Match Report: Scotland U20 26-45 France U20

Joe Roberts, Jamie McAughtrie, Campbell Waugh and Jackson Rennie registered tries for Fergus Pringle’s side, but ultimately a 31-0 half time deficit was too steep to overcome as the visitors left Edinburgh with the win.

Jake Dalziel got proceedings underway in front of a sold-out Hive Stadium as Scotland kicked left to right. A big hit came in from Nairn Moncrieff from the off as Scotland looked to start with intent.

The first attack came the way of the French following a scrum for a Henry Widdowson knock on. Some free-flowing passes through the heart of the midfield saw the ball almost find the hands of Luka Keletaona, but upon a stumble in his stride he knocked on as he hit the 22 and allowed Moncrieff to mop up the danger.

Scotland thought they had the opening score in the 10^th minute through Dan Halkon after some ill discipline from the visitors. Consecutive infringements gave Dalziel the chance to kick for the corner and from there the Scottish maul motored for the line, which Halkon hit through a flurry of bodies. However, after TMO consultation referee Reuben Keane penalised Oliver McKenna for obstruction. Just a minute later, a sensational last-ditch tackle from Campbell Waugh dragged Tom Leveque into touch in the corner.

Leveque was not to be denied as he got France on the board in the opposite corner. After a penalty went against Scotland, the visitors were patient in the lineout drive and switched play through a Keletaona cross-field kick. Leveque lurked and gathered before dropping a shoulder to find the whitewash. The kick for an extra two went awry (0-5, 15 mins).

Play became condensed in the middle third of the pitch as both sides vied for control, but a rip in the ruck gave the visitors a chance to spring into life with a huge carry from Romeo Bonnard Martin. From there the backs got involved to cut through the Scottish rearguard. Neat interplay between Joachim Senga Kouo and Baptiste Tilloles resulted in the full back racing clear to dot down under the posts. This time Keletaona converted. France quickly consolidated their lead with another seven points, as second-rower Baptiste Veschambre went over low to conclude some relentless phases (0-19, 30 mins).

Five minutes before the break France secured their bonus point somewhat fortuitously through centre Adrien Drault. Another attack down the left caused the issues, where Jake Dalziel found himself in a straight foot race with winger Melvyn Rates. As the two plummeted on the ball, neither gathered and it broke loose to Drault who had the easiest of tasks to ground it.  Flanker Tana Keletaona added to the score as he charged through under intense pressure from two Scotland bodies. His namesake fly half landed one kick from two (0-31, 38 mins).

Half Time: Scotland U20 0-31 France U20

Scotland dominated the early exchanges of the second period, especially at scrum time through Ollie Blyth-Lafferty and Oliver McKenna, after four battles in a row came their way in the opening five minutes of the second period. Scotland’s hard work was rewarded when captain Joe Roberts got them on the board with an electric try. The maul was proving a handy platform for attack, and it was Roberts from the rear of the drive once more who was able to find the line after breaking away and putting the afterburners on to win the race to the corner. A tricky kick for left footed Dalziel missed the mark by a whisker (5-31, 49 mins).

It was a carbon copy which reaped rewards just five minutes later as replacement hooker Jamie McAughtrie found the turf as everyone from both teams ploughed into the lineout maul. At the rear of a brilliantly tight drive for the line was McAughtrie, with ball tucked firmly under his arm as he descended to the deck. This time it was pinpoint from the boot of Dalziel to get Scotland into double figures for the night (12-31, 57 mins).

The Scots were really clicking into gear in the second half and went over for a third time through the lively antics of Campbell Waugh. An exceptional offload from Jake Dalziel pulled the strings  as the French defence struggled to step up quick enough. As Dalziel took ball in hand from the ruck, Waugh ran a perfect inside line to sneak through unchallenged to the reception of a now raucous Hive Stadium. Dalziel followed up his assist with a conversion (19-31, 67 mins).

After giving themselves a strong foothold, Scotland were put back under the cosh. After initially repelling the attack and holding the ball up on the line, Scotland were undone and the tie was all but beyond them, as Adrien Drault scored his second of the match with the help of an impressive offload out the back door from Nils Punti. The score was converted (19-38, 71 mins).

Scotland weren’t laying down and secured a bonus point of their own through Jackson Rennie – the substitute’s second in as many matches. Searching for the line Scotland kept their foot on the throttle to launch wave after wave of attack, despite repeated infringements from their visitors. It was Rennie who landed the crucial blow to burrow over, with Dalziel again adding the extras. No sooner had Scotland got their bonus point then France added another, with Timeo Frier finding the line under close attention (26-45, 79 mins).

Full Time: Scotland U20 26-45 France U20

Scotland U20: 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 © 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty 4. Alfie Blackett 5. Dan Halkon 6. Christian Lindsay 7. Harvey Preston 8. Rory Purvis.

Replacements: 16. Jamie McAughtrie (for Preston, 49 mins, Preston for Roberts, 52 mins), 17. Jamie Stewart (for McKenna, 49 mins) 18. Jackson Rennie (for Blyth-Lafferty, 65 mins) 19. Fin Ronnie 20. Sam Byrd (for Blackett, 49 mins) 21. Archie Appleby (for Halkon, 70 mins) 22. Hamish MacArthur (for McKenzie, 72 mins) 23. Calum Jessop (for Clark, 75 mins).

France U20: 15. Joachim Senga Kouo 14. Tom Leveque 13. Adrien Drault 12. Bastien Rasal 11. Melvyn Rates 10. Luka Keletaona 9. Baptiste Tilloles; 1. Samuel Jean-Christophe 2. Gabin Garault 3. Mael Turpin 4. Baptiste Veschambre 5. Romeo Bonnard Martin 6. Marceau Marzullo © 7. Tana Keletaona 8. Elyjah Ibsaiene.

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

Player of the Match: Joachim Senga Kouo (France)

Referee: Reuben Keane

AR1: Robbie Jenkinson

AR2: Jack MacNeice

TMO: Leo Colgan