Rugby: NZ U20s knocked out of Junior World Championship in semi-final heartbreaker
The New Zealand U20 rugby team was eliminated from the Junior World Championship after a narrow 26-22 semi-final loss to France. France will now advance to the final to face South Africa.
Why it matters
This result marks a significant exit for a top-tier rugby nation in a major international youth tournament.
A last-gasp try from France in the semi-final has ended the NZ U20s' World Rugby Junior World Championship campaign in Georgia.
Adrien Drault's 76th-minute try gave France the 26-22 win over New Zealand to book their place in this weekend's final.
France, who have won three of the last five tournaments in 2018, 2019 and 2023, carved New Zealand's defence apart in the dying minutes.
New Zealand made a strong start, opening the scoring after seven minutes when Ethan Webber crossed the try line and Cohen Norrie added the conversion.
But the French drew level with a converted try in the 20th minute.
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