By James Orpin
France – 29
Tries: Bosmorin 7, 36, Lacombre 32, Castro-Ferreira 43
Conversions: Reus 8, 33, 37
Penalties: Desperes 73
Wales – 11
Tries: Morse 70
Conversions:
Penalties: Ford 3, 26
Star Man: Hoani Bosmorin
France get a bonus point victory to put themselves in the best position for a semi-final spot, beating the Welsh 29-11.
It was a match with extreme weather conditions with winds of up to 50 miles per hour.
Welsh captain Ryan Woodman spoke about how his side attempted to play with their initial advantage of playing with the wind, “we didn’t use it how we should have and when it was flipped on its head, they kept us in our own 22 the whole second half.”
French captain Hugo Reus said, “the conditions were very hard, it was a tough game and we are proud of our performance.”
A game that started scrappy with Wales getting the first points from a penalty from Henri Ford within just three minutes. It was France that when they get their opporutnities they have taken them well.
With the first try coming in the 7th minute for the defending champions through winger Hoani Bosmorin, with French pressure proving too much for the Welsh defence.
French hooker Thomas Lacobre got his sides second with their power in their carries being too much for the Welsh defence to handle.
They then added their third to send them into a confrontable lead just minutes after as full back Mathis Ferte broke the line and set up his winger Bosmorin for his second of the game.
France went in 19-6 at the break after being too clinical for the Welsh and showing their class when they put pressure on.
The second half started in disaster for Wales as their hooker Isaac Young was sent to the bin for a high tackle, and then put themselves under pressure attempting and failing to play out of their own 22. This led to French number 8 Mathis Castro-Ferreira scoring the bonus point try for his side in the 43rd minute.
Wales then did manage to solidify their defence keeping the French at bay for the rest of their sin bin period and afterwards. Before then applying their own pressure, which after being held up once minutes before, they scored through Morgan Morse, with the rolling Maul in the 70th minute.
France then attempted to finish with a flourish but were held out by strong Welsh defence but still managed to secure victory and put them in a good position to secure a semi-final spot.
Teams
France U20: Ferte, Biasotto, Brau-Boirie, Tacola, Bosmorin, Reus (c), Jean-Christophe, Lacombre, Duchene, Gambini, Mezou, Querre-Karaba, Tolofua, Ferreira
Replacements: Lotrian, Julien, Marceline, Corso, Malaterre, Caumel, Carbonneau, Desperes-Rigou
Wales U20: Young, Page, Hennessey, Emanuel, Boschoff, Ford, Davies, Morse, Young, Scott, Green, Thomas, Woodman (c), De La Rua, Morse
Replacements: Thomas, Morris, Hire, Thomas, Conquer, Lewis, Wilde, Evans
Referee: Neheun Jauri Riverto
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