New Zealand under-20 first five Mika Muliaina looks for a way through the French defence during the Junior World Championship semifinal in Tbilisi yesterday. Photo: NZ Rugby/Smartframe Two Otago props scored tries, but it was not enough for the New Zealand under-20 team to avoid defeat in the Junior World Championship semifinal in Georgia yesterday. The Baby Blacks coughed up a late try to fall to a 26-22 loss to a fairly one-dimensional French team. It means the wait will go on for another junior world title. New Zealand once dominated this tournament, or its equivalent, but they have not been champions since 2017, although they reached the final last year. Otago prop Ethan Webber gave the Baby Blacks a positive start in the semifinal with a try after just seven minutes. Webber was the man left with the ball after an unstoppable lineout drive. That set the tone for a first half containing no fewer than four tries from lineout mauls — some see them as a blight, others simply a part of the game that rewards physicality and technique. France scored their first try after 20 minutes when hooker Gabin Garault was driven over the line. The Baby Blacks lost a man when lock Max Fale saw yellow for contact to the head. Yet it was the New Zealanders who scored next when Otago prop Henry Stuart barged over following a lineout drive. Rinse and repeat — Garault got his second from the same set phase to give the French, who bombed a late scoring opportunity, a 14-12 lead at halftime. The early stages of the second half were cagey, with a lot of kicking. France were a menace at scrum time but did not offer a lot out wide, while the Baby Blacks squandered some opportunities. New Zealand finally capitalised when, after a couple of attacking surges that followed a counter, replacement Finn McLeod got the try. Caleb Woodley became the second Kiwi to be sent to the bin, for dragging down a maul, and naturally France scored from the subsequent lineout to make it 19-19. The Baby Blacks celebrated when Micah Fale dived over the line, only for the TMO to spot a knock-on in an earlier phase. Southland first five Mika Muliaina nudged New Zealand in front with a penalty. But the French scored the winning try — finally showing some of that flair and not just grinding from a maul — with a counter-attack from long range in the 76th minute. France, who won the tournament in 2018, 2019 and 2023, will play defending champions South Africa in the final. New Zealand play England in the third-fourth playoff on Sunday morning (NZ time). Junior World Champs The scores France 26 Gabin Garault 2, Elia Masi, Adrien Drault tries; Luka Keletaona 2 con, Diego Jurd con New Zealand 22 Ethan Webber, Henry Stuart, Finn McLeod tries; Cohen Norrie 2 con, Mika Muliaina pen Halftime: France 14-12.
