Although England u/20 and Ireland u/20 were the unbeaten sides in the 2023 u/20 Six Nations championship it was once again Italy's u/20s that once again showed that they will be a force to be reckoned at the 2023 u/20 World Championship to be hosted in South Africa.
For the South African supporters the performance of Italy, which is part of their Pool C competitors along with Argentina and Georgia in the 2023 u/20 World Cup, is extremely important.
Italy lost narrowly to France as well as England in the final minutes of their matches, they sent an early warning to the other u/20 Six Nations teams, but also to the other u/20 World Cup hopefuls and particularly to the u/20 Springboks.
It was recently announced that South Africa will host the World Rugby U20 Championship for the next two years (2023 and 2024) from 24 June-14 July 2023. Played over five match days in the Western Cape Wineland regions of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Wellington, the world’s best 12 nations have been placed into three pools.
Pool A: France, Wales, New Zealand and Japan.
Pool B: Australia, England, Ireland and Fiji.
Pool C: South Africa, Argentina, Italy and Georgia.
Ireland 33-31 France
Sam Prendergast proved Ireland’s hero, kicking a 77th-minute penalty for a dramatic 33-31 win against France in Round 2 of the Under-20 Six Nations.
In a topsy-turvy and chaotic affair, the lead exchanged hands on multiple occasions before Prendergast, who was near-faultless from the tee, kicked the defending champions to victory.
Ireland led 20-14 at half time having dominated the set piece against a young French side but was pegged back time and time again.
Twice France thought they had won it late on but Ireland refused to go away and superstar fly-half Prendergast kept them on course for a second consecutive Grand Slam with a nerveless kick at the death to send Musgrave Park into raptures.
Scotland 18-17 Wales
Dan King’s late penalty gave Scotland a first Under-20 Six Nations win for almost three years as they triumphed 18-17 over Wales at Scotstoun.
Wales fought well to limit Scotland to 8-0 in the first half, courtesy of an early try from flanker Rudi Brown and a penalty from Ben Afshar.
Byron Hayward’s side was reduced to 13 men on two occasions either side of halftime but looked the stronger for it, scoring 17 points to Scotland’s seven during the 30 minutes they lacked their full complement.
Morgan Morse’s quick pick-and-go brought them to within a single point before a penalty try was awarded to the hosts for a line-bound collapsed maul.
Dan Edwards’ penalty and Oli Andrew’s converted try turned the tables once again to make it 17-15 in Wales' favour.
But full-back King would have the final say from the tee before Wales’ Lewis Lloyd was shown a red card at the death.
England 32-25 Italy
England maintained their 100 per cent start to the 2023 Under-20 Six Nations with a 32-25 victory over Italy at Kingsholm.
Sam Harris, Rekeiti Ma’asi White and Tobias Elliott helped England to a 20-8 half-time lead but the hosts lost two players to the sin-bin early in the second period to give Italy hope.
Marcos Gallorini crossed to bring Italy within five but Chandler Cunningham-South’s try restored England’s cushion, with Afolabi Fasogbon also crossing either side of Destiny Aminu’s second and Filippo Bozzini’s late score which ensured Italy earned two bonus points.
England started on top at Kingsholm and had two early opportunities to go ahead, only for wingers Josh Hathaway and Elliott to knock on when well placed.
The hosts were not to be denied a third time, however, and Sam Harris was the man to benefit as he sprinted clear from 40 metres out to open the scoring.
The full-back was unable to add the extras to his own try but England did not have to wait long to extend their lead, Ma’asi-White latching on to Monty Bradbury’s chip to crash over and add a try to his assist for the opening score.
