France and South Africa will meet in the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 final after hard-fought semi-final victories over New Zealand and England respectively in Tbilisi on Monday. Scotland and Wales will contest fifth place after beating Argentina and Australia in dramatic encounters on Sunday, while Japan and Spain secured their first wins of the tournament in the 13th-place bracket.

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Semi-finals

France 26-22 New Zealand

Adrien Drault scored a dramatic 76th-minute winning try as France edged out New Zealand to seal their place in the final, the centre finishing off a length-of-the-field move that drew comparisons to France’s famous 1994 try at Eden Park.

The match was shaped by the strength of both teams’ set pieces in humid conditions at the Avchala Stadium. France won all 16 of their lineouts while New Zealand secured 12 of 13, and both sides scored through their rolling mauls in a tight first half. Props Ethan Webber and Henry Stuart crossed for New Zealand either side of hooker Gabin Garault’s two tries for France, the La Rochelle product taking his tournament tally to six. Stuart’s score was particularly impressive, coming with lock Max Fale in the sin bin.

Replacement Finn McLeod squeezed over from close range to put New Zealand back in front at 22-19 before Caleb Woodley was sin-binned. Elia Masi crossed for France to draw level before Mika Muliaina’s epic 45-metre penalty edged New Zealand ahead with eight minutes remaining.

Then came the moment of magic. France fumbled inside the New Zealand 22 and were cleared deep into their own quarter, but Hugo Avogadro slipped past Logan Williams’s chase and surged down the right touchline. Melvyn Rates took the ball infield and Drault was on hand for the champagne finish. It was France’s seventh consecutive semi-final appearance and squared the all-time semi-final record between the sides at 4-4.

“I’m really happy because it was a really hard game against a great team,” said jubilant France captain Lucas Andjisseramatchi. “We always stayed together and our team is incredible.”

New Zealand captain Haki Wiseman admitted the defeat was devastating: “It’s a tough one to take and everyone’s hurting right now. We wanted to defend what the 2017 New Zealand team did here and it’s a really tough pill to swallow.”

South Africa 53-37 England

Defending champions South Africa overpowered England in the second semi-final at the Avchala Stadium, but needed a ferocious second-half performance to turn the match around after trailing 20-12 at the break.

England enjoyed a dream start when tighthead Ollie Streeter barged over in the fourth minute, with Hugh Shields converting. Fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed levelled with a strong finish and conversion, but Shields booted a penalty and then collected a short pass from Lucas Friday to dive over, his conversion making it 17-7. Within minutes, disaster struck for England as flanker Seb Kelly was shown a permanent red card for a headbutt on Luan Giliomee.

Ahmed immediately sent a brilliant cross-field kick to the left corner where winger Khuthadzo Rasivhaga touched down unopposed, but Shields’ second penalty gave England a 20-12 interval lead.

The second half was a different story. South Africa scored four tries without reply in the first 13 minutes as the numerical advantage told. Giliomee was instrumental, providing the final pass for Rasivhaga’s second before sending flanker Kebotile Maake thundering over. Maake scored his second two minutes later and Rasivhaga completed his hat-trick with a brilliant corner finish as South Africa surged to 40-20.

England’s Jonny Weimann pulled one back, but Luke Cannon’s converted try and an Ahmed penalty pushed the Junior Boks further clear. Giliomee then received a yellow card — upgraded to a 20-minute red — for a clumsy challenge in the air, which could rule him out of the final. Tate Williams and Shields scored consolation tries for England, but South Africa’s class had long since settled the contest. Ahmed finished with 23 points.

“England gave us a tough time but we managed to keep calm and get the win,” said Junior Springboks captain Siphosethu Mnebelele. “We know how well-coached France are and it’s a final, so we’ll work really hard on our preparations.”

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Fifth-place semi-finals

Scotland 44-26 Argentina

Joe Roberts took his tally to five tries in four games as Scotland kept alive hopes of matching their best-ever finish of fifth place with an impressive defeat of Argentina at the Avchala Stadium on Sunday.

The hooker and captain touched down either side of half-time as Fergus Pringle’s side outscored Los Pumitas by seven tries to three. Prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty crashed over for the opener before Roberts powered over from an attacking lineout maul, with Nairn Moncrieff adding a third on the blindside to make it 19-7 at the break. Argentina’s only first-half points came via a penalty try after Dan Halkon was yellow-carded for an illegal maul entry.

