Fiji took the spoils to leapfrog Spain at the foot of Pool D following a compelling encounter which saw them claim an historic victory.
The Fijians had not won a Junior World Championship pool match since beating Samoa 15-3 in the 2012 tournament in South Africa, but they had too much for a Spain side who battled hard throughout before succumbing to the Pacific islanders’ customary attacking flair.
Spain will now take on Uruguay in the 13th place semi-final on Sunday while Fiji will face Ireland in the ninth place semi-final on Monday.
Andrew Tui Osborne’s side outscored Los Leones U20 by five tries to three and ran out worthy victors at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi.
Spain winger Pelayo Serrano put his side ahead early on before they were awarded a penalty try. Yet Fiji responded in style as second-row Francis Peters touched down before flanker Isoa Koroinawai seized centre stage with a quickfire double before half-time.
Spain hit back after the interval with a try from hooker Ivan Farace but they lost highly-rated centre Oriol Marsinyac Garcia to a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.
From there, Fiji took full advantage with tries from Ratu Osea Dasalusalu and Sailosi Vodonaivalu to seal a memorable victory.
FRANCE 34-29 AUSTRALIA: Les Bleuets show title pedigree after edging out Australia
Three-time Junior World Championship winners France secured their ninth semi-final appearance after edging out Australia in this enthralling Pool D decider.
Les Bleuets made it three wins from three after previous victories over Fiji and Spain to set up a last-four showdown with New Zealand and encourage French hopes of a fourth title.
Only New Zealand and England have been crowned champions more times than France and they showed their mettle to see off the Junior Wallabies, who will now face Wales in the fifth place semi-finals, after outscoring them by five tries to four.
Treyvon Pritchard gave Australia an early lead, but the response from Les Bleuets was emphatic. Their hugely influential flanker and captain Lucas Andjisseramatchi scored twice either side of a second French score from winger Melvyn Rates.
Luca Cleverley hit back for Chris Whitaker’s Junior Wallabies to leave the half-time score at 22-12 in France’s favour.
Gabin Garault and Baptiste Tilloles added to Les Bleuets’ tally after the break and, despite scoring twice more themselves through Wallace Charlie and Edwin Langi, Australia’s efforts fell just short.
They were not helped by yellow cards for second-rows Will Ross and Toby Brial but it was an incredible effort from both sets of players during an energy-sapping encounter.
ARGENTINA 38-40 ENGLAND: England eye semi-final date with South Africa after outgunning Los Pumitas in Tbilisi thriller
Four-time champions England hung on for a dramatic victory against Argentina at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi to clinch top spot in Pool C and a semi-final with defending champions South Africa.
Having already beaten Ireland and USA, Andy Titterrell’s men made it three bonus-point wins from three to register a fifth successive pool-stage victory over Los Pumitas at the Junior World Championship.
However, they were pushed all the way by a vibrant Argentina outfit who were outscored by six tries to five as England held on during a tense finale which saw them have two players sin-binned.
Argentina’s counter-attacking brilliance – a huge feature of this year’s tournament – came to the fore again when their inspirational captain Tomas Dande broke from deep for a superb opener.
England centre Will Knight then burst clear for a converted try with James Pater, Jimmy Staples and Aiden Ainsworth-Cave also going over before half-time.
Argentina scored again through Manuel Cuneo Camargo but also lost centre Benjamin Ordiz Yujnovsky to a red card and England edged clear after the break.
Ainsworth-Cave and Pater both completed braces but Los Pumitas scored their third and fourth tries through Bautista Lescano and the prolific Simon Pfister, the tournament’s leading try-scorer.
After England duo Elliot Williams and Knight were sin-binned in quick succession going into the final 10 minutes, Argentina scored again through Lescano and Pfister with his second – and seventh of the tournament – but Titterrell’s side held on despite Los Pumitas going through multiple phases with time up on the clock.
