The race for the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 semi-finals is heating up with seven teams unbeaten after an entertaining second round in Tbilisi and Kutaisi.

A mouthwatering end to the pool stage awaits after seven teams made it two wins from two on the second matchday of the World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 in Georgia on Thursday.

Defending champions South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia sit top of their respective pools with the latter two again producing impressive high-scoring performances, this time against Ireland and Fiji. 

SOUTH AFRICA 33-5 GEORGIA: Mnebelele at the double as Junior Springboks see off hosts Georgia

Defending champions South Africa showed again they will take some stopping after making it two wins from two at Avchala Stadium.

The Junior Springboks were severely tested by a physical Georgia side roared on by a raucous home crowd, but still outscored their hosts by five tries to one as they capitalised on the Junior Lelos' ill-discipline.

Kevin Foote’s men will now face Wales on Tuesday in a winner-takes-all encounter for top spot – and a semi-final berth – as they bid to defend their crown.

Georgia scored first in a compelling first half, winger Luka Tabatadze diving over in the corner for a clinical finish to cap off a brilliant flowing move by the Junior Lelos who largely dominated the opening quarter. 

It was just reward for their high-energy start but South Africa’s class gradually told as they hit back with two tries to lead 12-5 at the break. Inspirational captain Siphosethu Mnebelele scored them both, first going over from point-blank range in the 22nd minute before repeating the trick 11 minutes later.

Georgia prop Levani Ezieshvili saw his yellow card upgraded to a 20-minute red for head contact on Luan Giliomee just before half-time and South Africa cut loose after the break with tries from Cheswill Jooste and Giliomee.

Georgia’s cause was not helped by yellow cards for Daviti Tsiklauri and Luka Tabatadze and the Junior Springboks added a late fifth try through flanker Luke Cannon.

NEW ZEALAND 36-26 SCOTLAND: New Zealand edge out spirited Scotland in close-fought affair

New Zealand edged a full-blooded encounter to rack up their second win of the tournament in Kutaisi to remain on track for finishing top of Pool B.

Scotland battled superbly throughout but Kane Jury’s side outscored them by five tries to four as they chase a record-extending seventh Junior World Championship title – and first since the tournament was last held in Georgia in 2017.

Both sides contributed to an outstanding first half which ended with New Zealand 17-7 ahead. Replacement centre Logan Williams, a former Scotland U18 international, came off the bench to open the scoring for Jury’s men in the 18th minute in dramatic fashion.

An implacable challenge by New Zealand captain Haki Wiseman on Jake Dalziel saw the ball run loose and winger David Lewai hacked forward superbly for Dundee-born Williams to touch down.

A stunning break and offload from Kele Lasaqa created a second try for full-back Norrie before Scotland replied on the stroke of half-time through number eight Harvey Preston.

Immediately after the interval, Norrie completed his double but Fergus Pringle’s men replied again, this time through hooker Joe Roberts’ close-range try.

Yet New Zealand’s class told once more as they breached the Scots’ defence for a fourth time as centre Siale Pahulu finished off a delightful break and offload from Norrie.

Roberts’ second cut New Zealand’s lead but a try from John Falloon with 12 minutes remaining confirmed their victory before Daniel Kelly’s last-minute score gave Scotland a try-bonus point.

ARGENTINA 62-40 IRELAND: Los Pumitas showcase attacking brilliance to record famous win 

A stunning first-half display from Argentina laid the platform for an exhilarating bonus-point victory over Ireland in Tbilisi, which sets up a huge Pool C decider with England next Tuesday.

In the sixth Junior World Championship meeting between the sides, Los Pumitas made it three wins apiece, avenging a 37-7 semi-final loss in their previous meeting with Ireland in 2016.

Ireland threatened a second-half comeback as they salvaged a try-bonus point, but their title hopes are over as Argentina made it two wins from two by outscoring their opponents by eight tries to six.

Los Pumitas led 31-7 at half-time and, despite conceding five second-half tries, they kept scoring themselves to clinch a famous win in the Georgian capital.

Winger Luciano Avaca dived over in the left corner for the opener and fly-half Federico Serpa Laporte scampered clear to cap a brilliant long-range move soon after. Ireland gradually steadied themselves and hit back midway through the first half when hooker Rian Handley crashed over from a lineout drive.

But the sinbinning of winger Daniel Ryan in the 31st minute proved costly as Argentina’s devastating counter-attacking rugby saw them score twice more to seal the bonus point before the break.

Full-back Simon Pfister touched down in the 34th minute to finish off another delightful handling sequence and captain Tomas Dande scored two minutes later to make it 31-7 at the interval.

The ubiquitous Pfister completed his brace early in the second half – taking him to five tries for the tournament – before Avaca, Bautista Lescano and Manuel Giannantonio increased Argentina’s tally.

Ireland showed commendable spirit and were rewarded with second-half scores from Charlie O'Shea (two), Jack Deegan, Blake McClean and Josh Neill.

AUSTRALIA 53-17 FIJI: Junior Wallabies turn on the style to set up pool decider against France

Australia have never been crowned winners of the Junior World Championship, but they signalled their intent in this year’s tournament with another impressive win at AIA Arena in Kutaisi.

Having dispatched Spain 90-22 in Saturday’s opener, they showed their class once again to leave Fiji nursing a second defeat following their loss to France five days earlier.

Early tries from second-row Toby Brial and winger Tom Farr-Jones put the Junior Wallabies in control and helped them establish a commanding 36-3 half-time lead.

Fiji stemmed the tide after the break, and scored two tries from Maleli Nauvasi and Ratu Epeli Roseruvakula to salvage some pride despite being outclassed by Australia.

It was impressive stuff from Chris Whitaker’s young guns, who led through Brial before further scores from Farr-Jones, Ewald Kruger, Treyvon Pritchard and Sam Blank.

Fiji replied through captain Maleli Nauvasi in the 51st minute and Roseruvakula added their second 11 minutes later but the Junior Wallabies showed their class with further scores from Farr-Jones, Marshall Le Maitre and Angus Grover.

It was an untidy affair at times as both sides had three players sin-binned, but Australia march on with next Tuesday’s encounter against Les Bleuets – a repeat of the 2019 final – already coming into clear focus.