World Rugby Under 20 Challenger Cup round three review

Chile and Belgium will meet in the World Rugby U20 Challenger final after both overcame Brazil and Namibia to qualify for the title-deciding match. Portugal and Romania will battle for the bronze medal, while Canada and Brazil will square off for fifth place. Namibia and Hong Kong China will contest the seventh-place play-off.

Romania 29 – 22 Hong Kong China

The final round of the pool stage kicked off with Romania overcoming Hong Kong China 29-22, with the U20 Stejarii finishing second in Pool A.

Despite ending on the losing side, Hong Kong China struck first, with fly-half Jack Joyce converting an early penalty to put his team ahead. They added a converted try in the 18th minute as hooker Morgan Hanson eluded the Romanian defence to ground the ball next to the posts.

However, the tide turned against Hong Kong China just 10 minutes before the break. After James Stanton was sent to the sin-bin, the U20 Stejarii applied heavy pressure and crossed for tries through wing Matei Bivol and No. 8 Valentin Dumitras. With Antonio Mitrea landing a conversion from the corner, the Eastern European side reached half-time leading 12-10.

The second half saw several twists and turns, with Hong Kong China retaking the lead in the 50th minute through a try from Fritz Mahn, converted by Joyce. Romania levelled through another finish from Bivol.

Fixture

World Rugby Nations Cup

Romania

08:30

6 Nov 26

Tonga

All Stats and Data

The Asian side hit back again after a powerful driving maul finished by Mahn, but this time Joyce missed the conversion.

Romania continued to chase a way back in front and succeeded after a determined spell of pressure. From a well-set maul, they quickly recycled the ball before flanker Matei Niculai broke the line and dived over. Mitrea converted to give Romania the lead with 10 minutes remaining.

Despite Hong Kong China’s best efforts, Romania added another five-pointer, with Bivol completing his hat-trick after an incisive team move. Hong Kong China searched for a response in the closing stages, but the Romanian defence closed ranks to secure a second win of the tournament.

Romania will now face Portugal in the bronze-medal match, while Hong Kong China will meet Namibia in the seventh-place play-off.

Portugal 28 – 26 Canada

Portugal secured a 28-26 win over Canada in a match that went down to the wire, with the Canadians having an opportunity to draw level with the final conversion.

Portugal got off to a flying start, scoring tries through hooker António Carmona and winger Rodrigo Socorro, who grabbed his fourth of the tournament. Portugal’s more fluid and agile attack caused problems for the Canadian defence, which conceded too many penalties in trying to stop the Lobos.

However, Canada eventually found a way through. Following a quick passing sequence from a scrum, Liam Kinghorn spotted an opening in the defence and raced through to score. Jonty Nicholas converted to narrow the deficit to 15-7.

The first 10 minutes after the break were played at astonishing intensity, with both teams adding tries. Carmona completed his brace from another driving maul before flanker Eliot Marschall collected Canada’s second. Vasco Trindade and Nicholas added the respective conversions.

With Rogan Moir sent to the sin-bin following a string of penalties, Canada were reduced to 14 players and Portugal took full advantage, scoring their next try through centre Jorge Lima.

Trailing by 11 points with 20 minutes remaining, Canada went in search of a way back into the game and had a handful of chances to close the gap, but handling errors and poor decision-making kept them scoreless until the final five minutes.

With Rodrigo Gingado landing a penalty for the Lobos, the contest appeared over, but Canada produced a late surge. Porter Grook capped off a relentless team move, with Nicholas adding the conversion, before Liam Kinghorn followed. The No. 8 ran an unstoppable line, fending off several tacklers before diving over.

Although the final conversion drifted wide, a draw would have done little to help Canada, as it would still have secured Portugal second place in Pool B.

Portugal will now face Romania for the bronze medal, while Canada will meet Brazil in the fifth-place play-off.

Belgium 47 – 22 Namibia

Belgium and Namibia delivered an entertaining contest, with the European side securing a 47-22 win and qualifying for the final, where they will meet hosts Chile.

The U20 Welwitschias struck first with a precise penalty from William Beukes, but Belgium immediately hit back and moved into the lead with tries from Romain Mathe, Romain Leclere and Sohan Dealle. Full-back Charles Depasse converted two of the three.

While Namibia celebrated their first try of the game after a brilliant move finished by Beukes, Belgium restored their 18-point advantage a few minutes later. From a lineout, Depasse burst through to score under the posts before converting his own try.

Three minutes before half-time, Namibia scored their second through a strong carry from Jayvin du Plessis. Beukes converted, sending his team into the break trailing by 11 points.

Namibia emerged for the second half with renewed purpose and threw everything at Belgium, pinning them deep inside their own 22. After several attempts, Dominique Isaacs threw a dummy, eluded the defence and scored near the posts to bring his team within four points of drawing level.

Unfortunately for Namibia, that try proved to be the wake-up call Belgium needed. The Europeans quickly emerged from their slump, regained control of the set-piece and crossed for three more tries before the final whistle.

Leclere completed his brace, while Arthur Blanckaert and Samuel Meksoud also crossed to seal an emphatic 47-22 win and send Belgium into the final. Namibia will face Hong Kong China in the seventh-place play-off.

Chile 80 – 7 Brazil

As expected, Chile have qualified for the World Rugby U20 Challenger final after a remarkable 80-7 win over Brazil and will face Belgium next Saturday for the title.

The U20 Cóndores’ set-piece proved decisive, giving them control of the game and leaving Brazil starved of possession. It was from a lineout that the hosts took the lead, with Max Schlesinger grounding the ball to the delight of the Chilean supporters.

Chile kept the pressure on and added five more tries before the break, with hooker Rafael Silva scoring twice and No. 8 Lucca Baglietto, tighthead prop Cristóbal Escobar and fly-half José Tomás Bonilla scoring a try apiece. Sebastián Benavente slotted four conversions and a penalty.

Brazil’s consolation try came just seconds before half-time, with João Gabriel Ribeiro sidestepping two tacklers before diving over between the posts. Chile went into the break leading 41-7.

Chile maintained their dominance after the break, adding 39 unanswered points. Front-rower Gianfranco De Giorgis, who came on at the start of the half, scored a hat-trick, while Benavente, Santiago Wood and Nicolás Weitzel also crossed.

Benavente added three more conversions and a penalty to complete the 80-7 victory and extend Chile’s winning streak to three matches.

Having scored 213 points during the pool stage, Chile head into the final in high spirits, where they will face Belgium for the right to become the competition’s inaugural champions. Brazil will meet Canada in the battle for fifth place.

Finals round (October 17)

Namibia v Hong Kong China (2pm BST)
Brazil v Canada (5pm BST)
Portugal v Romania (8pm BST)
Belgium v Chile (11pm BST)

All matches will be broadcast on RugbyPass TV.