France Under-20s 34 Ireland Under-20s 13
Ireland's Under 20's Six Nations title hopes look to have been lost in Narbonne after being outmuscled by an immense effort from the French pack in the second half.
Despite the attritional style adopted by Les Bleuets, the visitors accounted for themselves extremely well in the opening quarter. Captain and second row James Ryan showed a cool head as he lead by example.
Ireland drew first blood via the boot of Ulster out half Johnny McPhillips in the match’s opening minutes. Nigel Carolan’s charges’ defensive work was excellent during this period as was their composure.
However, the hosts began to turn the screw backed by the partisan crowd in Racing Club Narbonne's home ground and they were rewarded with a 20 minute penalty from Toulon hopeful out half Anthony Belleau, who would go on to show great poise with the kicking tee for the duration of the match.
Yet, the Irish also managed to score the opening try as Ryan's second row partner Peter Claffey scored off the back of a line out maul at 26 minutes. McPhillips missed a tricky conversion.
The hosts showed their tenacity as they were awarded a penalty try two minutes later by English referee Craig Maxwell-Keys. Then Ireland replied as Ryan crashed over to take the game to 13-10 in favour of the visitors.
This again seemed to spur on the extremely aggressive French pack and after some fumbled passing, their backs got in to rhythm with wing Gabriel N’Gandebe zooming past the Irish chasers to score on the stroke of half time.
This gave the French the psychological edge coming into the second stanza and it was clear that Ireland were beginning to tire rapidly. A brace of tries in quick at 55 and 63 succession a from powerful second row Florian Verhaegue left the Irish stunned and the hosts were able to maintain their comfortable margin of 34 points to 13 for the remainder of the match.
Scoring sequence:
5mins: J McPhillips pen, 0-3; 20 mins: A Belleau pen; 3-3: 26 mins: P Claffey try, 3-8, 28 mins: France penalty try, 8-8; A Belleau con, 10-8; 32 mins: J Ryan try, 10-13; 40 mins: try: N’Gandebe try - 15-13; A Belleau, con, 17-13. Half-time .43 mins: A Belleau pen, 20-13; 55 mins: F Verhaegue try, 25-13; A Belleau con, 27-13; 63 mins: Verhaegue try, 32-13; A Belleau con, 34-13.
France U-20: R Buros; G N'Gandebe, D Penaud , A Arrate , E Roudil ; A Belleau, C Kaiser ; C Castets (capt), P Mauvaka , M Simutoga , F Verhaegue , M Tanguy, M Voisin, J Cancoriet, A Jelonch. Replacements:: P Bourgarit for Castets, Emerick Setiano for Simutoga, B Couilloud for Kaiser (all 51 mins), JB Grenod for Voisin, A Septar for Arrate (all 61), El El Ansari for Mauvaka, Al Pilati for Penaud (both 71).
Ireland U-20: H Keenan; M Byrne , S Daly , J O'Brien , C O'Brien ; J McPhillips , J Poland ; A Porter, A McBurney , C Kenny; P Claffey, J Ryan (capt); C Gallagher, D Walsh, M Deegan. Replacements: T Kennedy for Daly (45 mins), K Brown for Deegan (47), Conan O'Donell for Kenny (51), S O'Connor for Walsh (58), S Fenton for McBurney (61), S Kerins for Poland, B Connon for McPhillips (both 62), J Bollard for Porter (71).
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (England
