09-07-2025
Junior All Blacks into World Championship semi-finals
Ireland's Derry Moloney and New Zealand's Frank Vaenuku contest the high ball during the 2025 under-20 Rugby World Cup, Ireland.
Photo:
©INPHO/Sebastiano Pessina / PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand has qualified for the semi-finals of the Under-20 Rugby World Championship in Italy.
New Zealand beat Ireland 69-22 in Calvisano to finish unbeaten at the top of their pool.
Ireland scored the first two tries of the match, but weren't in it after that as the Junior All Blacks ran away with the game.
They scored five first-half tries to lead 31-15 at the break and then added another six in the second half.
Otago halfback Dylan Pledger scored two first-half tries, while Tasman wing Maloni Kunawave and Southland hooker Shaun Kempton grabbed two each after the break.
Hawke's Bay first five Will Cole kicked six conversions.
New Zealand captain Manumaua Letiu wasn't concerned when they went behind early.
"Really proud of the boys to keep our calm, we've experienced this before and we knew what to do, so proud of the effort," Letiu said.
New Zealand beat Italy 14-5 in their first pool game and Georgia 38-19 in their second.
"We had a lot of learnings from those first two games, we stayed tight as a team and leading into this week was great and I think the boys can take heaps of confidence out of this game," Letiu said.
New Zealand's semi-finals opponents are yet to be determined.
South Africa were also unbeaten in their pool and are likely to be the top seeds for the semi-finals.
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