Watch: Four swift offloads set France U20 away for spectacular try
France cemented their place in the U20 Championship semi-finals in style with a 43-19 win over Six Nations counterparts Wales in South Africa.
The win sees France qualify as the top-ranked side heading into the knockout stages, unbeaten in their pool matches against Wales, New Zealand and Japan.
The 110 points scored through the opening two games were by far the greatest tally by any side in the tournament and a reflection of France’s dominance across the park.
Having racked up some wildly impressive scoring efforts already in the tournament, the young Frenchmen are only growing in chemistry and produced perhaps their finest work to date when the team combined for a piece of brilliance to set halfback Léo Carbonneau away.
Starting well inside their own half, the French backs went to work. After an ankle tap brought down second five Arthur Mathiron, the midfielder refused to let the play die and quickly threw the ball off the ground to Posolo Tuilagi who in turn found the pace of centre Maxence Biasotto running a direct line.
The centre’s run turned the outside defender and opened up an offload to winger Nicolas Depoortère, who collected a challenging pass from the inside centre as he fell in a cover tackle.
Two further offloads then came in quick succession as Depoortère found fullback Theo Attissogbe who was hit immediately but quick thinking and reactions saw the fullback find his No 9 Carbonneau who was then free to run in the try and score with a somersault in front of his teammates warming up in the dead ball area.
This. Is. Special.
You’re going to want to watch this @FranceRugby try again and again…#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/rTYrCWiclE
ADVERTISEMENT— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 4, 2023
Les Blues will face England in the semi-final and if they are to win, will face the victor of Ireland and South Africa who compete in the other semi-final.
France and England last played each other in the U20 Six Nations in March, the French side dominated the second half in the fixture and went on to win 42-7.
Wonderful handling and superb finish. Youngsters display amazing self confidence for such a young age