Scotland turned on the style in the second half with four more tries through Hamish MacArthur, Roberts, Oliver McKenna and Harvey Preston. Argentina showed their quality with tries from Bautista Lescano, Pedro Coll and Ramón Fernández, but 17-year-old fly-half Jake Dalziel controlled proceedings throughout and sealed the victory with a late penalty.

Wales 38-36 Australia

Wales heaved a sigh of relief after Australia had what would have been a late match-winning try ruled out by the TMO in a breathless encounter at the Avchala Stadium on Sunday.

Australia battled against huge adversity after losing four players to injury during the opening quarter, most notably Queensland Reds star Treyvon Pritchard, who suffered a fibula fracture and syndesmosis injury from a hip-drop tackle in the 11th minute. Second-row Will Ross, flanker Marshall Le Maitre and prop Lehopoame Leota also departed.

Wales capitalised with early tries from Rhys Cummings and Osian Darwin-Lewis to lead 14-0, but replacement Tom Farr-Jones scored twice either side of Sam Blank’s effort to put Australia 17-14 ahead. Cummings’ second immediately after the restart restored Wales’s lead and co-captain Deian Gwynne added a fourth try, with Carwyn Leggatt-Jones’ conversion and a penalty stretching the advantage to 31-17.

Riley Whitfeld pulled one back before a red card for Wales’s Luke Evans gave Australia renewed hope. Edwin Langi powered over, but a penalty try — awarded when Toby Brial was sin-binned for pulling down a maul — proved decisive. John Grenfell’s close-range score brought Australia within two points before Jonty Fowler appeared to score the match-winner, racing 80 metres, only for the TMO to find a knock-on earlier in the move. It was Wales’s first win over Australia since 2018.

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Ninth-place semi-finals

Italy 43-19 Georgia

Italy produced a sensational first-half performance to defeat hosts Georgia at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi on Monday. The Azzurrini scored all 43 of their points during the opening 40 minutes in a ruthless six-try display, with number eight Jaheim Wilson and fullback Pietro Celi both claiming doubles. Second-row Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi and winger Luca De Novellis also touched down before the interval, with Mattia Andretti landing six conversions and a penalty.

Georgia responded through Temuri Dzodzuashvili and Gabriel Razmadze either side of half-time before Giorgi Agniashvili scored in the final quarter to salvage some pride. Georgia had lost just one of their previous six Junior World Championship matches against Italy, but Andrea Di Giandomenico’s men were comprehensive winners. Italy will face Ireland in the ninth-place play-off, while Georgia take on Fiji for 11th place.

Ireland 24-19 Fiji

Ireland narrowly beat a spirited Fiji side at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi in a contest that was in the balance until the final whistle. Winger Daniel Ryan put Ireland ahead with a fine individual try in the 12th minute, chipping ahead and regathering down the left flank, but Fiji hit back two minutes later through the talismanic Isikeli Bari Ratu.

Diarmaid O’Connell restored Ireland’s advantage from the base of a scrum before Sailosi Vodonaivalu Taka’s try left it 14-12 at the break. James O’Leary extended Ireland’s lead in the second half, but Apete Gauna Rokosuka’s try ensured a tense finale. Fiji had a chance to win it at the end after Harry Waters was yellow-carded, but their five-metre lineout throw was not straight and Ireland held on.

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13th-place semi-finals

Japan 71-21 USA

Japan ended a 19-match losing run at the Junior World Championship with an impressive 11-try performance against USA at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi on Sunday. It was their first victory since a 2015 win over Samoa and the most points they have ever scored in a match at the tournament.

Rio Iwakura and Sota Miura both claimed hat-tricks, with Shinnosuke Uchida adding a brilliant brace — including a remarkable solo score where he broke from a scrum at halfback, chipped over the defence and regathered. Frank Finicle, Dane Mitchell and William Darbishire scored for a USA side still searching for their first-ever JWC victory, who had replacement prop Alfie Booth sent off late on.

“Our success at the lineout and in the scrum laid the foundation for today’s victory,” said Japan head coach Naoya Okubo. “With one match remaining, we want to grow even further and return to Japan as winners.”

