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World Rugby U20 Championship

France make two changes for U20 Championship final versus England

By Liam Heagney

43 days ago

Hugo Reus leads out France U20s for their semi-final against New Zealand (Photo by Carl Fourie/World Rugby)

Defending champions France have made two changes to their starting team to take on England this Friday in Cape Town in the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship. The French, who are chasing a fourth successive world title in a row, swatted aside New Zealand 55-31 in their semi-final last Sunday.

That swashbuckling seven-try performance at the DHL Stadium gained them a perfect revenge for their 26-27 pool loss to the Baby Blacks 10 days earlier in Stellenbosch.

Next on their agenda is revenge on England, whom they lost a Six Nations match to in Pau 31-45 on March 15 which confirmed the English as champions in that tournament.

They have altered one back and one forward in their run-on XV while also switching two of the replacement bench that retains the six/two forwards/backs split it had against the New Zealanders.

The French backline change is on the left wing where the impressive Hoani Bosmorin is marked absent following his 35th-minute exit in the semi-final. His place has been taken by Xan Mousques.

Fixture

World Rugby U20 Championship

England U20

21 - 13

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France U20

All Stats and Data

Meanwhile, in the front row, Lino Julien, who started the last day at tighthead, switches to loosehead for the benched Samuel Jean-Christophe and this has allowed Thomas Duchene to come back at No3.

Aside from Jean-Christophe dropping to the replacements at the expense of Lorencio Boyer-Gallardo, the other sub switch is the inclusion of Mathys Belaubre following the promotion of Mousques.

FRANCE (vs England, Friday): 1. Lino Julien, 2. Barnabe Massa, 3. Thomas Duchene, 4. Charly Gambini, 5. Corentin Mezou, 6. Joe Quere Karaba, 7. Geoffrey Malaterre, 8. Mathis Castro Ferreira; 9. Leo Carbonneau, 10. Hugo Reus; 11. Xan Mousques, 12. Robin Taccola, 13. Fabien Brau-Boirie, 14. Maxence Biasotto; 15. Mathis Ferte. Reps: 16. Thomas Lacombre, 17. Samuel Jean-Christophe, 18. Thomas Marceline, 19. Charles Kante Samba, 20. Brent Liufau, 21. Sialevailea Tolofua, 22. Mathys Belaubre, 23. Axel Desperes-Rigou.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Hellhound 9 minutes ago

Scott Robertson on why the All Blacks ‘need’ Sam Cane against Springboks

Unfortunately yes. He deserves respect. He lead from the front. One of the few players who kept the AB's going. He didn't just perform now and then. He is always one of the best players on the field. Instead of putting the blame where it belongs, they blame him. It's a team sport. There is no letter "I" in team. The haters are fools

10 Go to comments

frandinand 45 minutes ago

The Wallaby front row can move ahead of the curve in Argentina

If he moved to NZ it would lower the average intelligence in Queensland and NZ.

103 Go to comments

frandinand 51 minutes ago

The Wallaby front row can move ahead of the curve in Argentina

We didn't get into the quarters with the coach you praised to the skies when the Hamster appointed him

103 Go to comments

frandinand 54 minutes ago

The Wallaby front row can move ahead of the curve in Argentina

More deluded ravings from Walter. He tries to make out he's a fan but only wants to see the Wallabies lose. He must be overdue for his next bout of treatment for his psychoses.

103 Go to comments

MattJH 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson on why the All Blacks ‘need’ Sam Cane against Springboks

Agreed. Blackadder is getting better each test he plays though. Im impatient and want Sititi and Finau to hurry up and start dominating like we know they can.

10 Go to comments

B 1 hour ago

Percy Montgomery’s big fear ahead of the Springboks vs the All Blacks

in order for any form of attack plays to happen you've got to have the ball... having players with good in the air ball catching skills and a solid forward pack providing good front foot ball from scrums and mauls helps too... after that its up to the play makers judgement either to run it, pass it or kick it...

47 Go to comments

Chiefs Mana 1 hour ago

'The All Blacks have been surpassed by South Africa, Ireland and even France as the game’s dominant force'

If you're still blaming Fozzy in a couple years time, then the problem is with you. There's a year grace period with Razor et al taking over but they will be rightfully judged on their performances, he shouldn't be afforded any special treatment.

136 Go to comments

Chiefs Mana 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson on why the All Blacks ‘need’ Sam Cane against Springboks

A player with ~100 tests, ex-captain and obviously trusted by all the coaches...we're lucky to have him. Also gives all the miserable haters (fans?) someone to blame if we lose.

10 Go to comments

Chiefs Mana 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson on why the All Blacks ‘need’ Sam Cane against Springboks

Jase Ryan obviously doesn't rate Sotutu so that's that argument quashed. And yeah, Savea will play the exact same game regardless of his jersey so all you do is lose his speed/power of the back of the scrum....don't hate the idea of him at 7 but it's about getting the right balance in there so we can maximise his talents, he's the most world-class player we have.

I also hope we never adopt a 6-2 split - Razor is meant to be a great innovator.

10 Go to comments

FC 1 hour ago

'The All Blacks have been surpassed by South Africa, Ireland and even France as the game’s dominant force'

Great idea!

