A David Flannigan penalty put Wales U21 8-7 ahead in reply but as soon as the second half began it was one way traffic from Les Bleus. Guilhem Guirado’s try and Francois Trinh-Duc’s penalty took them clear and whilst Wales U21 penned the French back into the own 22 in the final ten minutes, a combination of poor handling and solid defending ensured there was no way back.
Things looked very promising for last season’s Grand Slam winners as the forwards began to dominate the early exchanges, and it was a series of surges and well timed off-loads that opened the space for Ospreys winger Brew to score in the right corner. Fly-half Flannigan missed the conversion, after also failing with a penalty attempt after six minutes.
Falling behind seemed to focus French minds, and they were denied a try four minutes later when referee spotted a double movement by a French forward, but they were not to be denied ten minutes later as impressive centre Puyo squeezed between Wales U21 No.8 Adam Powell and lock Alun-Wyn Jones to cross in the shadow of the posts.
France U21’s second try after the break which clinched victory was also a sloppy one from a Wales U21 defensive point of view. Hooker Guirado broke from a rolling maul inside the Welsh 22 and sprinted clear with the cover defence no where in sight. Trinh-Duc’s penalty just before the hour mark ended the night’s scoring as France U21 comfortably held on for their fourth win of the campaign.
