New Zealand vs South Africa U20 Predictions - Junior Boks to lift World Championship title

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 18 Jul 2025

Simon Lewis 18 Jul 2025

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New Zealand and South Africa U20 teams to clash in rugby final.
South Africa favored to cover a -2 margin despite New Zealand's form.
Strong performances from both teams raise anticipation for a close match.

Expired

South Africa U20 have won their last 4 matches. (Getty Images)

New Zealand vs South Africa Predictions

It is always a great occasion when the two biggest rivals in world rugby clash in a final, this time at U20 level. Both sides have been very strong during the tournament, but South Africa have looked unstoppable at times. This will likely go down to the wire, but I’m backing the Baby Boks to cover -2.

New Zealand vs South Africa Predictions
Head to Head
New Zealand U20 Form
New Zealand U20 Team News
South Africa U20 Form
South Africa U20 Team News

New Zealand U20 have won their last 4 matches.
New Zealand U20 beat South Africa by 5 points earlier in 2025.
South Africa U20 have won their last 4 matches.
South Africa U20 have scored 70+ points in 2 of their last 4 matches.
South Africa U20 have scored 48+ points in 3 of their last 4 matches.

Head to Head

These two sides met in the 2025 U20 Rugby Championship earlier this year. New Zealand won that match 45-40.

New Zealand U20 Form

New Zealand have had a fine 2025 to date at U20 level. They won the U20 Rugby Championship earlier this year, defending their title from 2024. While they drew against Australia, they beat Argentina and South Africa to secure a narrow win.

Their U20 World Rugby Championship started off slowly against Italy, managing to scrape a 14-5 victory. From there the Junior All Blacks continued to improve, beating Georgia 38-19 in their second game before thrashing Ireland 69-22 in the final pool match.

That put the U20 New Zealand outfit up against tournament favourites, France, the same team who beat them at the same stage 55-31 last year. However, a strong performance saw the youngsters from New Zealand upset the odds with a 34-26 victory.

New Zealand U20 Team News

Given their performance against France, I suspect New Zealand will remain as unchanged as possible. That is obviously injury permitting.

South Africa U20 Form

South Africa U20 have struggled to really put a marker down at this age-group for a few years now. In fact, the Baby Boks have not made it to the final of the World Rugby Championship since 2012, when they defeated New Zealand in that final.

Earlier in 2025 it did not look like the Junior Springboks would threaten as they lost to Australia and New Zealand at home in the U20 Rugby Championship. They did beat Argentina but not in the most convincing fashion.

However, a switch seemingly flicked at the start of this tournament. The Baby Boks started off by thrashing Australia 73-14 before beating defending champions, England 32-22. That was followed by another superb victory, this time 73-14 against Scotland.

South Africa had no problems putting Argentina away in the Cup semi-final, winning 48-24 despite an average second half showing.

South Africa U20 Team News

I suspect we will see two or three changes from the semi-final. However, most of the side will likely remain the same.

Verdict

New Zealand U20 v South Africa U20

South Africa are backed to cover the -2 handicap against New Zealand U20.

South Africa U20 -2

Handicap

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