New Zealand U20 player ratings vs France | World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026

New Zealand U20 player ratings: It was a nerve-wracking semi-final with the Baby Blacks coming close to clinching a spot in the Championship final, but France snatched the win in the dying minutes, claiming a 26-22 victory.

With the forward pack experiencing a mixed-bag afternoon, the Baby Blacks only found their mojo after the break, largely thanks to Micah Fale and Finn McLeod, both making a colossal impact off the bench.

1. Henry Stuart – 6
Powerful carries and the desire to battle his way through the ruck were two of Henry Stuart’s main highlights in the semi-final, in addition to claiming the Baby Blacks’ second finish of the game.

2. Josh Findlay – 7
The Baby Blacks hooker was up to the task at hand, deploying a dynamic and enticing performance in which the hooker claimed three successful jackals and nine tackles. Flawless in his lineout duties.

3. Ethan Webber – 4
Was completely outmatched at scrum time, with France’s Matheo Frisach dominating the contest and claiming three penalties against New Zealand’s starting tighthead. While he did land the Baby Blacks’ second try, Webber failed to make an impact where it mattered the most.

4. Max Fale – 5
Enjoyed a strong opening 20 minutes before he was yellow-carded for a high tackle. However, never returned to play due to a concussion.

5. Jake Frost – 6
Was engulfed in an interesting lineout fight against France’s Baptiste Veschambre without ever managing to hinder the opposition’s throws. Did his best in the ruck, but looked lost when he came face to face with the French maul.

6. Bradley Tocker – 7
Was once again one of New Zealand’s best, with the colossal loose forward imposing a physicality that took a toll on opposing tacklers, managing to rack up a handful of tackle busts.

7. Caleb Woodley – 7
Brilliant operator at the breakdown, Caleb Woodley did all he could to put the Baby Blacks on track for the competition’s final, working to exhaustion around the breakdown and as a ball supporter. Was sin-binned for illegally taking down a French maul.

8. Patrick Mauga – 6
Seemed to have sustained a leg injury that hampered his mobility and speed, depriving New Zealand of one of their main hitters ready to go all-in. Still, was able to carry the ball to contact nine times before he was subbed off for Micah Fale.

9. Charlie Sinton – 5.5
Spent too much time trying to squeeze penalties and complaining about the French bodies in the ruck, with the officials giving a stern warning at some point. The Baby Blacks scrum-half struggled to find his rhythm, appearing unfocused for much of the match, missing three passes and committing two handling errors.

10. Mika Muliaina – 7
Can certainly complain about how Sinton made his task more difficult, given that the fly-half rarely received a quick ball that would have allowed him to conjure up something special. His tactical awareness was remarkable at times, preventing Axel Guillaud and Luka Keletaona from gaining any momentum on their kicks. Converted what seemed to be the winning three-pointer.

11. David Lewai – 6
The ball rarely reached New Zealand’s wings, leaving David Lewai to focus primarily on shutting down France’s dangerous outside backs and dealing with Guillard’s kicking game.

12. Haki Wiseman – 5
Came to New Zealand’s rescue when Ollie Guerin mistimed two tackles, rushing in before Melvyn Rates had a chance to do any more damage. Although he made good ground with the ball in hand, he ended up losing control of it in what could have been a match-winning try for New Zealand. However, his biggest mistake came in the closing minutes when a wayward kick gifted possession back to France, who capitalised by scoring the match-winning try.

13. Siale Pahulu – 7
After a lukewarm first three games, Siale Pahulu found his groove and became one of the Baby Blacks’ driving forces, making himself heard when called into action. His tackling game was remarkable, narrowing France’s attacking options. Sent France’s No. 8 Elyjah Ibsaiene flying with two dominant tackles.

14. Ollie Guerin – 4
If not for Cohen Norrie and Haki Wiseman’s speedy cover, Ollie Guerin’s missed tackles could have had massive implications for New Zealand early on, with the winger missing four tackle attempts. To make matters worse, conceded a childish penalty that led to France celebrating their third try.

15. Cohen Norrie – 6.5
A mixed-bag afternoon for the Baby Blacks’ ‘Harry Potter’. Was supreme in counter-attack, with one of his involvements leading to the Baby Blacks’ third finish, intercepting a short kick to spark everything alive. On the other hand, his performance was undermined by several handling and kicking errors, some of which significantly affected the semi-final’s outcome.

Replacements – 7

16. Xavier Leota – N/A
Didn’t come on.

17. James Moore – 6
Stepped into the fray with 15 minutes to go, doing well with his set-piece work.

18. Dane Johnston – 6.5
Far better than Ethan Webber, although still conceded one scrum penalty. Looked more alive as a ball carrier, making good ground.

19. Finn McLeod – 8
Micah Fale made an immediate impact after coming off the bench, providing the spark the Baby Blacks needed. His ferocity and physicality were outstanding, as he consistently won the gain-line battle before scoring a try to cap off an excellent cameo.

20. Micah Fale – 8
Blockbuster impact from Micah Fale, who completely changed the complexion of the game for the Baby Blacks. The powerful No. 8 delivered a relentless and highly physical performance, repeatedly taking the fight to the French defence, which struggled to contain him.

21. Jackson Hughan – N/A
Didn’t play.

22. Logan Williams – 5
Didn’t have any impact on the game, although he missed a cover tackle that could have stopped France from scoring the match-winning try.

23. Kobe Brownlee – N/A
Less than five minutes in play.