Under-20 World Championship, Play-offs - Team tracker
PREVIEW: The hosts South Africa will take on a very motivated Ireland side in the first semifinal of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship on Sunday, July 9.
The Junior Boks finished top of Pool C after they denied Georgia a first-ever U20 Championship semifinal with a comeback 24-16 victory against Argentina in the final match of the day.
Argentina led from the fourth minute at Athlone Sports Stadium until Cornè Beets’ two-try salvo in the closing stages denied Georgia a historic place in the semifinals on the head-to-head rule.
It has been a very emotional trip for the Ireland side.
The Irish were the winners of Pool B after overcoming Fiji 47-27 at Danie Craven Stadium on an emotional Tuesday which saw a moment of silence observed before every match following the tragic death of Munster elite performance officer and former Scotland international Greig Oliver, the father of current Ireland U20 Jack Oliver, while he was in South Africa.
Ireland’s squad had also been rocked by the death of 18-year-olds Andrew O’Donnell and Max Wall, who were known to many of the players, on the Greek island of Ios over the weekend.
Defending champions France will go into the semifinals as the top seeds after a 43-19 victory over Wales saw them top Pool A with the only perfect record in this year’s competition in the Western Cape of South Africa.
France’s reward is a semifinal against England, who edged New Zealand on points difference to claim the best runner-up position after both finished on 10 competition points.
That would have come as a relief to England after they let slip a lead against Australia to draw for the second time in the 2023 Championship, the 22-22 stalemate coming after a 34-34 draw with Ireland on the opening day.
New Zealand ran out 62-19 winners over Japan, but it wasn’t enough to overhaul England’s +66 points difference.
New Zealand and Australia will kick off proceedings at the Athlone Stadium on Sunday in the fifth-placed semifinal before the semifinals take centre stage with Ireland versus hosts South Africa followed by defending champions France against England.
Meanwhile, Italy v Fiji ninth place semifinal will get play underway on Sunday at Paarl Gymnasium, followed by Argentina against Japan and the fifth-place semifinal between Georgia and Wales.
*All the play-off teams follow below. They will be updated as they become available …
Sunday, July 9
Italy v Fiji
(Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl, South Africa – Kick-off: 11.00; 09.00 GMT)
Teams:
Italy: 15 Alessandro Gesi, 14 Lorenzo Elettri, 13 Dewi Passarella, 12 Nicola Bozzo, 11 Matthias Douglas, 10 Simone Brisighella, 9 Sebastiano Battara, 8 Jacopo Botturi, 7 David Odiase, 6 Filippo Lavorenti, 5 Alex Mattioli, 4 Enrico Pontarini, 3 Marcos Francesco Gallorini, 2 Giovanni Quattrini (captain), 1 Samuele Taddei
Replacements: 16 Nicholas Gasperini, 17 Riccardo Bartolini, 18 Federico Pisani, 19 Pietro Turrisi, 20 Carlos Berlese, 21 Lorenzo Casilio, 22 Filippo Bozzoni, 23 Giovanni Sante
Fiji: 15 Isikeli Basiyalo, 14 Sireli Masiwini, 13 Waqa Nalaga, 12 Pateresio Finau, 11 Manieta Navonovono, 10 Isaiah Ravula, 9 Philip Baselala, 8 Juda Saumaisue, 7 Moti Murray (captain), 6 Sakenasa Nalasi, 5 Nalani May, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Breyton Legge, 2 Ratu Kavaia Tagivetaua, 1 Moses McGoon
Replacements: 16 Josh Kina, 17 Marika Toga, 18 Lasaro Vuluma, 19 Semi Tokitani, 20 Emosi Natubailagi, 21 Zach Kama, 22 Frank Ralogaivau, 23 Bronson Lee
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant Referees: Damian Schneider (Argentina), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Argentina v Japan
(Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl, South Africa – Kick-off: 13.00; 11.30 GMT)
Teams:
Argentina: 15 Felipe Mallía, 14 Mateo Soler, 13 Ernesto Giudice, 12 Nicolás López González, 11 Ignacio Lucero, 10 Valentino Dicapua, 9 Agustín Moyano, 8 Eliseo Chiavassa (captain), 7 Felipe Bares, 6 Facundo García Hamilton, 5 Efraín Elías, 4 Federico Rolotti, 3 Renzo Zanella, 2 Juan Manuel Vivas, 1 Tomás Bartolini
Replacements: 16 Valentino Minoyetti, 17 Matías Mendrano, 18 Tomás Rapetti, 19 Mateo Lorezon, 20 Aitor Bildosola, 21 Nicolás Viola, 22 Juan Baronio, 23 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo
Japan: 15 Yoshitaka Yazaki, 14 Renji Oike, 13 Yoshiki Omachi (captain), 12 Kengo Nonaka, 11 Kosho Muto, 10 Kanjiro Naramoto, 9 Asahi Doei, 8 Tenta Kobayashi, 7 Tomoki Kusuda, 6 Koki Miyashita, 5 Harry Willard, 4 Yuzuki Sasaki, 3 Riku Tomita, 2 Kota Nagashima, 1 Hwang Sena
Replacements: 16 Takashi Omoto, 17 Tomoki Yumbe, 18 Kosuke Sugiura, 19 Kantaro Tajima, 20 Bunsuke Kurita, 21 Taison Mogami, 22 Yutaro Takahashi, 23 Shota Taira
Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Dylen November (South Africa)
TMO: Tom Foley (England)
New Zealand v Australia
(Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa – Kick-off: 14.00; 12.00 GMT)
Teams
New Zealand: 15 Harry Godfrey, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Aki Tuivailala, 12 Leo Gordon, 11 Macca Springer, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Noah Hotham (captain), 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo, 6 Malachi Wrampling, 5 Will Stodart, 4 Tom Allen, 3 Siale Lauaki, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Malakai Hala
Replacements: 16 Vernon Bason, 17 Hunter Fahey, 18 Gabe Robinson, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Che Clarke, 21 Jordi Viljoen, 22 Xavi Taele, 23 Cody Vai
Australia: 15 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 14 Tim Ryan, 13 Henry O’Donnell, 12 Taj Annan, 11 Ronan Leahy, 10 Jack Bowen, 9 Teddy Wilson (captain), 8 Leafi Heka, 7 Nick Baker, 6 Lachlan Hooper, 5 Daniel Maiava-Tapusoa, 4 Toby Macpherson, 3 Nick Bloomfield, 2 Max Craig, 1 Jack Barrett.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Marley Pearce, 18 Trevor King, 19 Ollie McCrea, 20 John Bryant, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Mason Gordon , 23 David Vaihu.
