PREVIEW: The night of decisions

UNDER-20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: On Thursday night in Perpignan, Béziers and Narbonne, decisions will be made for the future of the teams in the knock-out rounds of the tournament.

Apart from the honour and enjoyment of playing for their countries, there are semifinals to consider.

Only one country is assured of a place in the Championship semifinal and that is England, runners-up in the Under-20 Six Nations, who are in an unassailable position at the top of their pool. It is now a question of who will joining them – who will win Pools A and C and who will be the best of the teams coming second in their pools.

The eight teams who do not make the championship semifinals play two more matches. The end result is a 1-12 ranking.

Standings after Round 1 & 2

The number after each team’s name is the match points that they have acquired after two rounds.

Pool A
1 New Zealand 10
2 Australia 6
3 Wales 4
4 Japan 0

Pool B
1 England 10
2 Argentina 5
3 Italy 5
4 Scotland 1

Pool C
1 South Africa 10
2 France 9
3 Ireland 1
4 Georgia 1

Fixtures Round Three

Pool A
New Zealand vs Australia
Wales vs Japan

Pool B
England vs Scotland
Argentina vs Italy

Pool C
South Africa vs France
Ireland vs Georgia

Japan, Ireland and Georgia have no chance of making the championship semifinals. England are there and that means that eight of the other teams could qualify for the three vacant spots in the semis.

Of them, New Zealand look the most likely. Their points’ difference is 99, Australia’s 30, which means that just one bonus point would be enough for New Zealand’s semifinal spot. Early last month, New Zealand beat Australia 43–28 in the Oceania Under-20 Championship on the Gold Coast of Australia.

In Pool C just one point separates South Africa and France. The winner of that match will win the pool and advance to the semifinals.

Of second-placed teams, presuming that Australia could not prevent the Baby Blacks from getting a bonus point, Australia could get 11 or seven points, Wales a maximum of nine, Argentina and Italy each a maximum of 10, South Africa, as losers, a maximum of 11, France, as losers, a maximum of 10.

The difference of points for and against would then count.

At present Australia have +30, Wales -27.
Argentina have -5, Italy -37.
South Africa have +19, France +13.

Tries Scored per Team

New Zealand: 16
England: 12
Australia: 10
South Africa: 10
France: 7
Argentina: 6
Ireland: 5
Georgia: 5
Italy: 5
Scotland 4
Wales: 3
Japan: 3

Fixtures

The matches will be played on Thursday night in pairs of two matches at each venue. The first will kick off at 18.30 at each venue, the second match at 21.00

We shall fill in the missing teams as they become available.

Wales vs Japan at Stade Aime-Giral, Perpignan

There are nine changes to the Wales team to play Japan who have been the whipping boys of the tournament. One of the changesd brings in the 18-year-old Osprey, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, who, despite his South African looking first name and English looking surname, was born in Neath and is thoroughly Welsh

It’s hard to see Japan beating Wales.

Results So Far

New Zealand: Japan lost 67-0; Wales lost 42-10
Australia: Japan lost 54-19; Wales won 26-21

Teams

Wales: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Corey Baldwin, 13 Ioan Nicholas, 12 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, 11 Dewi Cross, 10 Ben Jones, 9 Harri Morgan, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Lennon Greggains, 6 Tommy Reffell (captain), 5 Jack Pope, 4 Lewis Ellis-Jones, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Rhys Davies
Replacements: 16 Rhys Carre, 17 Iestyn Harris, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Max Williams, 20 Ben Fry, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Ben Thomas, 23 Max Llewellyn

Japan: not available

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds (South Africa), Jonathan Gasnier (France)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

New Zealand vs Australia at Stade Aime-Giral, Perpignan

Last weekend the Reds of Queensland played against the Waratahs of New South Wales. Three of those Reds have joined Australia Under-20 in France and start against New Zealand on Thursday night. They are flyhalf Hamish Stewart, lock Harry Hockings and wing Jordan Petaia. There was room for them because James Ramm, Len Ikitau and Trevor Hosea went home because of injuries.