Spain 57-6 Uruguay

Spain turned on the style with a dominant nine-try victory over Uruguay at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi on Sunday, ending a run of eight defeats dating back to their 2024 debut campaign. Versatile centre Oriol Marsinyac enhanced his growing reputation with two more tries to take his tournament tally to six in four games.

Unax Salvador, Daniel Chico and Iván Farace scored first-half tries before Marsinyac took centre stage after the break. Captain Marçal Carreras added a double, with Mauro del Campo and Alfonso Enciso also crossing to underline Spain’s superiority in the first-ever Junior World Championship meeting between the two sides.

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Finals weekend fixtures

Friday 17 July — AIA Arena, Kutaisi:

15th-place play-off: USA v Uruguay (18:00) | 13th-place play-off: Japan v Spain (20:30)

Friday 17 July — Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi:

7th-place play-off: Argentina v Australia (18:00) | 5th-place play-off: Scotland v Wales (20:30)

Saturday 18 July — AIA Arena, Kutaisi:

11th-place play-off: Georgia v Fiji (13:00) | 9th-place play-off: Italy v Ireland (15:30)

Saturday 18 July — Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi:

3rd-place play-off: New Zealand v England (18:00) | Final: France v South Africa (20:30)

The four most successful teams in Junior World Championship history — South Africa, New Zealand, England and France — won their respective pool deciders on Tuesday to set up a blockbuster semi-final weekend in Georgia. Elsewhere, hosts Georgia celebrated their first victory of the tournament, Fiji ended a 14-year pool-stage drought and Ireland cut loose against USA.

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Pool A

South Africa 52-33 Wales

South Africa recovered from a sluggish start to show their class and book a semi-final date with England at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi. The Junior Springboks trailed 14-0 after just 10 minutes to a vibrant Wales side in this Pool A decider, with flanker Caio James crashing over before co-captain Steffan Emanuel scooted through a gaping hole in the midfield.

Yet Kevin Foote’s side kept their composure and hit back with four unanswered tries before the break. Hendré Schoeman went over after a brilliant scrum, Ethan Adams crossed following an inventive chip-and-regather, captain Siphosethu Mnebelele was driven over and Heinrich Theron scored from a blindside dart off a five-metre lineout to make it 26-14 at half-time.

Risima Khosa added a fifth early in the second half before Wales hit back through Osian Darwin-Lewis and the ever-dangerous Tom Bowen, who raced 40 metres untouched after Darwin-Lewis’s offload. But Liam van Wyk crossed twice from driving mauls and Mnebelele completed his brace as South Africa pulled clear. Wales claimed a late consolation through Lewis Edwards to finish with five tries of their own.

The victory extended the Junior Springboks’ winning streak at the tournament to nine matches — their longest ever — and confirmed their place as Pool A winners. Wales finished second and will face Australia in the fifth-place semi-finals.

Georgia 56-3 Uruguay

Tournament hosts Georgia picked up their first win at the third attempt to the delight of a raucous home crowd who defied rain-soaked conditions at the Avchala Stadium. The Junior Lelos had been dramatically edged out 25-24 by Wales in their opener before losing to defending champions South Africa in Round 2, but this was a victory to savour.

Early tries from prop Gabriel Razmadze, scrumhalf Temuri Dzodzuashvili and winger Luka Tabatadze put Georgia in total control before captain Luka Narsia secured the bonus point on the stroke of half-time. The highly-rated openside flanker then completed his brace shortly after the interval before registering a hat-trick late on, with Saba Nozadze and Data Akhvlediani also getting on the scoresheet.

Georgia will head to Kutaisi to face Italy in the ninth-place semi-final on Monday, while Uruguay will meet Spain in the 13th-place semi-final on Sunday.

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Pool B

New Zealand 45-15 Italy

New Zealand reached their 13th semi-final in 16 tournaments with a comfortable win over Italy at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi, setting up a last-four showdown with France. Kane Jury’s side were forced into late changes when Mika Muliaina was ruled out through injury, with Cohen Norrie moving to fly-half and Lautasi Etuale promoted to a starting spot on the left wing.

Italy struck first when centre Giacomo Falchetto intercepted in the third minute, but New Zealand recovered swiftly. Bradley Tocker powered over after a yellow card for Italy second-row Simone Fardin, and David Lewai pounced on a handling error to race away. Italy’s imposing number eight Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi reduced the deficit to 12-10, but hooker Josh Findlay’s try from a driving maul and a superb score from halfback Charlie Sinton — set up by a wicked right-foot step from Norrie — gave New Zealand a 26-10 half-time lead.

