World Rugby U20 Championship 2025: Mid-Tournament Analysis & Rankings
- House Rugga
- Jul 10
- 4 min read
Pool Stages – Key Results:
The pool phase delivered plenty of talking points. In Pool A, powerhouse South Africa ran the table with 3 wins and 15 points, finishing ahead of defending champions England. Pool B saw France top a tight group with 15 points, closely followed by Argentina with 11 points. In Pool C, New Zealand led with 14 points, while hosts Italy’s dramatic 19-19 draw with Georgia – thanks to Edoardo Todaro’s injury-time try – earned them a surprising second place with 6 points.
The semi-final line-up has now been set: South Africa vs Argentina and France vs New Zealand. Other storylines included Italy’s shock double over Ireland (two narrow wins, 18-16 in Viadana), and a spirited Spain side that pushed Argentina to the final whistle in a 33-30 loss. Wales finally broke through with a 35-25 win over Spain, while England – despite a late bonus-point win over Australia – saw their title defence end at the pool stage.
Current U20 World Power Rankings (Top 10): (View House Rugga Rankings)
New Zealand: 65.07 pts (+1.19)
France: 64.44 pts (+2.75)
England: 64.39 pts (−1.70)
South Africa: 60.27 pts (+2.20)
Australia: 59.20 pts (+1.85)
Wales: 58.09 pts (+2.28)
Argentina: 57.93 pts (−3.26)
Ireland: 57.46 pts (−3.73)
Italy: 55.32 pts (−1.59)
Scotland: 54.72 pts (−1.84)
Tactical Analysis: Teams and Players
South Africa U20:
The Junior Springboks have been the most dominant side of the tournament. Even with 11 changes on the final pool day, they ran in 11 tries in a 73-14 demolition of Scotland. Flanker Cheswill Jooste returned from the bench and made a big impact, scoring and setting up tries against England. Wing Jaco Williams has been lethal – his 80-metre intercept try against Scotland showed off his raw pace. Full-back Vusi Moyo, the tournament's top scorer so far, and hooker Hassiem Pead (5 tries) have highlighted how dangerous South Africa are in all areas. Captain TB Biyela has praised the team’s mix of power and pace. With a +125 points difference and three bonus-point wins, they look like the team to beat.
New Zealand U20:
The Junior All Blacks started slowly but exploded into form with a dominant 69-22 win over Ireland. Number 8 Mosese Bason and winger Maloni Kunawave have shown the team’s blend of power and flair. After conceding two early Irish tries, they calmly responded with four quick tries by half-time. Skipper Manumaua Letiu said the team is “building nicely” for the knockout stages. New Zealand’s forwards have provided a strong platform and the backs have added clinical finishing.
France U20:
France topped their pool with explosive attacking play. They blew Argentina away early in their final pool game, scoring four rapid tries to secure a bonus point. Centre Xavier Treacy and scrum-half Baptiste Tilloles have been outstanding, while captain Antoine Deliance noted the team still needs to improve consistency. Defensively, they weathered early pressure from Wales before controlling the second half. France’s mix of flair and structure makes them serious contenders.
Argentina U20:
Los Pumitas have shown remarkable grit. They came back from an 18-14 half-time deficit to edge Spain 33-30, with hooker Jerónimo Otano scoring twice. Winger Gael Galvan’s late try put Argentina ahead, showing their ability to strike when it matters. Even in their 52-26 loss to France, they secured a crucial bonus point by scoring four tries. Captain Felipe Ledesma said clawing back against France boosted morale. They’ll need another inspired performance to upset South Africa.
England U20:
The defending champions failed to make the semis. A 36-33 win over Australia wasn’t enough, though individual brilliance was evident. Captain Kepueli Tuipulotu scored a hat-trick and centre Connor Treacey carried well. But defensive lapses – three late Wallaby tries – proved costly. England now play for fifth place. They’ve shown slick handling and breakdown skill but struggled to control matches under pressure.
Wales U20:
Wales have shown flashes of real potential. They stunned France early in Round 2 with a 21-7 half-time lead, though they eventually lost. They rebounded by beating Spain 35-25, with full-back Ellis Lewis kicking well and replacement centre Sion Davies scoring a bonus-point try. Captain Harry Beddall believes Wales can now compete with the top sides. Their physical pack and creative backs will be key in the fifth-place playoff.
Italy U20:
Italy have been the surprise package of the tournament. Their two narrow wins over Ireland marked their first ever double over the Irish. The team plays a disciplined, structured game based on kicking pressure and hard defense. Fly-half Edoardo Todaro has been a clutch performer, including scoring the game-tying try against Georgia. Their forwards have worked tirelessly, and their performances have electrified home fans.
Spain U20:
Spain have impressed with their attacking flair. Winger Oriol Marsinyac scored twice in the first half against Argentina, and fly-half Nicolás Infer has kicked well. However, they’ve struggled to close out games – letting leads slip against both Argentina and Wales. They play with ambition and pace, but need more discipline and structure to turn competitive performances into wins.
Semi-finals Preview:
South Africa vs Argentina
South Africa’s all-round power makes them the clear favourites, but Argentina’s grit and ability to chase down games could keep it close. The Pumitas will need to dominate the breakdown and take their chances.
France vs New Zealand
A mouth-watering clash. France’s high-tempo, offloading game meets New Zealand’s tactical structure and finishing power. Expect a fast, fluid game with plenty of scoring.
5th–8th Bracket
England face Wales in a high-stakes derby, while Italy take on Australia. These matchups will help shape the final tournament rankings and offer a last chance for players to shine.
The semi-finals are finely poised. South Africa remain tournament favourites, but New Zealand and France both have the pedigree and firepower to go all the way. Argentina are the dark horses, capable of grinding out results against the odds. Meanwhile, teams like Wales, Italy, and England will look to finish strong in the classification matches. Expect high-intensity contests, tactical chess matches, and breakout performances as the tournament heads into its final phase.
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