Scotland's U20s defeated in twelve try thriller against champions France

Yesterday at 07:25 PM

Scotland’s U20s will leave Paris with their heads held high as they were defeated by newly crowned champions France 45-40, leaving with two bonus points to secure a fifth place finish.

Despite the positive ending, things could not have gotten off to a worse start. Jon Echegaray cantered across the Scottish defensive line, finding space in before galloping away as a succession offloads ended with centre Simeli Daunivucu finishing the effort.

Scotland recovered superbly in the 6th minute, as Jack Brown was put into space by Fergus Watson, using his pace to burn the defenders with Matthew Urwin making no mistake to level the score.

Scotland were helped as Antoine Chalus-Cery received yellow for a high tackle on Glasgow Warrior’s Kerr Yule in the build-up to the try.

France regained their lead in the 13th minute with a try built off a scrum penalty, Oliver Cowie finding space between the Scottish defence to see the hosts go 14-7 ahead thanks to Jean Cotarmanac’h’s conversion.

Urwin was able to pull a penalty back to 14-10 but just a few minutes later, hooker Lyam
Akrab tailed a driving maul, setting up Baptiste Tilloles who nipped in for France’s third with Cotarmanac’h unable to add the extras.

It mattered little as France found themselves 26-10 up after just 23 minutes, Scotland unable to repel the pick and go until Cowie drove over.

The visitors were able to stem the tide, thanks to a crisp pass from Urwin which sailed over the French defence into Watson’s hands to pull the score back to 26-15 after an unsuccessful conversion.

Echegaray was again at hand to use his electric speed and footwork to escape the clutches of Edinburgh Academical’s Seb Stephens to race in for a brace as the game continue to build to frantic crescendo.

A powerful carry over the line from Ollie Blyth-Lafferty and Urwin’s conversion pulled Scotland back to 33-22 in the 37th minute and where at one moment the game seemed to have slipped from their grasp, an Urwin penalty in front of the sticks in the 43rd minute left Scotland just eight points behind.

Perhaps their senses tingling, or because someone had told them, either way news will no doubt have reached the players that England had lost to Wales and the title was now theirs to lose.

A Cowie dinked kick into space in the corner saw Nairn Moncrieff cruelly punished by the bounce of the ball and Echegaray race in for his hat-trick.

With arguably the try of the night, substitute van Wyk received Urwin’s cross field into the in-goal area, the winger turning on a sixpence to down Scotland’s fourth and reel the fixture back to 38-30.

In a game that gave the crowd over 13, 000 no time to breathe, France dotted down their 11th try of the evening to stretch the score to 45-30 with the title just 20 minutes away.

Racing down the wing, Freddy Douglas bumped off not one but two on his way to adding a try to the flurry of turnovers he achieved on the night, Jack Brown’s conversion right by the touchline drawing Scotland back to 45-37.

With seconds to go, Urwin showed incredible game management to opt for the drop goal and give his side the chance to run back at France after the clock had gone red.

Unfortunately Scotland could not take advantage of the opportunity, conceding a penalty to see France win the game 45-40 and the title with it.

Although the side could not muster the victory, Kenny Murray’s players leave the competition in a far better place than when they entered it.

The experience will no doubt be of significant value for the development of the players who will now have a Junior World Championship in the summer to continue to showcase their talents to senior selectors at both club and international level.

France U20s: Echegarry, Donguy, Cowie, Daunivucu, Mousques, Cotarmanac’h, Tilloles; Jean-Christophe, Akras, Megherbi, Kante Samba, Nguimbous, Deliance, Challus-Cercy, Traversier

Replacements: Algay, Boyer Gallardo, Liufau, Mézou, Baret, Daroque, Pacome, Belaubre

Scotland U20s: Brown, Moncrieff, Hunter, Yule, Watson, Urwin, Cowan; McKenna, Stephen, Blyth-Lafferty, Godsell, Halkon, Duncan, Douglas (c), Logan

Replacements: Roberts, Shearer, Stewart, Moss, Fyffe, MacArthur, Wolfenden, van Wyk

The post Scotland’s U20s defeated in twelve try thriller against champions France appeared first on Scottish Rugby Blog.