Under-20 Championship, Semifinals - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: After making a few rotational changes for their last Pool A match against Scotland, which the SA Under-20s won by 73-14 in Calvisano, Foote has selected mainly the same combination that defeated Australia and England in their first two group games.
For Monday’s important knockout match with Los Pumitas, Demitre Erasmus is back at outside centre after missing the England clash due to illness and coming off the bench against Scotland.
Jaco Williams is retained at left wing for his second start in a row since replacing Siya Ndlozi, who returned home with a hamstring injury sustained against England.
The Junior Bok pack remains the same as the combination that faced Australia and England, with Norton leading a starting team that have impressed with their physicality and ability to create plenty of scoring opportunities with their speedy outside backs.
However, Foote has opted for six forwards and two backs on the bench for the semifinal in a bid to use their explosive forwards and attack the Argentina pack, with No.8 Stephanus Linde now the extra forward among the replacements.
Foote said it was a tough task to select the team to face Argentina: “It was so difficult to leave out anybody because the players did so well against Scotland.
“My message to those who weren’t selected for the match-23 is to help us prepare the starting team as best as we can.”
According to Foote, Argentina’s forward prowess will be a huge test for the SA U20s, which is one of the reasons why he has decided to go with a six-two split on the bench.
“The Argentinians are very confrontational and physical, and they play with lots of passion,” he said.
“We know we are in for a fight, which is why we went for six forwards on the bench, because we have so much respect for them.”
The SA U20s are one of three Southern Hemisphere teams in the world championship semifinals, alongside Argentina and New Zealand, who face France in their play-off.
See below for Monday’s team and predictions!
Monday, July 14:
Ninth-place Semifinals:
Georgia v Spain
(Payanini Center, Verona – Kick-off: 15.30; 17.30 GET; 13.30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Georgia by two points.
Teams:
Georgia: 15 Luka Takaishvili, 14 Sandro Meskhidze, 13 Data Akhvlediani, 12 Nugzari Kevkhishvili, 11 Luka Keshelava, 10 Giorgi Jashi, 9 Giorgi Spanderashvili, 8 Mikheil Shioshvili, 7 Luka Narsia, 6 Giorgi Ardzenadze, 5 Gagui Margvelashvili, 4 Temur Tshulukidze (captain), 3 Mate Ghurtskaia, 2 Mikheil Khakhubia, 1 Bachuki Baratashvili.
Replacements: 16 Shota Kheladze, 17 Giorgi Turashvili, 18 Giorgi Meskhidze, 19 Davit Baramia, 20 Nika Abesadze, 21 Temuri Dzodzuashvili, 22 Saba Sharvashidze, 23 Sando Sesiashvili.
Spain: 15 Telmo Fisher Obieta, 14 Pablo Mateos, 13 Unax Zuriarrain, 12 Jaime Powys, 11 Pelayo Serrano, 10 Gonzalo Otamendi (captain), 9 Nicolas Infer, 8 Marcal Carreras Cuesta, 7 Victor Ofojetu, 6 Gael Almorin, 5 Joan Ribera, 4 Guardin Gonzalez Ciscar, 3 Emilio Gutierrez, 2 Marcos Perez Adrada, 1 Daniel Chico Ayo.
Replacements: 16 Pau Massoni, 17 Joan Barcenilla D’Onghia, 18 Guido Reyes Rendon, 19 Liam McNamee, 20 Marcos Lopez Camano, 21 Nicolas Gali, 22 Luciano Richardis, 23 Oriol Marsinyac Garcia.
Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)
Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear (WRU), Luca Bisetto (FIR)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
Ireland v Scotland
(Payanini Center, Verona – Kick-off: 18.00; 17.00 UK & Ireland time; 16.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Ireland by 10 points.
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Daniel Green, 14 Paidi Farrell, 13 Ciarán Mangan, 12 Eoghan Smyth, 11 Gene O’Leary Kareem, 10 Sam Wisniewski, 9 Clark Logan, 8 Oisin Minogue, 7 Bobby Power, 6 Michael Foy, 5 Conor Kennelly, 4 Mahon Ronan, 3 Alex Mullan, 2 Henry Walker (captain), 1 Alex Usanov.
Replacements: 16 Luke McLaughlin, 17 Paddy Moore, 18 Tom McAllister, 19 Billy Corrigan, 20 Eanna McCarthy, 21 Will Wootton, 22 Jonny Scott, 23 Charlie Molony.
Scotland: 15 Jack Brown, 14 Nairn Moncrieff, 13 Johnny Ventisei (co-captain), 12 Kerr Yule, 11 Fergus Watson, 10 Matthew Urwin, 9 Hector Patterson, 8 Reuben Logan, 7 Freddy Douglas (co-captain), 6 Oliver Duncan, 5 Bart Godsell, 4 Dylan Cockburn, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Seb Stephen, 1 Oliver McKenna.
Replacements: 16 Joe Roberts, 17 Ben White, 18 Jake Shearer, 19 Charlie Moss, 20 Mark Fyffe, 21 Noah Cowan, 22 Jack Hocking, 23 Jed Findlay.
Referee: Filippo Russo (FIR)
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle (NZR), Alex Frasson (FIR)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Fifth-place semifinals:
England v Wales
(Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana – Kick-off: 15.30; 14.30 BST; 13.30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: England by 14 points.
Teams:
England: 15 Josh Bellamy, 14 Jack Bracken, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Will Knight, 11 Campbell Ridl, 10 Ben Coen, 9 Archie McParland, 8 Connor Treacey, 7 Sam Williams, 6 Seb Kelly, 5 Tom Burrow (captain), 4 Olamide Sodeke, 3 Ollie Streeter, 2 Kepu Tuipulotu, 1 Ralph McEachran.
