Scotland U20 26-51 France U20: France win U20 Six Nations championship as they batter Scotland in Edinburgh

France had won their last 5 away games against Scotland. But the home side looked to turn the tide of their own championship, having lost their last two fixtures, against Wales and England.

“It is about having those experiences and then growing from them” – Scotland U20 head coach Fergus Pringle

France brought all the pressure after the traveling fans made The Hive stadium sound like it was in Paris during the anthems. A great run from the French 15, Joachim Senga Kuou, down the far side in the opening minutes reinforced the strength of the traveling side, but Scotland did well to defend.

Scotland proved to be adept not only at defending the French but also at attacking them. Forcing penalty after penalty and marching the French back to their own 22. It looked as if Scotland would open the scoring with a powerful driving maul, but after a TMO review, it was ruled no try due to obstruction.

France looked to score in the corner with a fantastic run from winger Tom Levaque, but he was taken into touch a metre away from scoring. France seemed adamant to walk away from the 22 with some points this time, running phases quickly from side to side and really challenging Scotland’s defence.

A French lineout turned maul saw Scotland's forwards dragged in and bunched up before French 10, Luke Keletoana kicked it wide into the hands of Levaque, who opened the evening's scoring.

The French backs showed off some flair after second row Romeo Bonnard ripped the ball from what looked to be an exciting opportunity for Scotland. Quick hands and smart lines saw fullback Senga Kuou ground the ball between the posts, setting up Keletaonoa’s first conversion of the evening.

5 minutes later, the French forwards decided to try and get a try of their own, with several dominant carries seeing number 4, Baptiste Veschambre, power over the line to score France’s third, quickly followed by another successful conversion.

Akin to Obelisk falling into the cauldron as a baby, France was graced with an opportunity that left them feeling strong. A fumbled pass from Scotland allowed France to charge back into Scotland’s 22 and capitalise. After a TMO decision, a try was awarded to center Adrien Drault.

With three minutes before half-time, France tasted blood, and they were hungry. A quick run on the far side put them in position for a lineout.

The ball was taken well, and what followed was a clearly practiced set-piece move, which saw the ball quickly move into the hands of number 8, Elyjah Ibsaiene, who barreled over, making it very clear just which side was in control for the first half.

Thunderous cries of ‘Allez les Bleus’ welcomed the leaders back to the pitch despite the side not wearing blue.

Scotland were keen to turn things around and convert their chances into points; they quickly reasserted their dominant pack by winning another scrum penalty – one of the few areas where they had the upper hand during the first half.

Scotland’s forwards further displayed their physicality with another strong maul from a lineout in the French 22. Driving back the French forwards some considerable meters before hooker and captain, Joe Roberts popped out the back to score Scotland’s first and open the scoring for the second half.

Ten minutes later, Scotland performed a near-identical move, with replacement 16, Jamie McAughtrie, scoring this time around, displaying that Scotland’s forwards could still outcompete their French counterparts off the bench. 10 Jake Dalziel made his first successful kick between the posts.

Another ten minutes later, after a bit of a scrap fest from both sides, Scotland’s backs decided they wanted in on the action too, and a great line break from center Campbell Waugh, it looked as if he was going to stumble. But he recovered well to score Scotland’s third. Another successful conversion saw the gap close to just 12.

France was not going to let all of this go unanswered after such a dominant first half. A line break of their own put them in Scotland’s 22 for the first time in a while. It briefly looked as if Scotland would hold them off, but France recovered possession, and Drault scored his second.

Though it looked like that would be it for Scotland, they kept driving, keen for at least a losing bonus point. It was all worth it as just moments after France’s score, they pummeled away at the French defence on the try line before replacement Jackson Rennie grounded the ball well. A quick and successful conversion from Dalziel shows the gap to be 12 once again.

Evidently the French did not like the number 12 as this gap once again kicked them up a notch, seeing replacement Timeo Frier cement the French dominant win with only 3 minutes left on the clock.

TRIES: 4 (Roberts 48’, McAughtrie 56’, Waugh, 66’, Rennie 73)

CONVERSIONS: 3 (Dalziel 57’, 67’, 74’)

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS:

RED CARDS: 0

15. Henry Widdowson 14. Nairn Moncrieff 13. Campbell Waugh 12. Harry Clark 11. Rory McHaffie 10. Jake Dalziel 9. Adam McKenzie 1. Oliver McKenna 2. Joe Roberts (c) 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty 4. Alfie Blackett 5. Dan Halkon 6. Christian Lindsay 7. Harvey Preston 8. Rory Purvis

16. Jamie McAughtrie 17. Jamie Stewart 18. Jackson Rennie 19. Fin Ronnie 20. Sam Byrd 21. Archie Appleby 22. Hamish MacArthur 23. Calum Jessop

TRIES: 7 (Levaque 15’, Senga Kuoui 25’, Veschambre 29’, Drault, 35’ 69’, Ibsaiene 39’, Frier 77’)

CONVERSIONS: 5 (Keletaona 25’, 29’, 37’, Kretchmann 70’, 78)

PENALTIES: 0

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS:

RED CARDS: 0

15. Joachim Senga Kuou 14. Tom Leveque 13. Adrien Drault 12. Bastien Rasal 11. Melvyn Rates 10. Luke Keletaona 9. Baptiste Tilloles 1. Samuel Jean Christophe 2. Gabin Gerault 3. Mael Turpin 4. Baptiste Veschambre 5. Romeo Bonnard Martin 6. Marceau Marzullo (c) 7. Tana Keletaona 8. Elyjah Ibsaiene

16. Yanis Basse 17. Edouard-Junior Jabea Njocke 18. Ruben Pargade 19. Nils Punti 20. Lucas Andjisseramatchi 21. Nathan Llaveria 22. Gabin Kretchmann 23. Timeo Frier