efforts throughout the tournament, crediting the entire group for earning a place in a second successive final.

“The outstanding quality of this group is the bond they share and how much they enjoy representing South Africa. We are still reviewing our game and know we have room to keep pushing to get better.

“France are a very formidable side and fully deserve their place in the Final. Their performances in the recent JWC and the Six Nations show that they understand how to perform when playing knockout rugby.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s encounter, Foote said the Junior Boks would remain true to their identity while ensuring they are tactically disciplined.

“We want to continue playing the South African way,” he said. “That means using our physicality to create momentum, winning the gain-line battle and playing with tempo and intensity.

“Our set-piece will be important in providing a solid platform, but we will also need to be smart and accurate, particularly on defence.

“Our preparations have gone extremely well. The players have clarity around our game model, they have confidence in one another, and there is genuine excitement about the opportunity that lies ahead.”

France, whose last title success came in South Africa in 2023, are preparing for their fifth Final and will be brimming with confidence after a dramatic late try from centre Adrien Drault clinched a 26-22 win against New Zealand in their semifinal.

France and South Africa have not faced each other in the Junior World Championship since the 2019 semifinal, which Les Bleuets won 20-7. However, this isn’t the first time they have met at this venue, the Junior Springboks running out 37-15 winners in the 2017 third-place play-off after the sides played out the first-ever draw in the pool stages (23-23) at Avchala Stadium.

The Junior Springboks are on their longest winning run at the tournament – 10 victories – as they look to retain their crown in what will be only their fourth Junior World Championship Final.

*See all the teams and predictions below!

Friday, July 17:

15th-place play-off

USA v Uruguay
(AIA Arena, Kutaisi – Kick-off: 18.00 GET; 10.00 EDT; 11.00 UYT; 14.00 GMT)

Prediction

Rugby365: Uruguay by seven points.

Teams:

USA U20: 15 Gavin Holder, 14 Marco Lapierre, 13 Dane Mitchell, 12 William Darbishire, 11 Sialeafuhia Ofa, 10 Declan Cadden, 9 Spencer Huntley (captain), 8 Papaseea Matelau, 7 Frank Finicle, 6 Harrison Cluff, 5 Lyndon Bailey, 4 Pierce Kelly, 3 Tyler Trower, 2 Aiden Stewart, 1 Colin Donnelly.
Replacements: 16 Salesi Kafovalu, 17 Sawyer Troupe, 18 Oliver Kirk, 19 Tanielu Talaepa, 20 Liam Hill, 21 Jameson Beatty, 22 Finnian Love, 23 Jack Firebrace.

Uruguay U20: 15 Bautista Menchaca, 14 Alfonso Fernandez, 13 Bruno Baccino, 12 Vicente Alvarez, 11 Bruno Primavesi, 10 Juan Francisco Pereira, 9 Pierre Cotarmanac’h, 8 Ignacio Merli (captain), 7 Alex Sonneveld, 6 Pedro Suarez, 5 Guillermo Curuchet, 4 Nicolas Mattsson, 3 Juan Manuel Sagario, 2 Sebastian Perez, 1 Dario Rodriguez.
Replacements: 16 Jose Candia Sciarra, 17 German Gonzalez, 18 Juan Francisco Bessio, 19 Felipe Costa, 20 Mateo Guarch, 21 Francisco Lawlor, 22 Mateo Ibarburu, 23 Nicolas Pittaluga.

Referee: David Vosalevu (Fiji)
Assistant referees: Morgan White (Hong Kong China), Mariam Goguadze (Georgia)
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)

Seven-place play-off

Argentina v Australia
(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 18.00 GET; 11.00 ART; 14.00 GMT; 00.00 AEST Saturday, July 18)

Prediction

Rugby365: Argentina by 10 points.

Teams:

Argentina U20: 15 Simon Pfister, 14 Bautista Lescano, 13 Ramon Fernandez, 12 Pedro Coll, 11 Benjamin Ledesma Arocena, 10 Federico Serpa Laporte, 9 Juan Preumayr, 8 Basilio Canas, 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 Laureano Diaz, 18 Federico Narvaez, 19 Tiziano Rocha, 20 Franco Mizawak, 21 Valentino Reggiardo, 22 Manuel Giannantonio, 23 Tomas Canedo.

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

Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison (South Africa), Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay)

13th-place play-off

Japan v Spain
(AIA Arena, Kutaisi – Kick-off: 20.30 GET; 18.30 CEST; 16.30 GMT; 01.30 JST Saturday, July 18)

Prediction

Rugby365: Japan by 11 points.

Teams:

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

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 Marcal Carreras Cuesta (captain), 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 Bosco Cattaneo, 21 Alfonso Enciso, 22 Inigo Rapallo, 23 Manex Pujana Lendinez.

Referee: Saba Makharadze (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Luke Rogan (USA), Mariam Goguadze (Georgia)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)

Fifth-place play-off

Scotland v Wales
(Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 20.30 GET; 17.30 BST; 16.30 GMT)

Prediction

Rugby365: Scotland by 25 points.

Teams:

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 (captain), 1 Oliver McKenna.
Replacements: 16 Jamie McAughtrie, 17 Jamie Stewart, 18 Jackson Rennie, 19 Fin Mather, 20 Oliver Finlayson-Russell, 21 Matthew Fick, 22 Calum Jessop, 23 Ewan Caven.