Norrie was imperious after the break. Etuale finished a sweeping move from the fly-half’s final pass before Norrie himself dummied and dashed clear from 40 metres out. Siale Pahulu added a seventh try before David Luisato scored a consolation for Italy, who finished with 15 points from three tries.

New Zealand have now won their last 10 pool-stage matches, their best run since winning their first 13 between 2008 and 2012. Italy will face Georgia in the ninth-place semi-finals.

Scotland 43-32 Japan

Scotland secured second place in Pool B with an entertaining victory over Japan at the AIA Arena, but were pushed all the way by a spirited Japanese side who trailed by just four points with a minute remaining.

Fergus Pringle’s side started in blistering fashion, with scrumhalf Matthew Fick scuttling over inside three minutes before Dan Kelly and Ollie Blyth-Lafferty also crossed to make it 19-0 inside the opening quarter. Japan hit back through Koshi Tsumura before hooker Joe Roberts — scoring his third try in two games — secured the bonus point shortly after the half-hour mark. Sota Miura replied for Japan to leave it 26-15 at the break.

The second half was a rollercoaster. Japan scored through Shinnosuke Uchida and Isa Fukada either side of the hour mark to close within two points at 31-29, but Scotland steadied through Jamie McAughtrie and Alex Bryden. A Japanese penalty made it 36-32 with time running out before 17-year-old Jake Dalziel settled the match with a long-range intercept try in the final minute, denying Japan a losing bonus point.

Scotland will face Argentina in the fifth-place semi-finals on Sunday, while Japan take on USA in the 13th-place bracket.

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Pool C

England 40-38 Argentina

Four-time champions England hung on for a dramatic victory against Argentina at the Avchala Stadium to clinch top spot in Pool C and a semi-final with defending champions South Africa. It was their fifth successive pool-stage victory over Los Pumitas at the Junior World Championship, but this was the closest of the lot.

Argentina struck first through their inspirational captain Tomás Dande, who broke from deep for a superb opener. England hit back through Will Knight and James Pater before Argentina lost centre Benjamín Ordiz Yujnovsky to a 20-minute red card for an illegal clear-out. Manuel Cuneo Camargo’s maul try kept Los Pumitas in touch, but Jimmy Staples and Aiden Ainsworth-Cave crossed either side of half-time as England established a 35-12 lead.

Then came one of the comebacks of the tournament. Bautista Lescano and the prolific Simón Pfister — the tournament’s leading try-scorer with seven — both crossed twice as Argentina scored 21 unanswered points to close within two at 40-38, aided by yellow cards to England pair Elliot Williams and Will Knight. Los Pumitas went through multiple phases with time up on the clock but England held firm to claim a nail-biting victory.

Argentina finished second in Pool C with 12 points and will face Scotland in the fifth-place semi-finals.

Ireland 73-22 USA

Ireland made it third time lucky to finish the pool stage on a high against USA at the Avchala Stadium, running in 11 tries in a comprehensive victory. Charlie O’Shea and new cap Seán David Walsh both scored hat-tricks as Andrew Browne’s side, who had lost to England and Argentina in their first two matches, cut loose.

Scrumhalf Christopher Barrett opened the scoring inside two minutes and half-back partner O’Shea claimed a first-half treble, with Walsh touching down twice and Rob Carney also crossing as Ireland built a commanding 45-3 interval lead. Walsh completed his hat-trick after the break, with Adam Cooper, Daniel Ryan and Jack Deegan also getting on the scoresheet. Ulster’s Daniel Green impressed from the tee with nine conversions for a 23-point haul.

USA hit back with improved second-half scores from Finnian Love, Joseph Sarkees and Leo Keesler-Venables. Ireland lost winger Charlie Molony to a second yellow card — later upgraded to red — in the final quarter, but still claimed the final score through Deegan.

Ireland’s third-place finish in Pool C means they move to the ninth-to-12th place bracket, where they will face Fiji on Monday. USA will take on Japan in the 13th-place semi-finals.

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Pool D

France 34-29 Australia

Three-time champions France secured their ninth semi-final appearance after edging out Australia in an enthralling Pool D decider at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi. Les Bleuets made it three wins from three — all with bonus points — to complete a perfect 15-point pool stage and set up a last-four showdown with New Zealand.

