The World Rugby U20 Championship semi finalists were confirmed yesterday after the final games of the Pool Stages were played.
All three of the past winners of the competition qualified, New Zealand, South Africa, and England, as well as France, though qualification for England was far from comfortable.
The were big results across the groups though, with some late surges into the 5th place semi finals and a few unlucky sides to miss out.
Pool A
The key game in this group was England v France, the winner would reach the semi finals, the loser would face a nervous wait for possible qualification as the best second placed side.
England were the favourites heading into the game but it was France would sealed victory and the semi final spot, winning 30-18. However England also managed to secure that all important fourth semi final spot after Ireland and Australia were well beaten by New Zealand and South Africa respectively. England will play South Africa, a repeat of last year’s final, while France play New Zealand.
The other game in the pool saw Wales beat Japan66-3 to secure third place and a place in the semi final play offs for 5th place, where they will face Group C runners up, Ireland.
Semi Final Qualifiers – France and England
Pool B
Pool B’s all-important clash was South Africa v Australia for top spot. South Africa had looked the form team in the group, and so it proved as they stormed to a 46-13 victory over Australia, not only sealing their own semi final place, but denying Australia the fourth semi final spot, which passed to England, whom South Africa now face.
The other game saw Samoa and hosts Italy, two evenly matched teams, meet. Samoa took a tight game 30-24 but just missed out on the 5th place play off semi finals by a point to Wales and Scotland and so will fight for 9th place with Japan, Argentina, and Italy.
Semi Final Qualifier – South Africa
Pool C
Pool C always looked likely to be dominated by New Zealand, with Argentina, Scotland, and Ireland all fighting closely together for second place. However a very nervy win for New Zealand against Argentina last time out had observers wondering if Ireland might spring a shock in the group decider yesterday.
It was not to be though, with New Zealand, still not at their free-scoring best, beating the men in green 25-3 to secure yet another semi final. Ireland were handed the double blow of missing out on the final semi final spot to England, and so will now compete for 5th, where they face Wales in the semi final for that play off.
Joining them in the race for 5th are Scotland, who found some excellent form to stun Argentina with a 29-6 victory, securing third place and a shot at the 5th place play off with a semi final against Australia in that section. Argentina join the ranks chasing 9th.
Results:
Wednesday 10th June:
England 18-30 France (Group A) – 15.30
Argentina 6-29 Scotland (Group C) – 15.30
Wales 66-3 Japan (Group A) – 17.30
Samoa 30-24 Italy (Group B) – 17.30
New Zealand 25-3 Ireland (Group C) – 19.30
South Africa 46-13 Australia (Group B) – 19.30
Saturday 6th June:
Ireland 24-20 Scotland (Group C)
France 47-7 Japan (Group A)
New Zealand 32-29 Argentina (Group C)
South Africa 40-8 Samoa (Group B)
England 30-16 Wales (Group A)
Australia 31-15 Italy (Group B)
Tuesday 2nd June:
France 19-10 Wales (Group A)
England 59-7 Japan (Group A)
Australia 34-22 Samoa (Group B)
South Africa 33-5 Italy (Group B)
Ireland 18-16 Argentina (Group C)
New Zealand 68-10 Scotland (Group C)
Final Group Standings:
Group A | |||||
Pos | Team | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
1 | France | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
2 | England | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
3 | Wales | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
4 | Japan | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Group B | |||||
Pos | Team | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
1 | South Africa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
2 | Australia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
3 | Samoa | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
4 | Italy | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
Group C | |||||
Pos | Team | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
1 | New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
2 | Ireland | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
3 | Scotland | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
4 | Argentina | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
2015 World Rugby U20 Championship Fixtures:
Monday 15th June – Semi Finals Day:
Australia v Scotland – 5th Place Semi 1 – 15.30
Argentina v Italy – 9th Place Semi 1 – 15.30
Samoa v Japan – 9th Place Semi 2 – 17.30
New Zealand v France – Semi Final 1 – 17.30
Ireland v Wales – 5th Place Semi Final 2 – 19.30
South Africa v England – Semi Final 2 – 19.30
Saturday 20th June – Finals Day:
11th Place Play off – 10.00
9th Place Play off – 12.00
7th Place Play off – 14.00
5th Place Play off – 15.30
3rd Place Play off – 17.30
Final – 19.30
