The Australian Under-20s will play defending champions New Zealand in the semi-finals of rugby's junior world championship in Italy on Wednesday.

The Aussies, who were beaten 31-25 by France in their final pool game, scraped into the finals on a points differential countback to claim the best runner-up spot after finishing on equal points with South Africa.

France, who finished top of their group, reached the semi-finals of the competition for the first time and will face 2008 and 2009 runners-up England at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Wednesday before New Zealand meet Australia in a repeat of the 2010 final.

New Zealand extended their unbeaten run in junior world championship rugby to 18 matches with a 48-15 victory over Argentina in Padova to top Pool A, while England held off South Africa to win 26-20 and top Pool C.

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