Replacements: 16 Louie Gulley, 17 Oli Scola, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 20 Kane James, 21 Jonny Weimann, 22 Nic Allison, 23 Noah Caluori.
Wales: 15 Jack Woods, 14 Elijah Evans, 13 Osian Roberts, 12 Steffan Emanuel, 11 Aidan Boshoff, 10 Harri Wilde, 9 Sion Davies, 8 Harry Beddall (captain), 7 Caio James, 6 Dan Gemine, 5 Nick Thomas, 4 Kenzie Jenkins, 3 Sam Scott, 2 Evan Wood, 1 Ioan Emanuel.
Replacements: 16 Jake Bowen, 17 Owain James, 18 Jac Pritchard, 19 Tom Cottle, 20 Ryan Jones, 21 Ellis Lewis, 22 Harri Ford, 23 Tom Bowen.
Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (SARU), Alberto Favaro (FIR)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Italy v Australia
(Payanini Center, Verona – Kick-off: 18.00; 16.00 GMT; 02.00 AEST Tuesday, July 15)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Australia by nine points.
Teams:
Italy: 15 Roberto Fasti, 14 Riccardo Ioannucci, 13 Federico Zanandrea (co-captain), 12 Edoardo Todaro, 11 Jules Ducros, 10 Francesco Braga, 9 Matteo Bellotto, 8 Nelson Casartelli (co-captain), 7 Carlo Antonio Bianchi, 6 Piero Gritti, 5 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 4 Tommaso Redondi, 3 Bruno Vallesi, 2 Alessio Caiolo-Serra, 1 Sergio Pelliccioli.
Replacements: 16 Sascha Mistrulli, 17 Christian Brasini, 18 Luca Trevisan, 19 Simone Fardin, 20 Giacomo Milano, 21 Damian Mori, 22 Luca Rossi, 23 Riccardo Casarin.
Australia: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Cooper Watters, 13 Dre Pakeho, 12 Malakye Enasio, 11 Shane Wilcox, 10 Joey Fowler, 9 James Martens, 8 Toby Brial, 7 Aden Ekanayake, 6 Eli Langi, 5 Eamon Doyle (captain), 4 Joe Mangelsdorf, 3 Edwin Langi, 2 Ollie Barrett, 1 Nathaniel Tiitii.
Replacements: 16 Lipina Ata, 17 Lotu Vunipola, 18 Trevor King, 19 Ollie Aylmer, 20 Beau Morrison, 21 Hwi Sharples, 22 Joe Dillon, 23 Xavier Rubens.
Referee: Tomas Bertazza (UAR)
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle (NZR), Ben Breakspear (WRU)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
Cup Semifinals:
France v New Zealand
(Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana – Kick-off: 18.00; 16.00 GMT; 04.00 NZST Tuesday, July 15)
Prediction:
@rugby365com: France by four points.
Teams:
France: 15 Jon Echegaray, 14 Tom Leveque, 13 Fabien Brau Boirie, 12 Kalvin Gourgues, 11 Xan Mousques, 10 Luka Keletaona, 9 Simon Daroque, 8 Elyjah Ibsaiene, 7 Baptiste Britz, 6 Antoine Deliance, 5 Corentin Mezou (captain), 4 Charles Kante Samba, 3 Mohamed Megherbi, 2 Lyam Akrab, 1 Samuel Jean-Christophe.
Replacements: 16 Gabin Garault, 17 Edouard-Junior Jabea Njocke, 18 Lenny Alifanety, 19 Remy Lanen, 20 Bobby Bissu, 21 Baptiste Tilloles, 22 Diego Jurd, 23 Simeli Daunivucu.
New Zealand: 15 Stanley Solomon, 14 Frank Vaenuku, 13 Cooper Roberts, 12 Jack Wiseman, 11 Maloni Kunawave, 10 Rico Simpson, 9 Dylan Pledger, 8 Mosese Bason, 7 Caleb Woodley, 6 Finn McLeod, 5 Jayden Sa, 4 Xavier Treacy, 3 Robson Faleafā, 2 Manumaua Letiu (captain), 1 Sika Pole.
Replacements: 16 Eli Oudenryn, 17 Israel Time, 18 Dane Johnston, 19 Aisake Vakasiuola, 20 Micah Fale, 21 Jai Tamati, 22 Tayne Harvey, 23 Harlyn Saunoa.
Referee: Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (SARU), Lex Weiner (USAR)
TMO: Dan Jones (RFU)
South Africa v Argentina
(Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana – Kick-off: 20.30; 20.30 SAST; 15.30 ART; 18.30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: South Africa by 12 points.
Teams:
South Africa: 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (captain), 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese.
Replacements: 16 Jaundré Schoeman, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Dominic Malgas, 23 Stephanus Linde.
Argentina: 15 Pascal Senillosa, 14 Timoteo Silva, 13 Pedro Coll, 12 Felipe Ledesma (captain), 11 Bautista Lescano, 10 Rafael Benedit, 9 Felix Corletto, 8 Agustin Garcia Campos Fiszman, 7 Santiago Neyra, 6 Tomas Dande, 5 Alvaro Garcia Iandolino, 4 Tomas Duclos, 3 Tomas Rapetti, 2 Tadeo Ledesma Arocena, 1 Diego Correa.
Replacements: 16 Jeronimo Otano, 17 Juan Rodriguez, 18 Gael Galvan, 19 Valentino Freiria, 20 Pampa Storey, 21 Valentino Reggiardo, 22 Ramon Fernandez Miranda, 23 Aquiles Vieyra.
Referee: Jérémy Rozier (FFR)
Assistant referees: Lex Weiner (USAR), Franco Rosella (FIR)
TMO: Graham Cooper (RA)
