Wales U-20s have failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the U-20 World Championship after they slipped to a 29-13 defeat to France U-20s in Cape Town.
There was doubts whether the game would go ahead in awful conditions at Athlone Stadium which resulted in the earlier game between Australia-U20s and Ireland U-20s getting cancelled. Thankfully the pitch had been sufficiently drained to allow the later match to go ahead but Wales got outmuscled against a powerful France side.
Tries from Hoani Bosmorin (twice), Thomas Lacombre and Mathis Castro was enough to get France over the line. Wales were well beaten but did show bags of charachter with Morgan Morse touching down for their only try.
Richard Whiffin’s side have not made the semi-finals but this isn’t the end of their campaign in South Africa with a couple of play-off matches to determine fifth place on the horizon. Wales started positively as Harri Ford kicked them into an early lead before France responded with some slick handling putting Bosmorin over at the corner.
Ford hit back with a penalty but despite Wales dominating territory and possession they lacked the power to trouble France. The French extended their lead on 33 minutes by taking advantage of an overthrown Welsh lineout which resulted in hooker Lacombre sneaking over.
France’s third try was a cracker as full-back Mathis Ferte sliced through the middle of the Wales defence before putting Bosmorin clear to score his second try at the corner. Wales trailed 21-6 at the interval and there was to be no let up in the early stages of the second-half with hooker Isaac Young sent to the sin bin for a high tackle.
France made the most of their numerical advantage as Castro powered over from short-range. To Wales’ credit they refused to throw in the towel and it would have been a heavier defeat if not for some resolute defence from Whiffin’s men.
They at least got some rewards for their efforts when Ospreys No 8 Morse smashed his way over the line after Wales had built up some momentum from their driving lineout. Axel Desperes nailed a late penalty for France to ensure Les Bleus went through to the semi-finals.
Wales U20s: Matty Young (Cardiff Rugby); Macs Page (Scarlets), Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby), Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears); Harri Ford (Dragons RFC), Ieuan Davies (Bath Rugby); Josh Morse (Scarlets), Isaac Young (Scarlets), Sam Scott (Bristol Bears), Jonny Green (Harlequins), Osian Thomas (Leicester Thomas), Ryan Woodman (Dragons RFC, Captain), Lucas de la Rua (Cardiff Rugby), Morgan Morse (Ospreys). Replacements: Harry Thomas (Scarlets), Jordan Morris (Dragons RFC), Kian Hire (Ospreys), Nick Thomas (Dragons RFC), Owen Conquer (Dragons RFC), Rhodri Lewis (Scarlets), Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby), Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby)
France U20s: Mathis Ferte; Maxence Biasotto, Fabien Brau Boirie, Robin Taccola, Hoani Bosmorin; Hugo Reus, Thomas Souverbie; Samuel Jean Christophe, Thomas Lacombre, Thomas Duchene, Charly Gambini, Corentin Mezou, Joe Quere Karaba, Sialevailea Tolofua, Mathis Castro. Replacements: Mathys Lotrian, Lino Julien, Thomas Marceline, Antonin Corso, Geoffrey Malaterre, Alexis Caumel, Leo Carbonneau, Axel Desperes.
80 minsSteffan Thomas
Full-time: Wales U20s 13-29 France U20s
That’s it in Cape Town and Wales have been well beaten by a powerful France side.
There was plenty of character from Wales but they didn’t quite have enough power. They have missed out on the semi-finals but looks set to enter the 5th-8th placed play-offs.
74 minsSteffan Thomas
Penalty France U20s! Wales U20s 11-29 France U20s
Axel Desperes. extends the French lead with a penalty
71 minsSteffan Thomas
Try Wales U20s! Wales U20s 11-26 France U20s
Wales fianlly cross the line from a driving lineout and it’s No 8 Morgan Morse who clains the try
69 minsSteffan Thomas
Try disallowed
Wales have France under pressure and Ryan Woodman powers over the line but the TMO disallows the try. It looks like he’s been held up
68 minsSteffan Thomas
So close!
Wales lay siege to the France line, and Macs Page comes close but France turn it over
65 minsSteffan Thomas
Wales chance
Wales go wide and a wonderful offload from Louie Hennessey is taken by Macs Page who chips ahead but France have enough cover. Frustrating!
62 minsSteffan Thomas
Wales show character
Wales are at least showing character as they keep the French attack at bay but they don’t have enough power.
