Under-19 World Championships: Ireland are now confirmed to face Argentina in the semi-finals of the IRB Under-19 World Championship in Dubai after finishing in sixth position, three places above their tournament seeding, at the end of the pool stages of the tournament.

This means that the lowest overall placing that Ireland can occupy at the end of the tournament will be eighth compared to last year in Durban when Ireland finished in overall ninth position. Crucially this will affect the 2007 tournament to be held in Belfast.

Ireland know they lived dangerously on Thursday having only just secured their sixth position going into the fourth round after fending off a late challenge from a lively Samoa side. The Pacific Islanders had three chances to win the game in the last five minutes of play but were unable to capitalise on any of them.

Elsewhere, leaders New Zealand play a revitalised England in the fourth round while Australia, still many observers' favourites, will take on France, winners over Argentina in the third round. In the middle group Wales, the Six Nations champions at under-19 level, just missed the cut for the top four places and will play the defending champions South Africa in round four.

Representatives of the agencies involved in next year's tournament in Belfast have been in Dubai inspecting the excellent facilities that have made this event such a success.

Meanwhile, the Ireland under-18s to play Georgia in their final game of the FIRA AER Under-18 European Championship show several changes to the starting team that beat Portugal 13-0.

In the backs, Matthew Betty moves from the right wing to fullback in place of Karl Manning, with Eoin Sheridan moving from centre to take Betty's place on the wing. William Stewart moves from 12 to 13, with Conor Armstrong coming into the team at inside centre. There is a straight swap at scrumhalf, with Dale Harris coming in for his first start in place of Kris Greene.

The entire front row has changed, with John Rowe, Conor Whelan and Andrew Cassidy making way for Michael Moynihan, David McGregor and Conor Higgins. McGregor moves from the back row to hooker, with his place at openside being taken by Michael Cronin.

Eoin Sheriff returns to the starting side in the second row, with Tom Burns moving to the replacements.