JOHANNESBURG (AP) – New Zealand will have a chance to avenge its first defeat in the history of the junior world rugby championship after beating Fiji 33-12 in Cape Town on Tuesday to meet Wales again in the semifinals.
New Zealand’s four-try, bonus-point win ensured it qualified for the semis as the best second-placed team from the three pools. It edged Ireland on points differential.
New Zealand, the only winner of the event since it began in 2008, lost to Wales 9-6 on Friday, ending a 21-match unbeaten run.
On Tuesday, Wales defeated Samoa 74-3, with 29 points from Tom Prydie, to win Pool A and top the seedings, setting up the rematch on Sunday at Newlands in its first semis in four years.
Unbeaten Argentina will make its semi-finals debut after beating Scotland 17-12, to go with wins over France and Australia in Pool C.
The Argentines face host South Africa, which rebounded from an opening loss to Ireland with a comfortable 28-15 defeat of England. South Africa scored four second-half tries against England for a bonus point to edge Ireland for Pool B honours.