Results So Far

Japan: New Zealand won 67-0; Australia won 54-19
Wales: New Zealand won 42-10; Australia lost 26-21

Teams

New Zealand:  15 Vilimoni Koroi, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Scott Gregory, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Jay Renton, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Tom Christie (captain), 6 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, 5 John Akau’ola-Laula, 4 Laghlan McWannell, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Flynn Thomas, 1 Rob Cobb
Replacements: 16 Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Sione Asi, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Kaleb Trask, 23 Jamie Spowart

Australia: 15 Mack Hansen, 14 Matt McTaggert, 13 Semisi Tupou, 12 Isaac Lucas, 11 Jordan Petaia, 10 Hamish Stewart, 9 Tate McDermott (captain), 8 Josh Kemeny, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Michael Wood, 5 Harry Hockings, 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Tom Ross, 2 Efi Maafu, 1 Harry Hoopert,
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Sama Malolo, 18 George Francis, 19 Esei Ha’angana, 20 Patrick Tafa, 21 Ryan Lonergan, 22 Bayley Kuenzle, 23 Will Harrison

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Egon Seconds (South Africa), Jonathan Gasnier (France)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

Italy vs Argentina at Stade de la Méditérranée, Béziers

Italy have made six changes, four in the backs where only 11, 12 and 13 start again. Argentina on the other hand have made only one change to their starting team – the tighthead prop. They are certainly the most conservative of teams.

Results So Far

England: Italy lost 43-5; Argentina lost 29-18
Scotland: Italy won 27-26; Argentina won 29-13

Teams

Italy: 15 Alessandro Fusco, 14 Andrea De Masi, 13 Matteo Moscardi, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Giovanni D’Onofrio, 10 Filippo di Marco, 9 Nicolò Casilio, 8 Lodovico Manni, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Jacopo Bianchi, 5 Matteo Canali, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Michele Mancini Parri, 2 Matteo Luccardi, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Niccolò Taddia, 17 Guido Romano, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Davide Ruggeri, 20 Antoine Koffi, 21 Luca Crosato, 22 Antonio Rizzi, 23 Albert Einstein Batista

Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Leopoldo Herrera, 13 Juan Pablo Castro, 12 Santiago Chocolates, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Juan Bautista Daireaux, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Bautista Piedmont, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Joaquín de la Vega (captain), 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Salvador Ochoa, 3 Mayco Vivas, 2 Leonel Oviedo, 1 Rodrigo Martínez
Replacements: : 16 Agustín Milet, 17 Gonzalo Hughes, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Santiago Ruiz, 20 Juan Ignacio Molina, 21 Manuel Nogués, 22 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía, 23 Ignacio Mendy

Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Ludovic Cayre (France), Luc Ramos (France)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (France)

England vs Scotland at Stade de la Méditérranée, Béziers

England are unlikely to take the languishing Scots lightly. After all the Scots beat them in the Six Nations, thus denying England a victory in that championship.

The Scots seem to have thrown caution to the wind with only three players who started against Argentina on Sunday, back starting against the Pumitas. The three survivors are Logan Trotter who moves from wing to fullback, Guy Graham who swaps flanks and wing Sam Yawayawa who is where he was.

Three players will be startoing for England for the first time at this tournament – flank Aaron Hinkley, hooker Beck Cutting and prop Ciaran Knoight.

On the matter of starting, the England players who started in that 24-17 Six Nations defeat and are starting against Scotland this month are Jordan Olowofela, Will Butler, Tom Hardwick, Aaron Hinkley, Ted Hill, Ehren Painter and Beck Cutting. Sam Lewis was also in that team but will not be playing after a three-match suspension after being sent off against Italy.

The Scots who started that Six Naztions day are Kyle Rowe, Ross Thompson, Guy Graham and Ewan Johnson who scored a try.

It would again be a major upset if Scotland won.

Results So Far

Italy: England won 43-5; Scotland lost 27-26
Argentina: England won 29-18; Scotland lost 29-13

Teams

England: 15 James Grayson, 14 Gabriel Ibitoye, 13 Jordan Olowofela, 12 Will Butler, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Tom Hardwick, 9 Ben White (captain), 8 Tom Willis, 7 Aaron Hinkley, 6 Ted Hill, 5 James Scott, 4 Joel Kpoku, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Beck Cutting, 1 Ciaran Knight
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Alex Sevill, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Josh Basham, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Rory Brand, 22 Matt Williams, 23 Tom Parton

