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The defeat to New Zealand complicates Italy U20’s run at the Junior World Championship, but it does not end it. Because their final Pool B placing now hinges on another match: Japan versus Scotland.
The table right now
New Zealand have finished the pool with a perfect record, moving to 15 points and locking up top spot. Italy stay second, but with Scotland breathing down their necks: the Scots — who already beat the Azzurrini on the opening day (38-32) and hold a better points difference — are on six points and can leapfrog Italy with even a single bonus point against Japan.
The scenarios: when Italy stay second
Does Italy U20 only need one result to stay second? Yes: if Japan beat Scotland and keep them off the scoreboard entirely, the Azzurrini hold on to second place in the pool. If Scotland pick up points and grab the bonus, the swap is on and Italy slip to third.
That is the big regret of the night: a win over the Baby Blacks would have made Italy first and sent them into the final for the world title. A detail that makes the defeat sting all the more.
And if Italy finish third?
In the event of third place, the road would lead to the group deciding places nine to twelve: two semi-finals and a placing final. In DanPat’s live read, Italy would meet the winner of Georgia and Uruguay, in a bracket featuring an Ireland already certain of that tier and the winner of Spain and Fiji.
Winning matters, but the result must be read within a development path, part of building the Under-20 side.
Because beyond the permutations, this is the right frame: at this age the bracket matters less than the growth. Yet finishing among the world’s top eight, for this generation, would still be a statement.
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DANPAT Rugby