Referee: Takehito Namekawa (Japan)
Assistant Referees: Ben Breakspear (Wales), Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Georgia v Wales
(Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl, South Africa – Kick-off: 16.00; 14.00 GMT)
Teams:
Georgia: 15 Luka Tsirekidze, 14 Shako Aptsiauri, 13 Tornike Kakhoidze, 12 Nikoloz Ragoevi, 11 Luka Khorbaladze, 10 Petre Khutsishvili, 9 Sandro Jigauri, 8 Lasha Tsikhistavi (captain), 7 Tornike Ganiashvili, 6 Rati Zazadze, 5 Giorgi Nikoladze, 4 Guram Ganiashvili, 3 Irakli Aptsiauri, 2 Tamaz Tchamiashvili, 1 Sergo Abramishvili
Replacements: 16 Basa Khonelidze, 17 Giorgi Mamaiashvili, 18 Davit Mchedlidze, 19 Giorgi Gergedava, 20 Nika Lomidze, 21 Davit Khuroshvili, 22 Gela Kheladze, 23 Luka Kobauri
Wales: 15 Harri Houston, 14 Tom Florence, 13 Louie Hennessey, 12 Joe Westwood, 11 Llien Morgan, 10 Daniel Edwards, 9 Archie Hughes, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Seb Driscoll, 6 Ryan Woodman (captain), 5 Jonny Green, 4 Liam Edwards, 3 Kian Hire, 2 Lewis Lloyd, 1 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths.
Replacements: 16 Lewis Morgan, 17 Josh Morse, 18 Louis Fletcher, 19 Mackenzie Martin, 20 Lucas De La Rua, 21 Bryn Bradley, 22 Harri Wilde, 23 Harri Williams.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Damian Schneider (Argentina), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Ireland v South Africa
(Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa – Kick-off: 16.30; 14.30 GMT)
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Henry McErlean, 14 Andrew Osborne, 13 Hugh Gavin, 12 John Devine, 11 James Nicholson, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Fintan Gunne, 8 Brian Gleeson, 7 Ruadhan Quinn, 6 Diarmuid Mangan, 5 Conor O’Tighearnaigh, 4 Charlie Irvine, 3 Ronan Foxe, 2 Gus McCarthy (captain), 1 Paddy McCarthy.
Replacements: 16 Danny Sheahan, 17 George Hadden, 18 Fiachna Barrett, 19 Evan O’Connell, 20 Dan Barron, 21 Oscar Cawley, 22 Matthew Lynch, 23 Sam Berman.
South Africa: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Jurenzo Julius, 13 Katlego Letebele, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Michael Annies, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Corne Beets, 7 Ghudian van Reenen, 6 Paul de Villiers (captain), 5 Jacob van Heerden, 4 Coetzee le Roux, 3 Dian Heunis, 2 Juan Else, 1 Cornè Lavagna.
Replacements: 16 Samuel Kotze, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Jannes Potgieter, 20 Abulele Ndabambi, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Damian Markus, 23 Regan Izaks.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane (Australia), Christopher Allison (South Africa)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
France v England
(Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa – Kick-off: 19.00; 17.00 GMT)
Teams:
France: 15 Mathis Ferté, 14 Maël Moustin, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Paul Costes, 11 Théo Attissogbé, 10 Hugo Reus, 9 Baptiste Jauneau, 8 Marko Gazzotti, 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 Lenni Nouchi (captain), 5 Posolo Tuilagi, 4 Hugo Auradou, 3 Zaccharie Affane, 2 Pierre Jouvin, 1 Louis Penverne
Replacements: 16 Thomas Lacombre, 17 Lino Julien, 18 Thomas Duchene, 19 Brent Liufau, 20 Matthis Castro Ferreira, 21 Andy Timo, 22 Léo Carbonneau, 23 Clément Mondinat
England: 15 Sam Harris, 14 Tobias Elliott, 13 Joe Jenkins, 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Cassius Cleaves, 10 Louie Johnson, 9 Charlie Bracken, 8 Chandler Cunningham-South, 7 Greg Fisilau, 6 Nathan Michelow, 5 Lewis Chessum (captain), 4 Harry Browne, 3 Afolabi Fasogbon, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 1 Archie McArthur.
Replacements: 16 Finn Theobald-Thomas, 17 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 18 James Halliwell, 19 Finn Carnduff, 20 Tristan Woodman, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Connor Slevin, 23 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White.
Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Ben Breakspear (Wales), Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)
