France U20 vs Australia U20

France struck first after the break. Hooker Gabin Garault drove over from a lineout maul in the 42nd minute, pushing the lead to 27–12. But Australia substitute Wallace Charlie — on for the injured Melvyn Rates — responded immediately, finishing a sweeping move in the 45th minute. Mackay converted to make it 27–19.

With the momentum shifting, France lost scrum-half Baptiste Tilloles to injury but regrouped. In the 51st minute, Australia lock Will Ross was yellow-carded, and France capitalised. Tilloles — still on the pitch — wriggled through a gap before full-back Axel Guillaud provided the assist for Tilloles himself to score (55'). Diego Jurd, on for the injured Keletaona, converted to stretch the lead to 34–19.

Australia refused to fold. Prop Edwin Langi crashed over from a driving maul in the 60th minute, Mackay converting (34–26). Replacement Charlie Bird landed a penalty in the 76th minute after TJ Talaileva had burst through midfield, making it 34–29.

France held firm in the final four minutes, snuffing out Australia's last attack to secure the win.

Lucas Andjisseramatchi (France U20) — The captain led from the front with two first-half tries, both from close-range finishes. His try in the 25th minute, after Brial's yellow card, proved the decisive period of the match. Player of the Match.

Luka Keletaona (France U20) — The fly-half, named Player of the Championship in this year's U20 Six Nations, contributed a try assist, a conversion and a penalty before leaving the field injured in the 53rd minute. His tactical kicking pinned Australia deep during France's best spell.

Treyvon Pritchard (Australia U20) — The Queensland Reds outside-back was Australia's most dangerous attacking threat, scoring the opening try and making several line breaks. His running game kept Australia in the contest.

Eli Langi (Australia U20) — The number eight scored a try and was a constant physical presence, carrying hard into the French defence throughout the second half.

France's 22–12 half-time lead came despite Australia enjoying the better of the opening exchanges. The red card to Toby Brial (16') was the inflection point — France scored 19 unanswered points in the 10 minutes that followed, flipping the match on its head.

Australia dominated the second half territorially, running 10 entries into the France 22 compared to France's 9, but converted only one try from those visits. France, by contrast, scored two tries from their entries — a ruthless efficiency that proved the difference.

France's attacking ruck speed was notably quicker than Australia's — 70% of French rucks were cleared within three seconds, compared to 65% for Australia — allowing Keletaona and Tilloles to play flat and attack the gainline.

France finish top of Pool D with a perfect 3–0 record and 15 points, securing a quarter-final against the third-placed team from Pool A or C. Australia, also through to the knockout stage, finish second in the pool with 10 points and face a tougher quarter-final draw against a pool winner.

France's next fixture is the quarter-final on 11 July. Australia's quarter-final opponent will be confirmed once the pool stage concludes.

France entered the tournament as U20 Six Nations champions (winning all five matches in March 2026) and have carried that form into Georgia, scoring 136 points across their three pool matches. Australia, who finished fourth in the U20 Rugby Championship earlier this year, showed signs of improvement but were undone by a 10-minute spell of indiscipline in the first half.

A game of two distinct halves: France's first-half punch and Australia's second-half response. The margin of five points flattered neither side — France were dominant for 40 minutes, Australia for 30. In the end, Andjisseramatchi's double and the composure of Keletaona's boot made the difference. France head into the knockout stage as one of the form teams of the tournament.