World Rugby U20 Championship: Pool C Standings

Ahead of the final round of pool matches, we take a look at what each nation needs to do to make it out of their respective pools, and maintain their hopes of winning the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024 in South Africa.

Following two enthralling rounds of the World Rugby U20 Championship 2024, nine teams remain in contention for a place in the semi-finals.

New Zealand, Ireland and England head into the final round of the pool stage with their destiny in their own hands but that does not mean they will still be in top spot by the end of Tuesday.

With six matches to be played in Cape Town and Stellenbosch on day three, we take a look at what each nation needs to do to qualify for the semi-finals.

POOL C

England take on South Africa in the final match of day three at Athlone Sports Stadium needing only one bonus point to secure their place in the semi-finals.

Should they lose and fail to score four tries or not finish within seven points of the Junior Springboks, however, they could be overhauled by either of the two teams below them.

The hosts will know what they need to do to make the semi-finals at the start of their match against England, given Argentina will already have played Fiji.

A bonus-point victory against England, while denying their opponents one, would mean South Africa climb into first place unless Argentina have earlier claimed a five-point victory against Fiji.

Should England, South Africa and Argentina all finish day three on 10 points then points difference will be used to determine the pool winner with the head-to-head record used to split the remaining two teams.

England currently lead the way in this regard, with a points difference of +56, while South Africa’s is +31 and Los Pumitas’ is zero.

If all three of those teams have the same points difference then the nation with the best try difference will finish top. The next determining factors are points scored and tries scored.

Argentina, therefore, need a big win against Fiji to have any hope of climbing into first place.

Fiji cannot qualify for the semi-finals having lost their opening two matches to England and South Africa.