Also lets make the soccer Word cup every 2 weeks the Olympics every 3 months and we can do a Tour de France every weekend.

This way, titles mean nothing and nobody ever gets bragging rights again. And you millenials can have partipation trophy-like do-overs a lot more regularly.

136 Go to comments

FC 2 hours ago

'The All Blacks have been surpassed by South Africa, Ireland and even France as the game’s dominant force'

Bok fan here.

What a load of tripe!

This All Black squad is dangerous.

Try blowing smoke up someone elses @$$3$. SA aren't buying it.

136 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 2 hours ago

Is it time to rethink the 23-player matchday squad?

Talk about damning with faint praise 😂

Second only to Geoff in response this week despite being well down in the small font already. Averaging nearly 150 per article this year, nowhere near what you used to get there but better than most of the "experts."

I only average one article a month so the money they'd give me probably wouldn't be worth the loss of freedom I think. I can write what I like when I feel like it.

171 Go to comments

Bull Shark 2 hours ago

New Zealand vs South Africa | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Stop being funny. It doesn't suit you.

6 Go to comments

fl 2 hours ago

New Zealand vs South Africa | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Its spelt "Farrell" and he isn't eligible to play for South Africa.

6 Go to comments

fl 2 hours ago

Jason Robinson backs 'naturally gifted' rookie for 2025 Lions tour

if the tour was tomorrow I'd say Keenan, Hansen, & van der Merwe should be the starting back three, with Osbourne, Graham, & Lowe making up the squad places. There's also a strong argument for including Freeman or possibly Steyn as a utility option, either as well as the above back three specialists or instead of Lowe. Feyi-Waboso definitely would be one of the next cabs off the rank (along with Furbank and Steward) in the event of injuries, but he's significantly younger than everyone else I've mentioned so there's a good chance that in the coming months he'll move a few places up the pecking order.

1 Go to comments

SadersMan 2 hours ago

'The All Blacks have been surpassed by South Africa, Ireland and even France as the game’s dominant force'

No point in reading the Article. My views are set in concrete. The 69.57% win rate Foster Effect will take Razor years to wash, rinse, repeat, the Foster stink out.

Foster coached the ABs into mediocrity, for the best part of three seasons. And reset ABs' fans' expectations to an all time low. Despite being somewhat "saved" by Jase Ryan & Joe Schmidt, & coming close to a RWC title win, Foster's win rate is still the lowest of ABs Head Coaches with 30+ & 40+ tests. How useless!?!!

Really looking forward to the ABs' next four years journey under Razor.

136 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson on why the All Blacks ‘need’ Sam Cane against Springboks

I'd have thought it normal and logical to play the reigning world player of the year in the position that he won the award in, and has played for the last four years at both test and Super Rugby levels.

A modern All Black 7 spends all his time tackling and hitting rucks. That would be a waste of the reigning world player of the year whose superpowers are ball in hand.

10 Go to comments

Hellhound 2 hours ago

‘Special’ rivalry renewed: All Blacks ready for another tough Boks clash

I've always respected your opinions as you will remember in the past, and I still do now. I agree with you. However, that doesn't change the truth of what was up to last year's WC. With SA not being part of Super rugby, that competition is getting worse. In time, with SA playing in the URC, the North will bypass the SH. That is not yet the case, but it will be. If SA becomes part of the 6N which I hope not, then it will just make them stronger. That is bad for the SH. The RC is still the best, but decline is evident. I don't see much hope there, other than to add other teams to the RC, but quality competition is needed, and none is left. There is only 2 powerhouses in the south. That's it. Adding more teams doesn't mean adding better competition. Only adds to more games and less rest in a season where players is already playing to much games. That is why the Nation's Cup is such a good idea. It's the only thing that is going to help NZ at this stage not to lose too much of their talent. Like the Wallabies did and still do. The NH is catching up, but they aren't there yet. It's a slow shift, and already happening, For now, the RC is my choice as the best competition. As for the old style tours? I don't agree with that, because of the Nation's Cup starting in 2026. I would say add the Pumas and Cheetahs and Griquas to Super Rugby, when I suggested that, the NZ fans was up in arms as they don't need SA's 2nd hand teams as they called it. That is teams that beat the Bulls, Stormers, Lions and Sharks, but they get seen as 2nd hand. They don't know what is good for them. They don't see how that would better Super rugby, and that is their loss. Not ours. They want to struggle and sulk. They have no one to blame for them going backwards, because just like Australia, they are going backwards. The decline is there.

13 Go to comments

SC 2 hours ago

'The All Blacks have been surpassed by South Africa, Ireland and even France as the game’s dominant force'

I never said Jake White introduced the power scrum, the mauling, the kick & chase or blitz defence. I clearly said his RWC winning team used them.

The Boks of 2024 are no different than the Boks of 2007 except they put more forwards on the bench.

136 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 2 hours ago

'A 10-team Premiership sells the English game, its devotees and broadcasters short'

I haven't seen this season's schedule but Borthwick got his players nice and early na6 in June to have a proper tilt at the All Blacks. They didn't win but put up a darn good show. Can only be good for the English game.

I totally agree with you that quality trumps quantity any day. Great to see two English teams in the champions cup semis too, when did that last happen. Also ten teams means that the test players miss fewer league games which improves the integrity of the competition.

3 Go to comments

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