54 minsSteffan Thomas
Wales are struggling
France are totally dominant in every aspect of the game and Wales will have to dig deep to avoid a real hammering in Cape Town.
46 minsSteffan Thomas
Small consolation for Wales
Isaac Young’s yellow card will remain yellow.
44 minsSteffan Thomas
Try France U20s! Wales U20s 6-26 France U20s
This is getting ugly for Wales. France go to the corner and immediately have Wales on the back foot.
They go through the phases and Mathis Castro powers over for France’s fourth try.
44 minsSteffan Thomas
Yellow card!
Things go from bad to worse for Wales with hooker Isaac Young sent to the sin bin for a dangerous shoulder to the head. It goes to the bunker meaning it could be upgraded to a red card.
Wales U20s 6-21 France U20s
41 minsSteffan Thomas
Second-half kick-off
Harri Ford gets the second-half underway
40 minsSteffan Thomas
Half-time: Wales U20s 6-21 France U20s
The first-half has been a disaster for Wales. They’ve had plenty of territory and possesion but have done nothing with it while worryingly they’ve also had the winds at their backs.
France are a different level with their stronger set-piece and carrying game along with their cutting edge out wide proving to be the difference so far. It’s hard to see Wales coming back from here.
37 minsSteffan Thomas
Try France U20s! Wales U20s 6-21 France U20s
Mathis Ferte slices through the Wales defence before offloading to Hoani Bosmorin who scores at the corner. Reus converts from the touchline
33 minsSteffan Thomas
Try France U20s! Wales U20s 6-14 France U20s
Wales mess up a lineout in their own 22. Initially it’s good defence by Wales but the French ball carriers are two strong with hooker Thomas Lacombre eventually touching down. Reus adds the extras
31 minsSteffan Thomas
Huge Wales defence
Wales’ defence has been excellent so far. France are trying their best to get over the gainline but so far the Wales defence is up to the task
26 minsSteffan Thomas
Penalty Wales U20s! Wales U20s 6-7 France U20s
Wales are fighting really hard here and win a penalty which Harri Ford knocks over in tough conditions.
21 minsSteffan Thomas
A huge let off!
Wales U20s have been let off the hook here with France getting a try disallowed for a forward pass.
Wales U20s 3-7 France U20s
21 minsSteffan Thomas
Have France scored?
France go up field with some terrific handling resulting in them powering over the line. The referee has gone to the TMO
17 minsSteffan Thomas
France in the ascendancy
France are dominating the contact area and making metres with their carries. Wales are going to have to dig deep here in poor conditions
Wales U20s 3-7 France U20s
13 minsSteffan Thomas
Penalty miss
Unlucky from Harri Ford whose long range penalty hits the posts.
Wales U20s 3-7 France U20s
8 minsSteffan Thomas
Try France U20s! Wales U20s 3-7 France U20s
France flex their muscles with their maul forcing Wales to concede a penalty. The French pack make metres with their carries before the ball goes wide for Hoani Bosmorin to score at the corner.
Reus adds the extras
4 minsSteffan Thomas
Penalty Wales U20s! Wales U20s 3-0 France U20s
Harri Ford nudges Wales ahead with a straightforward penalty in front of the posts
3 minSteffan Thomas
Good start
This is a positive start from Wales who are asking a lot of questions of the France defence with their handling and carrying. They win a penalty in the France 22.
1 minSteffan Thomas
Kick-off
Hugo Reus gets the game underway.
15:25Steffan Thomas
National anthems
Both sides take the field ahead of the national anthems
15:04Steffan Thomas
The game is officially on
Wales U-20s must win clash with France U-20s in Cape Town is officially on.
A World Rugby statement read: “After further assessments made by organisers and match officials at Athlone Stadium, the pitch has been sufficiently drained to allow rugby to resume in safe conditions.
“World Rugby U20 Championship matches remaining at the venue including France U20 v Wales U20 (16:30 GMT+2) and South Africa U20 v England U20 (19:00 GMT+2) will go ahead as scheduled. Weather and pitch conditions will continue to be monitored closely through the rest of the day.
14:29Key Event
Game is likely to go ahead
WalesOnline understands Wales U20s’ clash with France is likely to go ahead.
Things could change if the weather worsens but as it stands the game is going ahead as planned.