Treyvon Pritchard gave Australia an early lead with a trademark finish in the second minute, and the Queensland Reds star was outstanding throughout with 11 tackle busts and close to 200 metres gained. But France’s response was emphatic once Australia second-row Toby Brial was sin-binned in the 16th minute. Captain Lucas Andjisseramatchi scored twice either side of a try from winger Melvyn Rates as Les Bleuets scored 19 points during Brial’s absence to lead 22-12 at half-time, with Luca Cleverley’s try keeping Australia in touch.

Hooker Gabin Garault and scrumhalf Baptiste Tilloles extended France’s advantage after the break. Wallace Charlie and Edwin Langi both crossed for Australia, but a second yellow card — this time for lock Will Ross for collapsing a maul — cost the Junior Wallabies dearly. France held on despite Australia’s late surge, with centre Bastien Rasal’s decisive turnover in the final moments sealing the victory.

“Without intensity, it is very difficult to win this type of match,” said captain Andjisseramatchi. “We were able to raise our level of intensity and respond in the physical contest.” Australia will face Wales in the fifth-place semi-finals.

Fiji 29-26 Spain

Fiji claimed an historic victory to leapfrog Spain at the foot of Pool D in a compelling contest at the AIA Arena. The Flying Fijians had not won a Junior World Championship pool match since beating Samoa in the 2012 tournament in South Africa — a run of 18 consecutive defeats — but they produced a stirring fightback to down a spirited Spain side.

Spain started brilliantly. Winger Pelayo Serrano put his side ahead before a penalty try and a yellow card for Fiji hooker Ratu Osea Dasalusalu opened up a 12-0 advantage. But Fiji responded through Francis Peters before the dynamic Isoa Koroinawai produced a quickfire double either side of half-time to bring the scores level.

Hooker Iván Farace’s try put Spain back ahead at 23-17 before the game’s decisive moment — a yellow card for Spain centre Oriol Marsinyac for a deliberate knock-on. Fiji took full advantage as Dasalusalu crashed over, with Isikeli Bari Ratu’s conversion edging them in front for the first time, before Sailosi Taka extended the lead. Spain’s Malakai Hafoka kicked a late penalty to set up a tense finale, but Fiji’s defence held firm to seal a memorable win.

Fiji will face Ireland in the ninth-place semi-finals on Monday, while Spain take on Uruguay in the 13th-place bracket on Sunday.

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Semi-final and play-off fixtures

Sunday 12 July — Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi:

5th-place semi-final: Scotland v Argentina (18:00) | 5th-place semi-final: Wales v Australia (20:30)

Sunday 12 July — AIA Arena, Kutaisi:

13th-place semi-final: Spain v Uruguay (18:00) | 13th-place semi-final: Japan v USA (20:30)

Monday 13 July — Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi:

Semi-final: France v New Zealand (18:00) | Semi-final: South Africa v England (20:30)

Monday 13 July — AIA Arena, Kutaisi:

9th-place semi-final: Italy v Georgia (18:00) | 9th-place semi-final: Ireland v Fiji (20:30)

Argentina look to press their claim as genuine title contenders against an Ireland side seeking to bounce back, before England’s reshuffled squad take on USA at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi on Thursday.

The fixtures

Argentina v Ireland — Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi | Thursday 2 July | 15:30 local (12:30 IST & BST, 08:30 ART, 11:30 GMT)

England v USA — Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi | Thursday 2 July | 18:00 local (15:00 BST, 10:00 EDT, 14:00 GMT)

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Argentina v Ireland

This is the match that could define Pool C. Both sides know that a second defeat would likely end any hope of topping the group and reaching the semi-finals, but while Argentina arrive brimming with confidence after their record-breaking 78-14 demolition of USA, Ireland are licking their wounds following a 34-27 defeat to England in which two first-half yellow cards proved costly.

Los Pumitas head coach Nicolás Fernández Miranda has made five changes from Saturday’s opener. Prop Benjamín Farias Cerioni and number eight Federico Torre come into the pack, while scrum-half Juan Preumayr, wing Luciano Avaca and centre Benjamín Ordiz Yujnovsky join the backline. Captain Tomás Dande continues to lead from blindside flanker, with vice-captain Pedro Coll retained at outside centre.

