Junior Boks crowned world champions: Every result from the final day

South Africa U20 have won the World Rugby U20 Championship, beating New Zealand 23-15 in Rovigo on Saturday.

The victory sees the Junior Springboks take home their first U20 crown since 2012 following a campaign where they looked the strongest side throughout.

The final was a tight contest, however, with South Africa starting the game strongly but only holding a 13-5 lead at half time despite New Zealand losing loosehead Sika Pole to a red card after 20 minutes.

But, much like the Springboks, South Africa’s pack came to the fore in the final quarter, allowing them to control the match and seal the victory, with full-back Gilermo Mentoe chasing a kick from star Haashim Pead off the back of another strong scrum to secure the win.

New Zealand wing Maloni Kunawave did score a try soon after reduce South Africa’s lead, but it was too little too late.

Earlier in the day, Ireland secured 11th place with an epic 38-37 victory over Spain in Calvisano, with hooker Henry Walker scoring his second try of the match in the dying seconds to snatch victory.

At the same time in Rovigo, hosts Italy were securing seventh place with a 31-23 win over Wales thanks to a double from No.8 Nelson Casartelli.

Later in the day, 2024 champions England ended their title defence with 68-40 loss to Australia in the fifth-place play-off. Mark Mapletoft’s side secured a narrow 36-33 win in the pool stages, but there was no such luck in Rovigo, with doubles to flanker Aden Ekanayake, centre Malakye Enasio and full-back Sidney Harvey helping Australia exact revenge.

Argentina were also inflicting revenge on France in the third-place play-off in Calvisano. The Pumas bounced back from a 52-26 pool stage defeat to France to edge a 38-35 victory to earn a bronze medal, with hooker Nicolás Cambiasso coming away with two tries.

While New Zealand and South Africa were battling for the title in Rovigo, Georgia and Scotland were competing for ninth place in Calvisano, which Georgia comfortably secured 22-7, with No.8 Mikheili Shioshvili crossing twice.