Scotland: 15 Logan Trotter, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Patrick Anderson, 12 Fraser Strachan, 11 Sam Yawayawa, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Charlie Gowling, 8 James Miller, 7 Guy Graham, 6 Marshall Sykes, 5 Charlie Jupp, 4 Ewan Johnson, 3 Finlay Richardson, 2 Robbie Smith(captain), 1 Ross Dunbar
Replacements: 16 Finlay Scott, 17 Finn Hobbis, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Martin Hughes, 20 Devante Onojaife, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Callum McLelland, 23 Stafford McDowall

Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ludovic Cayre (France), Mathieu Noirot (France)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (France)

Ireland vs Georgia at Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitié, Narbonne

Ireland have made six changes in search for a victory at last. They are a good side.

Results So Far

South Africa: Ireland lost 30-17; Georgia lost 33-27
France: Ireland lost 26-25; Georgia lost 24-12

Teams

Ireland: 15 Peter Silvester, 14 Peter Sullivan, 13 Tommy O’Brien, 12 James Hume, 11 Sean O’Brien, 10 Conor Dean, 9 Hugh O’Sullivan, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Jack Daly, 6 Aaron Hall, 5 Jack Dunne, 4 Matthew Dalton, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jordan Duggan
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Bryan O’Connor, 18 Jakub Wojtkowicz, 19 Cormac Daly, 20 Matthew Agnew, 21 Jonny Stewart, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 James McCarthy

Georgia:  15 Beka Mamukashvili, 14 Deme Tapladze, 13 Giorgi Tsiklauri, 12 Sandro Svanidze, 11 Otar Dzagnidze, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Gela Aprasidze, 8 Tornike Jalaghonia, 7 Archil Abesadze, 6 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 5 Arsen Machaladze, 4 Beka Saghinadze (captain), 3 Luka Japaridze, 2 Levan Papidze, 1 Guram Gogichashvili
Replacements: 16 Tengiz Zamtaradze, 17 Giorgi Nutsubidze, 18 Gia Kharaishvili, 19 Lasha Jaiani, 20 Tengiz Gigolashvi, 21 Luka Dvalishvili, 22 Lasha Lomidze, 23 Kote Marjanishvili

Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Pali Deluca (Argentina), Flavien Hourquet (France)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

South Africa vs France at Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitié, Narbonne

Chean Roux, South Africa’s coached has had changes forced on him by injury after the physical encounter with Ireland in Round 2. The most obvious change is at flyhalf where he has had to replace Damian Willemse, the young star in the Stormers’ Super Rugby side, an outstanding player whose Under-20 form this year has not really reached his Super Rugby standard. Wing Muller du Plessis, who has played for the Blitsbokke on the Sevens circuit also an casualty of the Ireland match. In addition hooker Dan Jooste at practice and centre Rikus Pretorius is still recovering from an ankle hurt against Georgia in Round 1.

Roux is expecting a physical encounter against the French in front of their home crowd. He said of the match: “It is a big challenge to face the host nation. They will be passionate and so will their supporters, and as a team they are big and strong. But we are looking forward it, and we are excited about the match.”

Certainly the South Africans have not wanted for preparation with two home internationals against Georgia and then a UK tour on which they beat Scotland, Wales and England.

It would seem that there is little to choose between the two teams.

Results So Far

Georgia: South Africa won 33-27; France won 24-12
Ireland: South Africa won 30-17; France won 26-25

Teams

South Africa: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Wandisile Simelane, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Muller Uys, 7 PJ Steenkamp, 6 Dian Schoonees, 5 Ruan Vermaak, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Nathan McBeth,
Replacements: 16 Tiaan van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruan Nortjé, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 David Coetzer, 23 Sihle Njezula

France: 15 Clément Laporte, 14 Lucas Tauzin, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Romain N’Tamack, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Arthur Coville (captain), 8 Jordan Joseph, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Antonin Berruyer, 5 Kilian Geraci, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Demba Bamba, 2 Guillaume Marchand, 1 Hassane Kolingar
Replacements: 16 Maxime Lamothe, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Daniel Brennan, 19 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 20 Charlie Francoz, 21 Jules Gimbert, 22 Adrien Seguret, 23 Iban Etcheverry

Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Pali Deluca (Argentina), Vincent Blasco Baque (France)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)