Ryan Woodman’s Welsh side restored some pride but made too many mistakes to make it into the top tier semi-finals at the World Rugby U20 Championship.
Their 43-19 defeat to the unbeaten reigning champions, France, meant they dropped to third in their pool with seven points from their opening two games. Despite the French playing for 66 minutes with 14 men, and the final six minutes with 13, they were too strong in the end.
If it was a vast improvement on the last time the two teams met in the last round of the U20 Six Nations in March – France won 67-17 and ran in 11 tries – it wasn’t enough to keep Wales on course for their main goal.
A fifth minute penalty by Clement Mondinat was followed by a try from an interception for wing and captain Nicholas Depoortere. Mondinat’s conversion made it 10-0 to the champions after only nine minutes.
Wales had first use of a strong wind and were putting huge pressure on their much-vaunted rivals. A long pass in the French 22 by Dan Edwards was intended for Tom Florence on the wing, who was in a very good position.
In stepped Florence’s opposite number Mael Moustin and he sped deep into the Welsh half before sending Depoortere in for the opening try in what was a potential 14-point turn around.
Five minutes later, French hooker Barnabe Massa was given a yellow card for driving into the neck of a Welsh player on the side of a ruck. It was a carbon copy of the dismissal of the Japanese captain in the last game and once again the review of the card saw it upgraded to red soon after.
Despite their handicap, the French scored two more tries to extend their lead to 24-0. A massive charge from the 23st second row Posolo Tuilagi set-up the score for outside half Mondinat, who also added the extras, and then livewire scrum half Leo Carbonneau rounded off a good move to score another try converted by Mondinat.
Wales desperately needed a score before the break, and they finally got a try on the stroke of half-time. Good continuity between forwards and backs saw them reach the French 22 and pose real problems.
That pressure earned them a penalty which Edwards kicked into the right corner. Sam Scarfe threw short to Woodman, who took the ball to set-up the perfect drive.
In the end it was Harlequins flanker Seb Driscoll who was credited with the try and Edwards added the conversion off the touchline to cut the gap to 17 points. Wales needed a fast start to the second half, but instead in was France who scored again to bring up the bonus-point.
They drove Wales back 30 metres at a line-out and then scored wide out on the right through skipper Depoortere. Mondinat once again nailed the conversion from the touchline.
Wales hit back with their second try as Archie Hughes sparked a raid into the French 22. The pick and go by the forwards worked for a bit before they were hit back hard.
Wales picked up a penalty but didn’t need it in the end. The backs weaved their magic and a great offload out of the tackle by Cam Winnett allowed Tom Florence to finish strongly as he took two defenders over the line with him to score a try that Edwards improved.
It was tit-for-tat after that as Carbonneau inspired a try in the right corner that led to loosehead prop Lino Julien barreling over for a try that Mondinat converted to take his match tally up to 18 points.
Back came Wales with a try in the left corner for Harri Houston and then they found themselves with two extra men after lock Brent Lufau was sent to the sin-bin for a swinging arm tackle around Louie Hennessey’s neck.
That gave Wales six minutes to push for the fourth try, and a bonus-point, after 13 men, but they couldn’t find the final flourish they had against Japan. Instead, France rounded things off in style with their sixth try by Moustin in the left corner.
