The World Rugby U20 Championships pool stages have came to a climax, with a number of teams vying to boost their semi-final places. Only England, Australia and New Zealand were unbeaten after round two.
Here’s the round-up of all the contests on day three of the competition:
Pool A
Wales 54 Samoa 20
Wales ran out eight tries in a superior 54-20 win over Samoa. A double for Shane Lewis-Hughes helped the Welsh to a third place finish in the pool. Samoa failed to get going in a first half dogged by unforced errors. Wales dominated at the set piece and despite a late resurgence from Samoa in the second half, never looked like losing at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi.
England 20 Australia 19
in a climactic end to the game, England snatched victory from Australia 20-19 in the dying stages. But it was Australia who were the better team and opened up a 16-3 lead in the first half. An acrobatic Gabriel Ibitoye try in the corner turned the game for England.
The force is strong in that one. Gabriel Ibitoye showing his Jedi skills with a MAGIC finish at the #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/FBgus7GmYJ
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 8, 2017
It was a hugely physical contest and prop Marcus Street gave England the 16-17 lead in the second half. In an exciting last quarter, Australian player Harrison Goddard kicked a penalty with six minutes remaining, and looked to seal the game. But Max Malins stepped up and landed the winning blow to whistles and jeers from the crowd. England march on to the semi finals.
Pool B
Scotland 17 Italy 16
Scotland overcame a strong Italian side to win by the smallest of margins. A 17-16 victory means the Scots have won two of their three pool games in Kataisi and finish second behind New Zealand.
Robbie Nairn continues his impressive run in the competition with another try. Italian fly-half Antonio Rizzi might have given the Italians the lead midway through the second half. That was before a Tom Dodd try for the Scots snatched victory, and denied Italy their second win of the campaign.
? HIGHLIGHTS | Watch all the best bits from Scotland U20's defeat of their Italian counterparts today in Kutaisi. #AsOne https://t.co/xXJoHKYDCS
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) June 8, 2017
Ireland 3 New Zealand 69
Last year’s finalists Ireland suffered their third straight defeat in this year’s campaign. New Zealand dominated from the out-set, and finished with eleven tries. The Baby Blacks have now scored 174 points in their three pool games. Simply incredible!
Both Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan scored hat-tricks, on their way to the Kiwis securing top spot in Pool B. New Zealand will head into the semi-finals as a favourite to lift the trophy on the 18th.
Pool C
Argentina 14 South Africa 72
South Africa remain on course to land their first World Championship title since 2012 after thumping Argentina. There were nine different scorers for South Africa including a double from hooker Johan Grobbelaar.
The Junior Boks in a lineout against Argentina in the @WorldRugby U20 Championship @Springboks pic.twitter.com/qzRKzDIm14
— Junior Springboks (@JuniorBoks) June 8, 2017
Too many errors from Argentina allowed the Junior Boks to attack at every opportunity. Two yellow cards for Argentina provided no let up, however two first half tries offered little consolation. South Africa will march on to the semi-finals and to most, look like a team that could go all the way.
France 54 Georgia 0
Georgia failed to register a single point against France, having rested a number of players. With one eye on the semi-final placings, the Junior Lelos succumbed to a heavy defeat. France were clinical in their attack, scoring eight tries, with Mathieu Jalibert racking up kicks on his was to a 15 point haul.
The hosts Georgia now join both Ireland and Samoa as the only teams to lose all three of their pool games, even if the side (and the country) have grown over the first week of this tournament.
Confirmed U20 Championship Knockout Matches Take Place on Tuesday 13 June
Supporting matches – Ireland v Samoa (9th place play-off) | Australia v Italy (5th place play-off) | Argentina v Georgia (9th place) | Scotland v Wales (5th place)
2017 Semi-final : England v South Africa | New Zealand v France
Continuing the history, where emerging stars are born, the 2017 tournament does not disappoint. Who will claim the World Rugby crown? England? South Africa? The big-points scoring New Zealand?
Enjoy the semi-finals, and all the results with Last Word on Rugby and Aaron Tillyer.
