France U20 and New Zealand U20 faced off in a highly anticipated semi-final at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 on July 14 at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana, Italy[5]. This match was set up as a classic encounter, with France entering as the U20 Six Nations champions and New Zealand as the U20 Rugby Championship winners[1].
The two teams had previously met during the pool stage, with New Zealand narrowly edging France courtesy of a last-minute penalty. However, in the semi-final, France executed a ruthless performance, running in seven tries and seeing fly-half Hugo Reus kick nine out of nine from the tee, securing a commanding 55-31 victory against New Zealand[1]. Despite New Zealand dominating territory and possession, France’s attacking prowess proved too much, highlighting their status as defending world champions.
New Zealand entered the match boasting the tournament’s best defensive record and a high-powered attack, led by standout players like Frank Vaenuku and Maloni Kunawave. However, France’s form—winning seven of their last eight matches and three consecutive games by 14+ points—made them favorites to reach the final again[2].
The clash garnered significant attention not just for the rugby on display but for the context: it was a rematch of the previous year’s semi-final, also won convincingly by France. Four New Zealand players started both semi-finals, hoping to overturn the previous result, but France again demonstrated their superiority at this age-grade level[3].