Argentina’s 64-point margin of victory against USA marked their biggest success in Junior World Championship history, surpassing a 46-5 win against Italy in 2015. Assistant coach Eusebio Guiñazú detailed how the squad is approaching the step up in opposition.

“After the victory against the United States we arrived with good expectations as we had a good first match that allowed us to continue building what we had been working on in the national concentrations and in the Rugby Championship,” said Guiñazú. “We are focused on our strengths and understanding that they will be important in the next matches. The format of the tournament shows us that we have to go and win all the games to qualify, so we are focused on going for the win against Ireland, who lost in their debut, so it is a good opportunity for us. These days we focused on the recovery of the team and continue working on our strengths to go looking for that result.”

Argentina and Ireland have faced each other five times at the Junior World Championship, winning two pool games apiece with the Irish emerging victorious in their semi-final meeting in 2016 — the last time these sides met on this stage.

Ireland head coach Andrew Browne has made four changes as he looks to arrest the momentum after the defeat to England. Leinster’s Jack Deegan and Munster’s Tom Wood — the son of former Ireland hooker Keith Wood — are named in the starting backline. Munster duo Joe Finn and Alex Lautsou have been named at second-row and openside flanker respectively, while Rob Carney, Charlie O’Shea, Dylan McNeice and Ben Blaney drop out from the team that started against England.

Captain Sami Bishti continues to lead from tighthead prop, packing down alongside Max Doyle and Rian Handley in the front row. The back three of Noah Byrne, Charlie Molony and Daniel Ryan is unchanged — Ryan scored a hat-trick against England and will be a key threat once more. Deegan partners James O’Leary in midfield, while Wood starts at out-half in a half-back pairing alongside his Munster team-mate Christopher Barrett.

Ireland’s Six Nations form — four wins from five to claim the Triple Crown — suggests they have the quality to respond, but the pressure of needing a result after the opening-round defeat adds an edge to this encounter. Argentina’s set-piece dominance and the firepower of a backline that ran in 12 tries against USA will provide a stern examination.

Argentina: 15 Simón Pfister (Tucumán RC), 14 Bautista Lescano (CAE), 13 Pedro Coll (vc) (Tigres RC), 12 Benjamín Ordiz (Los Caranchos), 11 Luciano Avaca (Tala RC), 10 Federico Serpa (Los Tordos RC), 9 Juan Preumayr (Jockey Club de Rosario); 1 Benjamín Farias Cerioni (Universitario RC), 2 Manuel Cuneo Camargo (San Juan RC), 3 Bautista Salinas Mallea (Los Tordos RC), 4 Joaquín Pascual Viale (Alumni), 5 Bautista Benavides (Santa Fe RC), 6 Tomás Dande (capt) (Huirapuca RC), 7 Jerónimo Sorondo (Belgrano Athletic), 8 Federico Torre (Córdoba Athletic). Replacements: 16 Nicolás Cambiasso (Buenos Aires), 17 Fabrizio Cebrón (Regatas de Bella Vista), 18 Federico Narváez (Atlético del Rosario), 19 Felipe Hygonenq (Alumni), 20 Basilio Cañas (CAE), 21 Valentino Reggiardo (Deportiva Francesa), 22 Manuel Giannantonio (Tala RC), 23 Ramón Fernández (Hindú).

Ireland: 15 Noah Byrne (Dublin University/Leinster), 14 Charlie Molony (UCD/Leinster), 13 Jack Deegan (Blackrock/Leinster), 12 James O’Leary (UCC/Munster), 11 Daniel Ryan (Corinthians/Connacht), 10 Tom Wood (Garryowen/Munster), 9 Christopher Barrett (UCC/Munster); 1 Max Doyle (UCD/Leinster), 2 Rian Handley (Old Wesley/Leinster), 3 Sami Bishti (capt) (UCD/Leinster), 4 Joe Finn (Garryowen/Munster), 5 Donnacha McGuire (UCD/Leinster), 6 Josh Neill (Old Wesley/Leinster), 7 Alex Lautsou (Shannon/Munster), 8 Diarmaid O’Connell (Corinthians/Connacht). Replacements: 16 Duinn Maguire (UCD/Leinster), 17 Adam Cooper (Buccaneers/Connacht), 18 Blake McClean (Instonians/Ulster), 19 Dylan McNeice (UCD/Leinster), 20 Ben Blaney (Terenure/Leinster), 21 James O’Dwyer (Old Belvedere/Leinster), 22 Charlie O’Shea (UCC/Munster), 23 Rob Carney (Cashel/Munster).

