World Rugby U20 Championship semi-final fixtures confirmed

Reigning champions England U20 have failed to qualify for the World Rugby U20 Championship semi-finals after a dramatic final day of pool stage action in Italy.

After failing to pick up a bonus point in their round two 32-22 defeat to South Africa, England knew that they would still be dependent on other fixtures, specifically France’s match against Argentina, regardless of how they performed against Australia.

Mark Mapletoft’s side produced a victory over Australia with fly-half Ben Coen kicking a late penalty after Kepu Tuipulotu’s hat-trick to deliver a narrow 36-33 victory. However, Argentina’s 72nd-minute four-try bonus point in a heavy 52-26 defeat to France ensured they snuck into the Championship semi-finals on Monday, finishing on 11 points to England’s 10, and ending England’s title reign.

Earlier in the day, braces for scrum-half Ceano Everson and wing Jaco Williams in a 73-14 win over Scotland in Calvisano made sure South Africa enter the semi-finals as top seeds, recording their third straight bonus-point victory of the Championship.

World Rugby U20 Championship

Pool A

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

South Africa U20

3

3

0

0

15

2

England U20

3

2

1

0

10

3

Australia U20

3

1

2

0

7

4

Scotland U20

3

0

3

0

1

Pool B

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

France U20

2

2

0

0

10

2

Argentina U20

2

2

0

0

10

3

Wales U20

3

1

2

0

6

4

Spain U20

3

0

3

0

2

Pool C

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

New Zealand U20

3

3

0

0

14

2

Ireland U20

3

1

2

0

6

3

Italy U20

2

1

1

0

4

4

Georgia U20

2

0

2

0

2

Though France achieved the same feat, South Africa’s superior points difference means they nudge ahead of Les Bleus in the seedings, courtesy of registering over 70 points against both Australia and Scotland.

France’s victory over Argentina secured second seeding and a match-up with New Zealand, the only other unbeaten side in the tournament, who triumphed over Ireland 69-22 earlier in the day in Calvisano despite a shaky start, with another scrum-half and winger double, this time Dylan Pledger and Maloni Kunawave, with replacement hooker Shaun Kempton also bagging two tries.

New Zealand’s failure to register a bonus point in their opening round win over hosts Italy, means they are third seeds heading into the semi-finals.

Despite the heavy defeat to France, Argentina qualify for the Championship semi-finals as the best runner-up.

While South Africa were dismantling Scotland, Wales were clocking their first win of the Championship, overcoming a 14-18 half-time deficit to beat Spain 35-25 with a bonus point in Verona to book their place in the fifth-place play-off.

Wales will enter the fifth-place play-offs as the lowest-ranked side, meaning they will face England on semi-finals day on Monday.

Following an epic contest between Italy and Georgia in Calvisano, where Georgia looked to have won the match with a 78th minute try through No.8 Mikheil Shioshvili despite having a red card only for Italy’s Edoardo Todaro to score and convert his own try in the 87th minute to seal a draw, sixth-seeds Australia will play Italy in the other fifth-place semi-final.

Italy’s late draw bumped Ireland, who lost to the hosts last week, into the ninth-place semi-finals due to an inferior points difference to Wales and Italy, who all finished on six points. They will face bottom-place Scotland in one semi-final, while Spain and Georgia will clash in the other.

World Rugby U20 Championship match day four schedule – Monday, July 14
Championship semi-finals: France U20 (2) vs New Zealand U20 (3) – Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana, 18:oo local time / 17:00 BST; South Africa U20 (1) vs Argentina U20 (4) – Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana, 20:30 local time / 19:30 BST;

Fifth semi-finals: England U20 (5) vs Wales U20 (8) – Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana, 15:30 local time / 14:30 BST; Australia U20 (6) vs Italy U20 (7) – Payanini Center, Verona, 20:30 local time / 19:30 BST;

Ninth place semi-finals: Georgia U20 (10) vs Spain U20 (11) – Payanini Center, Verona, 15:30 local time / 14:30 BST; Ireland U20 (9) vs Scotland U20 (12) – Payanini Center, Verona, 18:00 local time / 17:00 BST.