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 Davies, 8 Deian Gwynne (co-captain), 7 Caio James, 6 Tom Cottle, 5 Osian Justin Williams, 4 Will Evans, 3 Jac Pritchard, 2 Tom Howe, 1 George Leyland.
Replacements: 16 Oscar Thomas, 17 Hudson Nevin, 18 Yestyn Cook, 19 Alex Ridgway, 20 Sam Morgan, 21 Cai Gealy, 22 Lloyd Lucas, 23 Bailey Cutts.

Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina)
Assistant referees: George Selwood (England), Saba Abulashvili (Georgia)
TMO: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China)

Saturday, July 18:

11th-place play-off

Georgia v Fiji
(AIA Arena, Kutaisi – Kick-off: 18.00 GET; 14.00 GMT; 02.00 FJT Sunday, July 19)

Prediction

Rugby365: Georgia by 10 points.

Teams:

Georgia U20: 15 Nikoloz Khalvashi, 14 Luka Tabatadze, 13 Leonide Saldadze, 12 Davit Barbakadze, 11 Davit Arobelidze, 10 Mate Makharadze, 9 Giorgi Khonelidze, 8 Mikheil Shioshvili, 7 Luka Narsia (captain), 6 Giorgi Ardzenadze, 5 Davit Baramia, 4 Giorgi Meparishvili, 3 Levani Ezieshvili, 2 Giorgi Agniashvili, 1 Giorgi Turash Tursashvili.
Replacements: 16 Nikolozi Garibashvili, 17 Saba Nozadze, 18 Gabriel Razmadze, 19 Nikolozi Chkhortolia, 20 Giorgi Zazadze, 21 Temuri Dzodzuashvili, 22 Demetre Devdariani, 23 Data Akhvlediani.

Fiji U20: 15 Savenaca Vagadai, 14 Sevuloni Satala, 13 Tevita Vuniwaqa Ledua, 12 Faimalaga Tuvalu, 11 Apete Gauna Rokosua, 10 Cale Maurice, 9 Isikeli Bari Ratu (co-captain), 8 Isoa Koroinawai (captain), 7 Suliano Savenaca, 6 Savenaca Qabale, 5 Francis Peters, 4 Ratu Naevo, 3 Jehoshua Ratulomai, 2 Isaac Jacob Rauluni, 1 Marika Koroi.
Replacements: 16 Ratu Dasalusalu, 17 Sylvestre Vakauliafa, 18 Raymond Navunikaba, 19 Marley Chandra, 20 Mosese Tabuakoto, 21 Ravuama Samo, 22 Epeli Vocea, 23 Maleli Nauvasi.

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Luke Rogan (USA), Morgan White (Hong Kong China)
TMO: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China)

Third-place play-off

New Zealand v England
(Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 18.00 GET; 15.00 BST 14.00 GMT; 02.00 NZST Sunday, July 19)

Prediction

Rugby365: New Zealand by 11 points.

Teams:

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

England U20: 15 George Pearson, 14 Tylor Offiah, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Finn Keylock, 11 Sam Winters, 10 Hugh Shields, 9 Jonny Weimann, 8 George Marsh, 7 Jack Lewis, 6 Tate Williams, 5 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (captain), 4 Elliot Williams, 3 Ollie Streeter, 2 Jimmy Staples, 1 Oliver Scola
Replacements: 16 Jerold Gorleku, 17 Alan Poku, 18 Sonny Tonga’uiha, 19 Feddie Ogden-Metherell, 20 Kealan Freeman-Price, 21 Lucas Friday, 22 Will Knight, 23 Zac Finch.

Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison (South Africa), Kevin Bralley (France)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)

Ninth-place play-off

Italy v Ireland
(AIA Arena, Kutaisi – Kick-off: 20.30 GET; 18.30 CEST; 17.30 IST; 16.30 GMT)

Prediction

Rugby365: Ireland by six points.

Teams:

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 Simone Fardin, 3 Erik Meroi, 2 Valerio Pelli, 1 Emiliano Mastropasqua.
Replacements: 16 Ettore Dinarte Patricio, 17 Giacomo Messori, 18 Luca Trevisan, 19 Fabio Salvanti, 20 Carlo Antonio Bianchi, 21 Nikolaj Varotto, 22 Alessandro Ragusi, 23 Alessio Scaramazza.

Ireland U20: 15 Daniel Green, 14 Charlie Molony, 13 Robert Careny, 12 James O’ Leary, 11 Daniel Ryan, 10 Charlie O’Shea, 9 Christopher Barrett, 8 Diarmaid O’Connell, 7 Alex Lautsou, 6 Josh Neill (captain), 5 Donnacha McGuire, 4 Joe Finn, 3 Blake McClean, 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.

Referee: Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Saba Makharadze (Georgia), David Vosalevu (France)
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay)

Final:

France v South Africa
(Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi – Kick-off: 20.30 GET; 18.30 SAST; 16.30 GMT)

Prediction

Rugby365: South Africa by three points.

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.

South Africa U20: 15 Alzeadon Felix, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Wasi Vyambwera, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Risima Khosa, 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 Gert Kemp, 22 Jayden Brits, 23 Samuel Badenhorst.

Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia)
Assistant referees: George Selwood (England), Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina)
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)