14:11Steffan Thomas
Wales’ semi-final hopes are hanging by a thread
Argentina U20s have just crossed for their fourth try against Fiji U20s as they lead 24-7 in Stellenbosch. Barring a miracle comeback from Fiji if Wales’ clash with France gets cancelled they will fail to make the semi-finals.
14:04Steffan Thomas
Australia are scathing
Australia U20s head coach Nathan Grey have been left scathing by the decision to cancell their clash with Ireland U20s.
The fact the game was cancelled means both sides receive two match points and as a result Ireland finish top of Pool B and Australia fail to qualify for the semi-finals of the U-20 World Championship.
“We played two games in the Rugby Championship this year – New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa and ourselves – in much worse conditions but a strong push from the Irish doctors seemed to work with World Rugby around cancelling the game,” Grey told RugbyPass.
13:51Steffan Thomas
Half-time: Argentina U20s 19-5 Fiji U20s
Argentina have scored three tries as they turn around with a comfortable lead over Fiji.
Remember should the Wales game get cancelled a bonus point victory for Argentina would result in Richard Whiffin’s side failing to reach the semi-finals.
13:33Steffan Thomas
World Rugby statement
Due to heavy rainfall in the Cape Town region on Tuesday 9 July, the pitch at Athlone Stadium has been assessed in partnership with organisers and match officials and currently declared not safe to play.
As a result, the first match scheduled at this venue between Ireland U20 and Australia U20 has been cancelled and as per the tournament rules, both teams have been awarded two competition points.
The pitch will be assessed again ahead of the two remaining World Rugby U20 Championship matches due to take place at this venue and will only go ahead if the weather conditions improve, and the pitch is sufficiently drained for rugby to be played in safe conditions.
Another update will be provided in due course.
13:33Steffan Thomas
A semi-final spot hangs in the balance
If the game is cancelled Wales will be awarded two points so will finish second in Pool A. Whether they qualify for the semi-finals or not depends on Argentina’s clash with Fiji which is taking place in Stellenbosch at this very moment.
Argentina lead 19-0 and a bonus point victory would take them up to 10 points in Pool C, one more than Wales would finish on should their game get cancelled. The Pumas have already scored three tries in their game after 31 minutes so it’s not looking good for Wales.
Should Wales not qualify for the semi-finals they will drop down into the 5th-8th placed play-off.
13:30Steffan Thomas
Game is in the balance
There is currently a meeting taking place between the management of both sides and the officials to determine whether the game will go ahead but it doesn’t look good
13:22Key Event
Wales game in major doubt
The first game of the day between Australia U20s and Ireland U20s has been cancelled. The cancellation means that the game will not be played at all and both sides have been awarded two points each.
This means Ireland U20s have qualified as Pool B winners. The Wales U20s clash with France U20s is in major doubt
13:18Mathew Davies
Awful conditions
A video posted by RugbyPass on their X account shows the extent of the bad weather.
These games could be serious doubt of going ahead. At the very least, Wales’ kick-off time will be pushed back.
13:09Steffan Thomas
The weather is playing havoc
The first game to be played at Athlone Stadium, Ireland versus Australia, has been delayed because of the atrocious weather conditions.
Kick-off for Wales’ clash with France has obviously been pushed back. We’ll let you know the time as soon as we get an official update
13:03Steffan Thomas
The view from the Wales U20s camp
Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin said: “This is a huge game for the boys as our destiny is in our own hands if we want to make the semi-finals.
“We face a huge challenge against the defending champions. They will be hurting after their narrow defeat to New Zealand so we know what to expect. But we have prepared well and name a side which I believe can take the game to France.
“We think anyone can start and anyone can sit on the bench and provide an impact.
“All 30 players have now had a taste of footy which can only be better for the boys leading into the back end of the tournament.”
12:56Steffan Thomas
Terrible conditions
The weather conditions are awful in Athlone Stadium in Cape Town. There was been heavy rain and the pitch isn’t in a great condition.
It’s unlikely we will see any free flowing conditions today and the side which makes the least errors is likely to come out on top.
12:47Steffan Thomas
Welcome
Join us for live updates as Wales U20s take on France U20s for a place in the semi-finals of the U-20 World Rugby Championship this afternoon.
A bonus point win will see Wales qualify for the semi-finals but a victory without maximum points means they will have to rely on other results going their way.
Kick-off: 3.30pm