Under-20 Six Nations: France 67-17 Wales - Visitors hit with 11 tries
- Published
This was Wales' biggest under-20s defeat since losing 67-7 to England in 2014
Under-20 Six Nations: France v Wales |
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France (34) 67 |
Tries: Jauneau, Tuilagi, Depoortere 2, Drouet 4, Bielle-Biarrey 2, Gailleton Cons: Desperes, Costes, Carbonneau 4 |
Wales (3) 17 |
Tries: Edwards, Fletcher Cons: Edwards 2 Pen: Edwards |
Wales Under-20s suffered their biggest Six Nations defeat in nine years after France ran in 11 tries in Oyonnax.
The hosts were rampant in the first half with six tries to lead 34-3 at the break.
Wales briefly rallied early in the second half with tries by Ospreys pair Dan Edwards prop Louis Fletcher.
But giant wing Léo Drouet scored four tries as France proved simply too strong, too quick and too skilful for Wales who finish bottom of the table.
Italy's victory earlier in the day in Scotland meant Wales had the chance to move off the foot of the table courtesy of their three bonus-points.
However the monsoon conditions they faced when they arrived at Stade Charles-Mathon in the foothills of the Alps played into the hands of this giant French pack.
Wales drew first blood when France hooker Thomas Lacombre was sin binned in the first minute for a late tackle on Wales full-back Cameron Winnett.
Winnett was forced off injured and though Edwards kicked the penalty, Wales were left feeling the yellow card should have been red.
France's pack seized control nevertheless and the damage was done by the latest star of one of rugby's most famous families.
Posolo Tuilagi is the son of former Leicester star Henry - and nephew to Freddie, Alesana, Vavae and Manu - and the Perpignan lock was a one-man wrecking ball at 6ft 4in and 22-stone (145kg).
Posolo crashed over for the second after scrum-half Baptiste Jauneau had nipped over, before France were even back to 15 players.
At times it felt like men against boys and made for uncomfortable viewing.
Wales were losing players as well as points as centre Bryn Bradley and flanker Lucus De La Rua followed Winnett to injuries as the physical difference took an early toll.
Replacement Gwilym Evans prevented a grounding and scrum-half Harri Williams scampered back to save a try - but they could not prevent the dam bursting.
France not only boasted brute force but also sublime skills.
Dan Edwards scored Wales' first try and kicked two conversions
Nicolas Depoortere beat Harrison James to grab a third before fellow wing Drouet scored twice and full-back Louis Bielle-Biarrey finished a some scintillating handling for a sixth on the stroke of half-time.
The scoreboard would have been even more depressing for Wales head coach Byron Haywood had France not missed four conversions.
Whatever Haywood said during the break will have had more to do with pride than tactics and his players responded.
Edwards picked a smart angle onto captain Ryan Woodman's clever inside pass to score in the first minute of the second half.
Evans then went close before prop Fletcher burrowed over from close range to cut the deficit to 34-17.
However the flurry was short-lived and Drouet easily out-jumped opposite number Llien Morgan to complete his hat-trick.
Skipper Émilien Gailleton followed before Bielle-Biarrey and Depoortere both grabbed their second of the day.
France were again lucky to escape a red when flanker Mathis Castro was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle that ended a gutsy display by Tom Florence.
There was still time for Drouet to score a fourth to inflict Wales Under-20s biggest loss since the 67-7 defeat to England in 2014.
France U20: Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Bègles); Léo Drouet (Provence), Paul Costes (Toulouse), Émilien Gailleton (capt, Pau), Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux-Bègles); Axel Desperes (Pau), Baptiste Jauneau (ASM Clermont Auvergne); Luca Tabarot (Montpellier), Thomas Lacombre (Toulouse), Zaccharie Affane (Bordeaux-Bègles), Lenni Nouchi (Montpellier), Posolo Tuilagi (Perpignan), Oscar Jegou (La Rochelle), Mathis Castro-Ferreira (Toulouse), Marko Gazzotti (Grenoble).
Replacements: Julien Ratajczak (Oyonnax), Louis Penverne (La Rochelle), Karl Sorin (La Rochelle), Brent Liufau (Pau), Clément Sentubery (Touolouse), Léo Carbonneau (CA Brive), Arthur Mathiron (Lyon), Mathis Ferté (Brive)
Wales U20: Cameron Winnett (Cardiff); Oli Andrew (Dragons), Tom Florence (Ospreys), Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), Llien Morgan (Ospreys); Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Harri Williams (Scarlets); Dylan Griffiths (Dragons ), Lewis Morgan (Scarlets), Louis Fletcher (Ospreys), Liam Edwards (Ospreys), Jonny Green (Harlequins), Ryan Woodman (Dragons - capt), Lucus De La Rua (Cardiff), Morgan Morse (Ospreys)
Replacements: Lewis Lloyd (Ospreys), Freddie Chapman (Ospreys), Tomas Pritchard (Scarlets), Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff), Gwilym Evans (Cardiff), Che Hope (Dragons), Harrison James (Cardiff), Kian Abraham (Scarlets).