World Rugby U20 Championship 2025: match round 3 preview

Wales and Spain set to entertain again

Two defeats from two matches for each of these teams doesn’t quite tell the story of their tournaments so far. Wales, with fly-half Harri Wilde to the fore, have been entertaining and enterprising, opening sizeable leads on France and Argentina before fading in the second half.

That shouldn’t be an issue against Spain, who were overwhelmed by Les Bleuets in their opening match but very nearly pulled off a shock against Argentina after racing into a 30-7 half-time lead off the back of some sizzling back play. That is where both teams’ strengths seem to lie, so it should be an exciting and open spectacle.

Wales won the corresponding match last year – in Spain’s first World Rugby U20 Championship – 31-10 but will be without suspended prop Louie Trevett for this contest.
Wales v Spain, Pool B, 15:30 (CET)

Scotland playing for pride and points against impressive Springboks

The best team on show so far, South Africa are already through to the semi-finals off the back of victories against Australia and reigning champions England. But that doesn’t mean they will be taking their next opponents lightly.

“Scotland are a good side,” Junior Springboks coach Kevin Foote said. “They ran England close in the Six Nations, and we certainly will not underestimate any team ever – we’ll keep our feet on the ground and focus on the next job.”

After a heavy defeat to England in their opening match, Scotland head coach Kenny Murray said the 34-24 loss to Australia was “definitely” a match they should have won. Indeed, they made more metres, more passes and beat more defenders than Australia, but it was the Junior Wallabies who came up with two tries in the last 10 minutes, when they dominated possession.

Being more clinical in attack is one thing for Scotland. Keeping South Africa’s powerful forwards and lethal backs out is another matter entirely.
South Africa v Scotland, Pool A, 15:30 (CET)

Champions on the brink, Wallabies on the up

England will be quietly kicking themselves. Not only for losing 32-22 to South Africa after racing into a 14-0 lead, but also for failing to secure either a four-try bonus point or a losing bonus point. They should really have grabbed both, which would have put them on seven points and in prime position to qualify for the semi-finals as the best-placed runners-up.

Instead, they need a bonus-point victory over Australia and to rely on other results going their way to reach the last four. But they will face a Junior Wallabies team buoyed by their victory against Scotland and with little to lose, their 73-17 defeat to South Africa in their opening game making qualification for the semi-finals all but impossible.
England v Australia, Pool A, 18:00 (CET)

Semi-final place at stake for Ireland and New Zealand

A rerun of last year’s third-place match, when New Zealand survived a late Ireland fightback to win 38-24. To reach the semi-finals this time, Ireland need to overhaul the Junior All Blacks at the top of Pool B, which means winning with a bonus point or winning and restricting New Zealand to a maximum of one bonus point.

Neither of which will be easy against a team who, after a stuttering start, really hit their straps last time out against Georgia having struggled to find fluency in their opening game against Italy.

Ireland dominated most of the stats against the Azzurrini, but a missed conversion with the last kick of the match that would have given them a draw. Neil Doak’s team will need to be far more ruthless against New Zealand.
New Zealand v Ireland, Pool C, 18:00 (CET)

Perfect 10s for France and Argentina but semi-finals not yet guaranteed

Winner takes all at the top of Pool B? Not quite. With France and Argentina both taking a maximum 10 points from the opening two matches, a single bonus point would likely send the loser of this heavyweight clash through to the semi-finals as the best-placed runners-up. But it’s a chance neither will want to take – particularly Los Pumitas, who have an inferior points difference after two narrow victories.

Having conceded 57 points and three yellow cards across their two matches, Argentina will need to tighten up against France, who have racked up 84 points so far.

Against an equally powerful pack and set-piece, Argentina will also not want to be chasing the game against France after having to come from behind to beat Wales and Spain.
France v Argentina, Pool B, 20:30 (CET)

Georgia and Italy hoping to put their best foot forward

Italy (pictured) raised the roof in Viadana on Friday with victory against Ireland and even though a lack of bonus points means they are unable to qualify for the semi-finals, they won’t lack for motivation against Georgia, who won the Ninth-place Final when the two teams met at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024.

Georgia, too, will want to sign off the pool stage with a victory after losing a thriller against Ireland in their opener and giving New Zealand a fright by twice taking the lead in the first half.

With the fewest number of passes of all the teams in the competition, Georgia and Italy have favoured forward-oriented approaches so far but may need to be more expansive to avoid cancelling each other out.
Georgia v Italy, Pool C, 20:30 (CET)

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