France U20s Too Strong For Ireland

Ireland U20s suffered a 34-13 defeat against France in Narbonne on Friday night and although only trailing by four points at the interval the hosts went to domintate the second half performance keeping Ireland scoreless while registering 17 points.

From a Munster point of view it was a first start for Cork Con's Dan Walsh who was called in at openside while fellow Con men John Poland and Shane Daly continued at scrum-half and outside centre.

From the replacements Young Munster's Shane Fenton, Cashel's Sean O'Connor and Shannon's Kelvin Brown all saw game-time.

Second rows Peter Claffey and James Ryan both touched down during a physical first half display from Ireland, with Gabriel N'Gandebe's late effort giving the French a 17-13 interval lead.

But the hosts completed dominating the closing 40 minutes as lock Florian Verhaegue bagged a brace of tries and impressive kicker Anthony Belleau finished with 14 points.

It was a second defeat of the 2016 Championship for Nigel Carolan's young side who lost their way during that one-sided second period, as powerful forwards Verhaegue, Peato Mauvaka, Judicaël Cancoriet and Anthony Jelonch shone for the table toppers.

Ireland U20s Scorers: Tries – Peter Claffey, James Ryan; Pen – Johnny McPhillips.

Ireland U20s: Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Matthew Byrne (Terenure College/Leinster), Shane Daly (Cork Constitution/Munster), Jimmy O'Brien (UCD/Leinster), Conor O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster); Johnny McPhillips (Queen's University/Ulster), John Poland (Cork Constitution/Munster); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Adam McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster), Conor Kenny (Buccaneers/Connacht), Peter Claffey (Galwegians/Connacht), James Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster) (capt), Cillian Gallagher (Sligo/Connacht), Dan Walsh (Cork Constitution/Munster), Max Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster).

Replacements used: Terry Kennedy (St. Mary's College/Leinster) for Daly (45 mins), Kelvin Brown (Shannon/Munster) for Deegan (47), Conan O'Donnell (Sligo/Connacht) for Kenny (52), Sean O'Connor (Cashel/Munster) for Walsh (58), Shane Fenton (Young Munster/Munster) for McBurney (61), Stephen Kerins (Sligo/Connacht) for Poland, Brett Connon (Newcastle Falcons/Exiles) for McPhillips (both 66), James Bollard (Dublin University/Leinster) for Porter (72).