Argentina Secure Semi Final Spot at 2025 World Rugby u20 Championship

Argentina have secured a place in the Semi Finals of the 2025 World Rugby u20 Championship. Los Pumitas confirmed their spot in the final four by scoring a bonus point in their 56-26 loss to France on Wednesday. Argentina will face South Africa on Monday, July 14 to determine who advances to the final.

Both France and Argentina entered Wednesday’s match unbeaten. The clash was for the top spot in the pool. With the two other pool both having no unbeaten team after two rounds, both France and Argentina had a pathway to the Semi Finals.

Los Pumitas started poorly against Wales in their first game and even worse against Spain in their second. It was not third time is a charm for Los Pumitas as they were unable to comeback against France.

Édouard-Junior Jabea Njocke scored in Argentina’s try zone to open the scoring. Nolann Donguy followed it up with a brilliant individual score for the Europeans before Lyam Akrab made it three tries in 10 minutes. The French scored another through Tom Levêque to underline their dominance.

The dire start from Los Pumitas meant it was game over with well over 75% of the contest remaining. On another note, Argentina’s scrum was impressive. Center Felipe Ledesma was able to break the line for the first points for the South Americans.

Ledesma’s try was not a game-changer; instead, Argentina lost Santiago Neyra to a yellow card and Elyjah Ibsaine scored two tries from lineout to maul moves.

The Toulouse-bound Tomás Rapetti scored for Argentina and France were on the back foot as replacement Lenny Alifanety was yellow carded. Center Pedro Coll went over for Argentina to underline their best period of the match.

France were not done yet, though. Kalvin Gourgues and Mathis Barret both scored tries. It left Argentina beaten and in a position in which time was running out for them to score a bonus point. The bonus point came seven minutes from full-time as replacement hooker Jerónimo Otaño scored. The try saw Argentina into the Semi Finals.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

 

SCORING

FRANCE u20 (52)
TRY – EJ Jabea Njocke (1′); N Donguy (5′); L Akrab (9′); T Levêque (12′); E Ibsaiene (30′, 35′); K Gourgues (56′); M Barret (59′)
CON – L Keletaona (2′, 6′, 10′, 31′, 57′, 60′)
PEN –
YC – L Alifanety (49′)

ARGENTINA u20 (26)
TRY – F Ledesma (22′); T Rapetti (45′). P Coll (52′); J Otaño (72′)
CON – P Senillosa (23′, 46′, 73′)
YC – S Neyra (29′)

TEAMS

ARGENTINA u20
1 Diego Correa, 2 Tadeo Ledesma Arocena, 3 Tomás Rapetti, 4 Tomás Duclos, 5 Alejandro Barrios, 6 Franco Benítez, 7 Pampa Storey, 8 Santiago Neyra, 9 Fabricio Griffo, 10 Ramón Fernández Miranda, 11 Bautista Lescano, 12 Felipe Ledesma (capt.), 13 Pedro Coll, 14 Timoteo Silva, 15 Pascal Senillosa

Replacements:  Álvaro García Iandolino, Tomás Dande, Jerónimo Otaño, Gael Galván, Valentino Reggiardo, Matías Cordero, Nicanor Rins, Aquiles Vieyra

FRANCE
1 Édouard-Junior Jabea Njocke, 2 Lyam Akrab, 3 Mohamed Megherbi, 4 Bartholomé Sansón, 5 Charles Kanté Samba, 6 Baptiste Britz, 7 Antoine Deliance (capt.), 8 Elyjah Ibsaiene, 9 Simon Daroque, 10 Luka Keletaona, 11 Tom Levêque, 12 Kalvin Gourgues, 13 Robin Taccola, 14 Nolann Donguy, 15 Jon Echegaray

Replacements: Quentin Algay, Lenny Alifanety, Corentin Mézou, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Mathis Barret, Diego Jurd, Baptiste Tilloles, Lorencio Boyer Gallardo

 

WORLD RUGBY OFFICIAL

Referee: Marcus Playle (New Zealand)

SEMI FINALS –  2025 WORLD RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP

MONDAY, JULY 14 VS

MONDAY, JULY 14 VS