Wales Under-20s suffered a heavy defeat against France Under-20s in their Six Nations opener, as reported by Wales Online. The Welsh youngsters, under the guidance of coach Richard Whiffin, showed promise early on in the match but eventually succumbed to a 63-19 thrashing in Vannes. Despite a strong display in the first half, where they trailed by only nine points at halftime, Wales faltered in the second half as France ran riot.
The match kicked off with France taking the lead as hooker Lyam Akrab barged over the try line. However, Wales responded with a well-worked try by Aidan Boshoff after relentless pressure near the French line. The momentum swung back in France’s favour with Ugo Pacome scoring a try, followed by a disallowed try due to foul play. Wales managed to score through Harry Thomas, but the try was disallowed. Undeterred, Thomas found the try line again off a strong maul.
Wales faced setbacks with a yellow card shown to captain Harry Bedall for an infringement in the French 22, allowing France to capitalise just before halftime. The second half saw France dominate proceedings, extending their lead with tries from Mousques, Jurd, Brau-Boirie, Llaveria, and Njocke. Despite a late try from Wales’s Thomas, the Welsh side was unable to mount a comeback as France emerged victorious.
The defeat for Wales Under-20s adds to a challenging weekend for Welsh rugby, as both the senior team and the U20s suffered losses against their French counterparts. The 63-19 drubbing serves as a learning experience for the young Welsh players, highlighting areas for improvement as they continue their Six Nations campaign. The match showcased moments of resilience and attacking prowess from Wales, but ultimately, they were outplayed by a strong French side.
Moving forward, Wales Under-20s will look to regroup and rectify their mistakes as they aim to bounce back in the remainder of the tournament. The coaching staff led by Richard Whiffin will analyse the performance and work on strategies to ensure a more competitive showing in the upcoming matches. The young talents in the squad will need to showcase their skills and character to overcome the setback and make their mark in the Six Nations competition.