Match Report

Le Garrec mastery helps France Under-20s outclass Wales

Alexandre Tchaptchet scores a try despite Christ Tshiunza 1/7/2021
Nolann Le Garrec’s masterclass sent France soaring into third place in the 2021 Six Nations Under-20s with a 36-19 triumph over Wales in Cardiff.

Nolann Le Garrec’s masterclass sent France soaring into third place in the 2021 Six Nations Under-20s with a 36-19 triumph over Wales in Cardiff.

The skipper and scrum-half was at the heart of a vibrant five-try French display as Mathias Haddad, Louis Bielle Biarrey and an Alexandre Tchaptchet double wrapped up the bonus point before half-time.

Wales lost two men to the bin in a pulsating first 40 but still managed to score through Jacob Beetham’s try before France fly-half Thibault Debaes’ mazy run saw him cross after the break.

Replacement Morgan Richards scored along with Beetham’s second late on, but Ioan Cunningham’s men were unable to prevent their opponents leapfrogging them in the table.

FRANCE TIGHTEN GRIP ON GAME

A neat lineout move sent France’s Enzo Reybier flying over the gainline before the forwards came rushing around the corner and flanker Haddad bundled over from close range after just three minutes.

Skipper Le Garrec converted to put Les Bleuets 7-0 up but Wales hit back when centre Eddie James stepped through a tackle and offloaded to onrushing full-back Beetham who steamed in to level the game at 7-7.

Wales made a mess of the resulting kick-off receipt and paid an immediate price when captain Alex Mann was sin-binned for preventing Le Garrec’s quick tap after 15 minutes.

France opted for a scrum and No.8 Theo Ntamack, brother of senior star Romain, fed Le Garrec who popped up on the line for full-back Tchaptchet to dot down and make it 12-7.

Will Reed twice missed penalties to reduce the deficit before Mann returned and the fly-half then booted the ball straight out allowing Louis Bielle Biarrey to play a quick one-two with his centre Leo Barre before racing into the corner as France went 19-7 up.

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A forward pass and obstruction in a maul prevented two further French tries but Phillipe Boher’s side weren’t to be denied for too long as a super line from Tchaptchet sent him flying under the posts for the bonus point score.

Le Garrec’s conversion put France 26-7 ahead before Welsh centre James mistimed his challenge on Tchaptchet in the air and became the second Welshman to be shown a yellow card a minute before half-time.

NO WAY BACK FOR WALES

France continued to turn the screw and Le Garrec kept the scoreboard ticking with a penalty 11 minutes into the second period.

The little general then glided off the back of a maul before effortlessly releasing Bielle Biarrey.

From the resulting ruck No.10 Debaes scooped up the ball and sauntered down the unguarded blindside before shimmying his way over to stretch the French lead to 31 points approaching the final quarter.

Le Garrec was removed on the hour mark with the game already won – much to the relief of the Welsh players.

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And without him replacement fly-half Sam Costelow – who came on for Reed at half-time – began to steer Wales around the park nicely and it was his lovely cut-out ball that put fellow sub Morgan Richards in to make it 36-12 inside the last ten.

Wales continued to push and Beetham successfully juggled the ball to go over for his second which Costelow converted to add some respectability to the scoreline, but in truth it was too little too late.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

French skipper and scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec showed why he has already tasted first-team action at Racing 92 with a performance of the highest level at Cardiff Arms Park.

The No.9 was hugely influential throughout and it was telling that only after he was replaced with 20 minutes to go did Wales manage to exert more pressure on his side.