France vs New Zealand U20 Semi Final Tips - 13 July
France meet New Zealand in the U20 Championship semi-final at Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi on Monday 13 July.
- France meet New Zealand in the U20 Championship semi-final at Avchala Stadium, Tbilisi on Monday 13 July, kicking off at 16:00 SAST (18:00 local).
- Both sides went through the pool stage unbeaten, with New Zealand beating Italy 45-15 and France edging Australia 34-29 to top their pools.
- New Zealand won last year's semi-final meeting 34-26, and the winner on Monday advances to face South Africa or England in the final.
France against New Zealand is the fixture this tournament always seems to find, and it lands again in the semi-finals at Avchala Stadium. Both sides went through the pool stage unbeaten and both know exactly how physical this needs to be. We are backing New Zealand to edge a tight contest, with the handicap the smarter way in.
The Pick Card
Prices from Hollywoodbets, Betway and Easybet. 18+. T&Cs apply.
| Selection | Bookmaker | Odds | Stake | Operator CTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand to win | Hollywoodbets | @1.85 (indicative) | 2 Units | Bet here |
| France handicap +5.5 | Betway | @1.90 (indicative) | 2 Units | Bet here |
| Over 46.5 total points | Easybet | @1.80 (indicative) | 1 Unit | Bet here |
The Form Line
France won Pool D without dropping a game, beating Fiji 45-15, seeing off Spain and then edging Australia 34-29 in Kutaisi to confirm top spot and a semi-final against New Zealand. That Australia result was the closest they have been tested, with the French pack doing enough up front to hold on.
New Zealand also went through Pool B unbeaten, beating Japan and Scotland before putting seven tries past Italy in a 45-15 win to close out the group. The Baby Blacks have scored freely all tournament and looked the most clinical of the four pool winners heading into the semi-finals.
Head to Head
| Year | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | U20 Championship semi-final | New Zealand 34-26 France |
This is now back to back years these two have met at the semi-final stage, and New Zealand won last year's meeting in Viadana in an end to end contest that went right down to the final whistle. France will want a tighter, forward oriented game this time to avoid a repeat shootout.
Verdict
The winner of this one goes through to face the winner of South Africa and England in Friday's final, and both sides know it. New Zealand's attacking depth and last year's head to head win give them the narrow edge, but France's forward platform means the handicap is the more comfortable way to back the French without needing the outright win.
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