NZ to meet South Africa in under-19 final

9.30am

Poverty Bay's Miah Nikora lifted New Zealand to a 27-24 win over Argentina with a late penalty goal in today's world Under-19 rugby championship semifinal in France.

Nikora kicked a penalty and three conversions as the two teams were locked 24-24.

With two minutes to go, Argentina buckled under pressure and came up offside in a ruck when New Zealand sought the winner.

Nikora kicked the winning penalty goal from a handy position just left of the posts, team manager Gary McLean said.

"It was a hard game, probably just what we needed before the final (against South Africa) on Sunday," McLean told NZPA from France.

Captain Jamie MacIntosh (Southland) is in some doubt for the final after he was given a second yellow card in the tournament.

The New Zealand management were thinking of appealing the second yellow card.

New Zealand's three tries in today's match came from Tim Boys (Otago), Hosea Gear (North Harbour) and Pihi Te Whare (Waikato).

NZ 27 (Tim Boys, Hosea Gear, Pihi Te Whare tries; Miah Nikora 2 pen, 3 con), Argentina 24.

- NZPA