France U20s 63-19 Wales U20s: Player Ratings as France run riot in second half
Today at 05:37 AM
France began their 2025 U20s Six Nations with a hard-fought win over a spirited Welsh side at the Stade de la Rabine, Vannes.
Braces from both Lyam Akrab and Xan Mousques and solo efforts from Ugo Pacome, Fabian Brau-Boirie, Robin Taccola, Nathan Llaueria, and Edouard-Junior Jabea Kjocke saw Les Blues win under the lights in Brittany.
Wales didn't make it all plain sailing for the hosts as a brace from Harry Thomas and a solo try from Aidan Boshoff but after a poor second-half France cruised to score more than 50.
France U20s:
Tries: Lyam Akrab (3, 41), Ugo Pacome (27), Xan Mousques (50, 55), Fabian Brau-Boirie (54), Robin Taccola (71), Nathan Llaueria (77), Edouard-Junior Jabea Njocke (80)
Conversions: Diego Jurd (4, 27, 41, 51, 55, 55, 71, 78, 81)
Penalties:
Yellow Cards: Antoine Deliance (31)
Wales U20s:
Tries: Aidan Boshoff (16), Harry Thomas (33, 58)
Conversions: Harri Wilde (39) Harri Ford (59
Penalties:
Yellow Cards: Harry Beddall (40)
France U20s Player Ratings:
15. Ugo Pacome- 4.5/10
Try scorer, Pacome made some brilliant runs through the visitors defence but at times under the high ball fumbled possession.
14. Mathis Ibo- 5.5/10
Showed a lot of pace on the outside but didn't really make much of an impact to his side's performance apart from the odd occasion in attack.
13. Robin Taccola- 6/10
Big carrier and ran some brilliant lines which at times got through the visitors defence, overall it was a decent showing from the player playing at his clubs ground as he capped off a great night with a try.
12. Lucas Vigneres- 5.5/10
Another player who was utilised well in attack for the hosts and was great in defence shutting down a couple of opportunities that the visitors threw at his side.
11. Xan Mousques- 6/10
Like his fellow partner on the wing, Mousques showed his pace at times and also crossed on two occasions in the second-half.
10. Diego Jurd- 6/10
The left footed kicker was the main goal kicker for the hosts, went 3/3 in the first half and he showed some quick handling skills and rightly deserved the Player of the Match award.
9. Baptiste Tilloles- 4.5/10
The Bayonne man was great at keeping the pace up for his side when in attack and kept the visitors on their toes around the breakdown area. But parts of his game were sloppy at times.
8. Elyjah Ibsaiene- 5.5/10
The number eight was a brilliant ball carrier who made some big hits on the defence of the visitors but like a few of the forwards he did a lot of the unseen work.
7. Marceau Marzullo- 6/10
He was a great asset in defence for the hosts as he showed great strength around the breakdown area when Wales looked to be in an attacking opportunity.
6. Antoine Deliance 4/10
It was a clumsy act from the blindside as he was yellow carded on the 31-minute mark as he made direct head contact with Sam Scott. Perhaps he can count himself lucky that it wasn't worse.
5. Corentin Mezou- C 5/10
Mezou before the game stood head and shoulders above Harry Beddall during the coin toss and was used well in attack with some big carries.
4. Bartholome Sanson- 4.5/10
Like his counterpart in the second row, Sanson carried well but that was really it for the Lyon man.
3. Owen Sorhaindo- 4.5/10
Scrummaged well but was equally matched well against Ioan Emanuel as it was a great contest when it came to scrum time but the rest of his work went unnoticed.
2. Lyam Akrab 6/10
The hooker who scored a brace inside the opening 40 minutes was simply unstoppable from short range and also was strong at lineout time.
1. Samuel Jean-Christophe- 4/10
Didn't do anything eye catching but was great at scrum time and was a great asset in defence.
Wales U20s Player Ratings:
15. Scott Delnevo- 6/10
The Aberavon player who has been playing some great stuff in Super Rygbi Cymru l, carried that form into this game. He was great at breaking through the hosts defence and wasn't afraid to have a go in defence as well.
14. Harry Rees-Weldon- 5/10
Compared to Boshoff it was a quiet night at the office for the 20-year-old as he didn't make much of an impact off the wing but used his size to his advantage when in attack.
13. Elijah Evans- 5/10
Evans who has been playing a lot this season for Cardiff RFC brought his form from those performances and a made it a decent outing especially in defence.
12. Steffan Emanuel- 6.5/10
Like his counterpart in the centre, Emanuel has been playing some brilliant rugby in Super Rygbi Cymru and brought that into this contest with some expert handling. He had the X-Factor of offloading short passes and even long passes, he was the main protagonist when the visitors were in attack.
11. Aidan Boshoff- 6.5/10
Boshoff probably had the more standout moments for the visitors this evening in Vannes and he is hard to miss with his mullet. His work rate was immense and in attack was great at putting his side on the front foot when given a chance.
10. Harri Wilde- 6/10
Like his outside man, Emanuel, Wilde was great at putting his side in some great attacking opportunities and had a very strong kicking game.
9. Logan Franklin- 5.5/10
The Dragons RFC player was making his U20s debut at scrum half and had some great link up plays with his partner in the halfbacks as they tried to create opportunities for the visitors.
8. Evan Minto- 5.5/10
Ran some powerful great lines, had a quiet start to proceedings but once he got going he definitely showed his qualities.
7. Harry Beddall- 5/10
Despite being yellow carded prior to the interval, Beddall was a great ball carrier but I would've wanted to see more from the Wales skipper.
6. Deian Gwynne- 5/10
Another one who was making his first start for Wales, he put in a great showing in both attack and defence but a bit like Beddall, it needed to be more.
5. Nick Thomas- 5/10
Thomas went off injured just before halftime but up until that time he was great in both attack and defence for Wales. On 65-minutes he was seen using crutches going down the tunnel, perhaps a tournament ending injury.
4. Kenzie Jenkins- 4.5/10
The second row was making his debut and it was a fairly quiet display beside the odd big run when the visitors were in attack.
3. Sam Scott- 5/10
His work rate was definitely worth noting in his rating and at times he was strong at scrum time before being replaced.
2. Harry Thomas- 5/10
Like his opposite number, Thomas followed suit in scoring two tries for his side and was powerful in defence. His arrows when it came to the lineout were also on point.
1. Ioan Emanuel- 5/10
Like his brother he had a great showing but it was a bit under par compared to his other performances in recent outings. Like his fellow members in the front row his work rate is something that needed to be mentioned as it was quality.
The post France U20s 63-19 Wales U20s: Player Ratings as France run riot in second half appeared first on Ruck.
