The 2018 IRB Under 20 Championship will come to a close on Sunday the 17th of June.
After just over a month of hard hits and highly entertaining rugby, the IRB Under 20 Championship comes to a close. The biggest game of the day will see England and France duke it out in the final. While that fixture will take the limelight there are some other crucial games including the relegation clash between Japan and Ireland that will get proceedings underway.
Ireland v Japan
11:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Ireland 1/5
Draw 22/1
Japan 33/10
Handicap
Ireland (-9.5) 17/20
Japan (+9.5) 17/20
*Expected Handicaps
Ireland and Japan will get the final set of fixtures underway when they square off in the relegation fixture. Both sides failed to win a game at this year’s tournament but did put in some memorable displays with the Irish going down by just two points to finalists France in the opening fixture, while Japan managed to go down by just a solitary point to the Welsh during the pool phase.
Verdict: Ireland (-9.5) 17/20
This Irish side is actually rather good they just need to put in an 80-minute shift instead of playing in patches. I can see them doing this on the final day and, in the process, clearing the handicap.
Scotland v Georgia
13:30
To Win (80 Mins)
Scotland 5/10
Draw 20/1
Georgia 31/20
Handicap
Scotland (-4.5) 17/20
Georgia (+4.5) 17/20
*Expected Handicaps
Scotland and Georgia will go head-to-head in the next fixture of the day. Both sides have only managed to win one game so far in the tournament with Scotland beating Ireland 29-45 in their play-off fixture and Georgia beating Japan by two points in their play-off.
Verdict: Scotland (-4.5) 17/20
I think the Georgians are starting to feel the effects of a hard set of fixtures. They looked rather leggy against the Japanese and I think they will struggle during the second stanza against the ‘Scots.
Argentina v Australia
14:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Argentina 31/20
Draw 20/1
Australia 5/10
Handicap
Argentina (+4.5) 17/20
Australia (-4.5) 17/20
*Expected Handicaps
Next up we have an all southern hemisphere affair with Argentina taking on Australia. Both teams have managed to win two games thus far with Argentina beating Scotland during the round-robin phase and Wales in the play-offs, while Australia beat Japan in the pool phase and Italy in the play-offs.
Verdict: Argentina 31/20
I know they are the most erratic side in the tournament but I fancy the Argentines to end the ‘comp on a high. They tend to produce their best rugby when the pressure is off and the shackles will be well a truly released here.
Wales v Italy
16:00
To Win (80 Mins)
Wales 8/10
Draw 20/1
Italy 1/1
Handicap
Wales (-1.5) 17/20
Italy (+1.5) 17/20
*Expected Handicaps
From an all southern hemisphere affair, we move on to an all northern hemisphere affair with Wales taking on Italy. Both sides enjoyed decent tournaments with Italy beating Scotland and Argentina during the pool phase and Wales getting wins over Japan and Australia.
Verdict: Italy 1/1
When these two sides met in the Under 20 Six Nations this year Italy ran out 7-18 victors. My money is on them doing the double over the Junior Dragons.
South Africa v New Zealand
16:30
To Win (80 Mins)
South Africa 33/10
Draw 25/1
New Zealand 2/9
Handicap
South Africa (+9.5) 17/20
New Zealand (-9.5) 17/20
The Baby Boks will be looking to spring a surprise when they take on the Junior All Blacks in the tournament’s penultimate game. The South Africans suffered two defeats in the tournament going down to France in the pool phase and England in the semi-finals, while New Zealand only lost one fixture as they went down 16-7 to the French in their semi.
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Verdict: South Africa (+9.5) 17/20
I’m expecting a big second half showing from the South Africans to keep them within a rather kind handicap.
England v France
18:30
To Win (80 Mins)
England 27/20
Draw 20/1
France 6/10
Handicap
England (+3.5) 17/20
France (-3.5) 17/20
Tournament hosts France will contest their first ever final when they take on the English. The hosts head into this one off the back of a brilliant 16-7 victory over the All Blacks while England come into it off the back of a narrow 32-31 victory over the Baby Boks.
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Verdict: France 6/10
I think the French are destined to take the title on home soil. They’ve played some eye-catching rugby and should get the better of the English as they did in this year’s Under 20 Six Nations.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets.