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England v USA

England head coach Andy Titterrell has made 12 changes for the encounter with USA as his side bid to build on Saturday’s hard-fought 34-27 opening win over Ireland — a result that puts them firmly in the driving seat in Pool C.

Back-row forward Seb Kelly captains the side for the first time on what will be his ninth cap. The Sale Sharks flanker, who recently made his Gallagher Premiership debut at club level, takes the armband from the rested Connor Treacey. Centre Nick Lilley and winger Zac Finch are the only other players retained, while centre Finlay Cunnison is awarded his first U20 cap with George Pearson, George Newman, Tyler Offiah and Finn Keylock also coming into the starting XV. With Titterrell refreshing the pack, Jerold Gorleku, Freddie Ogden-Metherell and George Marsh will make their first Junior World Championship starts.

“We’re pleased with the opener against Ireland, and this week we’ve challenged players to level up with greater decisiveness and energy in everything we do,” said England assistant coach Kevin Sorrell. “The work behind-the-scenes from staff and players alike has been excellent, particularly in a short turnaround. The players understand that standards must continue to rise for a different challenge against USA.”

England have faced the USA just once before at the Junior World Championship, winning 109-0 back in 2013 — a scoreline that remains the biggest victory by any team in the history of the tournament. That was also the USA’s most recent appearance at this level before their return this year.

USA have refreshed their starting line-up following the heavy defeat to Argentina, bringing Aidan Stewart, Liam Hill and Frank Finicle into their pack while fly-half Jack Firebrace, wingers Finnian Love and Blake Miller and centre Jameson Beatty earn starting roles. Los Teritos will be seeking a vastly improved performance after being outclassed by Argentina’s power and precision on Saturday, though they face another daunting task against an England side with unmatched pedigree at this tournament — 12 semi-finals from 15 editions and four titles.

England: 15 George Pearson (Leicester Tigers), 14 Zac Finch (Saracens), 13 Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs), 12 Finlay Cunnison (Harlequins), 11 Tyler Offiah (Bath Rugby), 10 Finn Keylock (Saracens), 9 George Newman (Exeter Chiefs); 1 Oliver Scola (Northampton Saints), 2 Jerold Gorleku (Harlequins), 3 Sonny Tonga’uiha (Northampton Saints), 4 Patrick Hogg (Sale Sharks), 5 Freddie Ogden-Metherell (Gloucester Rugby), 6 Seb Kelly (capt) (Sale Sharks), 7 Jack Lewis (Northampton Saints), 8 George Marsh (Leicester Tigers). Replacements: 16 Kealan Freeman-Price (Gloucester Rugby), 17 Alan Poku (Saracens), 18 Ollie Streeter (Harlequins), 19 Elliot Williams (Harlequins), 20 Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby), 21 Jonny Weimann (Northampton Saints), 22 Hugh Shields (Northampton U18), 23 Sam Winters (Bath Rugby).

USA: Aidan Stewart, Liam Hill, Frank Finicle, Jack Firebrace, Finnian Love, Blake Miller, Jameson Beatty among the starters. Full line-up from the wider squad.

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Pool C outlook

This remains the tournament’s pool of death, and Thursday’s fixtures could go a long way to settling the pecking order. Argentina hold the advantage after their emphatic opening win and know that victory over Ireland would leave them in pole position heading into the final-round showdown with England on 7 July.

Ireland simply cannot afford a second defeat. A loss to Argentina would leave Browne’s side needing results elsewhere to go their way and facing a likely finish in the lower half of the bracket. The introduction of Tom Wood at fly-half and the bolstering of the pack with Finn and Lautsou suggest Ireland are prepared to go toe-to-toe with Argentina’s physicality — but they will need to cut out the indiscipline that cost them against England.

England will be heavy favourites against USA, and Titterrell’s wholesale rotation provides an opportunity to give his wider squad valuable tournament minutes ahead of the decisive Argentina match. A comfortable victory here, combined with the right result in the Argentina-Ireland fixture, could see England in a commanding position.

Round 3 fixtures — Tuesday 7 July: Argentina v England (15:30 local) | Ireland v USA (13:00 local) — Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi