Round two of the World Rugby Championship 2023 came to a conclusion today in South Africa’s Western Cape. 

Here are five of the biggest talking points from the round of fixtures.

Georgia And Italy Make History 

As far as historic days go, today is certainly right up there with the best of them for U20 Rugby. Written off as mere participants ahead of the tournament, both Georgia and Italy were not expected to press for semi-final contention. Yet, with just one round to go, both sides will take to the pitch knowing that a win will put them in a strong position to progress. In a rather cruel Shakespearean sort of way, the fact that the two sides face each other for this honour makes the fixture all the more intriguing. Whilst both South Africa and Argentina will have a say in Pool C, it is certainly not out of the realms of possibility that they play out a draw. In this situation, the winner of the Italy vs Georgia fixture would almost certainly progress. 

Northern Dominance

Unlike any previous season, the widespread dominance of the northern hemisphere teams over their southern rivals is quite remarkable. Joining Italy and Georgia in the win column in round two were Ireland, England, Wales, and France. Most notable of these wins were Ireland and France’s utter demolitions of Australia and New Zealand, respectively. The top two teams from the past two U20 Six Nations look to be the hot favourites to meet in the final. France are firmly in control of Pool A whilst England is joint on points with England atop Pool C. With a game to come against Fiji, Ireland will look to put up a big score to overtake England on points difference. Irrespective of whether they manage to do so, they look set to progress as the best pool runner-up at the very least. 

Terrible Playing Conditions

To say the pitch in Paarl was poor would be a significant understatement. Battered by the elements and the heavy cleats of high-octane U20 Rugby, the pitch now resembles more of a bog than a suitable playing surface. Fortunately, the tournament organisers have other venues available for the knockout stages, but one can’t help but feel the surface is hampering several teams' ability to play their game at the tournament. Now in the midst of the darkest winter months, conditions are unlikely to change greatly over the coming weeks, so it will be interesting to see what adaptations teams will make throughout round three and the playoffs. 

Tournament On The Brink Of First Ever All North Semi-Finals

For the first time in U20 Rugby’s history, the possibility of no representatives from the southern hemisphere is very real. Pool A looks to be all but sewn up by France, who have bagged two bonus point wins, whilst England and Ireland are likely to emerge from Pool B. Thus, the southern hemisphere’s hopes lie squarely on the shoulders of either Argentina or South Africa. Even still, neither side is guaranteed a place, given that both Georgia and Italy sit in strong positions ahead of their clash. 

Junior All Blacks Haka Comes Under Fire 

Coming under heavy fire on social media, the Junior All Blacks are staring down an early exit from this year’s Championship. Yet, as disappointing as their performances have been, it has been their pre-game Haka that has caught the ire of many online. Blasted for being over the top, the Haka has taken over two and a half minutes each game so far. Considered to be a special part of Rugby, fans and pundits alike feel it has begun to lose its allure in the modern game. Accused of being over-scripted and more of a social media display than a true war dance, it will be interesting to see how the Kiwis approach round three.