England Under 20 v France Under 20
This, the first of two cross-Channel matches, was held at Wellington College, Berkshire, alongside the ongoing Under 18 Six Nations event.
Once again England’s U20s failed to unlock the door to success at this level. Despite all the promise of players familiar with the rigours of the Premier 15s, they couldn’t match a slick French side who mustered five tries to three.
England started well enough; a surge to the line saw Gabriella Nigrelli power over. Lizzie Duffy converted. (7-0) Maisy Allen pounced on a French overthrow and Duffy kicked for the corner. But one of several inaccurate line-outs spoiled the effect.
It was similar for France: they had two attacking line-outs; smart handling almost put Flavie Laine over on the right, then the referee called ‘Held up’ as the pack drove over the line.
The first French try came straight after an England line-out. Zoé Jean made a fine break; once the ball was in Hawa Tounkara’s hands, there was no stopping her. The pace of the two French wingers was to prove a decisive factor. Morgane Bourgeois, already capped at senior level, had no trouble converting from the left edge. (7-7)
For once everything worked tickety-boo for England. They opted to kick a penalty to the corner, the catch and drive went well, and Amy Dale had the first of her two tries. (12-7)
On the half-hour the game swung again. Very quick hands and recycling saw the ball into Tounkara’s hands; a step and break, and she timed a perfect inside pass to Eneka Labeyrie in support for a flashing try.
Barely two minutes later an accurate English line-out was spolied by a knock-on. France regathered, and after more outstanding handling Maelig Ngassa Manac was clean through.
Dale had her second with a break from a catch and drive near the line; the home team had uplift.
Half-time 17-21
Whatever Lou Meadows advised at the break, it failed to happen. France added 14 more points without reply.
They constructed another beautiful handling move involving Flavie Laine and Labeyrie, completed by Bourgeois. If you thought Laure Sansus had returned from retirement, you could be forgiven. Labeyrie is made from the same mould.
The final blow was struck on 63 minutes; a Duffy clearance kick deflected into French hands and Tounkara was away again past grasping hands. Bourgeois’ place-kicking was Trémoulière-like throughout.
Result: England 17 France 35
We can’t talk of inexperience here; in that regard the two sides were equal; both had joined in sessions with their senior teams, though the French are more advanced in that regard, especially since Gaëlle Mignot took charge. She and her co-coach David Ortiz were present to watch and admire.
Neither side was convincing at the line-out, but in other respects les Bleuettes were superior to the English, in handling, ruck-speed, support lines and counter-attack, even kicking from hand.
They were the side to play instinctively with their eyes open.
We have to question the effectiveness of the English coaching. Why were the backs so rarely able to find space? The midfield was especially disappointing, suffering perhaps from France’s knowledge that only Lizzie Duffy at No 10 would initiate the direction of attack; she was the only English back likely to put boot to ball. All too often running lines led to bunching, over-running and lost possession.
Teams:
England
1 Catherine Wells 2 Amy Dale 3 Grace Clifford 4 Lilli Ives Campion 5 Niamh Orchard 6 Nicole Wythe 7 Maisy Allen 8 Gabriella Nigrelli 9 Tori Sellors 10 Lizzie Duffy 11 Phillipa Hendy 12 Nancy McGillivray 13 Francesca Goldthorp 14 Katie Buchanan 15 Leah Brough
Bench:
16 Niamh Swailes 17 Katherine Baverstock 18 Niamh Williams 19 Steph Else 20 Kendall Waudby 21 Lucy Weaver 22 Reneeqa Bonner 23 April Ishida
France
Caroline Suné selected this French squad:
1 Amber Mwayembe (Grenoble), 2. Élisa Riffonneau (Stade Rennais), 3. Emma Poulat (Grenoble), 4. Adele Besson (Stade Bordelais), 5. Kiara Zago (Agen), 6. Léa Champon (captain, Grenoble), 7. Clementine Pages (Blagnac), 8. Zoé Jean (Stade Rennais), 9. Eneka Labeyrie (Lyon OU), 10. Maé Levy (Montpellier), 11. Flavie Laine (Blagnac), 12. Anna Macipe (Montpellier), 13. Maelig Ngassa Manac (Stade Rennais), 14. Hawa Tounkara (Bobigny), 15. Morgane Bourgeois (Stade Bordelais)
Bench:
16. Melanie Blanchard (Stade Rennais), 17. Mailys Borak (Stade Bordelais), 18. Hina Ikahehegi (Stade Villeneuvois Lille Métropole), 19. Taina Maka (Grenoble), 20. Emma Lechardoy (Blagnac), 21. Aubane Rousset (Stade Bordelais), 22. Cleo Hagel (Lyon OU), 23. Amalia Bazola (Stade Toulousain), 24. Lou Roboam (Stade Toulousain), 25. Lyna Abdallah (Lyon OU), 26. Lili Dezou (Stade Toulousain)
Afterthoughts
We had the pleasure of listening to Nick Heath and Zoe Harrison on commentary, but why did the transmission begin – once again – late? The first sight French and English viewers had of the game was the kick-off already in flight. We had been promised a start ten minutes earlier, so no chance to introduce the players or explain any of the background.
Now we are lucky enough to have quality live coverage, it’s a pity such errors recur.
The English U20 programme had suffered more than somewhat from the effects of the pandemic.
When Amy Turner took it over in 2019, she planned fewer tests in favour of player development. Then came the rugby shutdown.
The presence of so many players already making a name for themselves in the Premier 15s shows how structures and pathways are improving. The squad had already seen off Scotland. But the gap with France remains.
For the 2023 Bleuettes this was a debut, yet they have a remarkable record of success at age-group levels. A glance at the Under 18 first-day results tells its own story. France beat Italy 55-0 in their 35-minute game, reminiscent of their 70-point hammering of the English a year earlier.
In these terms it’s almost a surprise to see any English XV managing to beat them, but they do!
Return Fixture
15 April 2023
Stade de la Vallée du Cher, Tours (close to the Loire) 18.00 (local time); 17.00 (BST)
The Two original Squads:
England
Maisy Allen (Exeter Chiefs), Katherine Baverstock (Loughborough Lightning), Reneeqa Bonner (Bristol Bears), Leah Brough (University Worcester Warriors), Katie Buchanan (Exeter Chiefs), Grace Clifford (Loughborough Lightning), Amy Dale (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lizzie Duffy (Sale Sharks), Steph Else (Gloucester-Hartpury), Francesca Goldthorp (Loughborough Lightning), Phillipa Hendy (Gloucester-Hartpury), April Ishida (Darlington Mowden Park), Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning), *Kira Leat (Harlequins), Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs), Gabriella Nigrelli (Bristol Bears), Niamh Orchard (Exeter Chiefs), Tori Sellors (Worcester Warriors), Niamh Swailes (Sale Sharks), Kendall Waudby (Loughborough Lightning), Lucy Weaver (Loughborough Lightning), Catherine Wells (University Worcester Warriors), *Grace White (Bristol Bears), Lola Whitley (Gloucester-Hartpury), Niamh Williams (Wasps), Nicole Wythe (Harlequins)
*uncapped at this level
France
Ambre Mwayembe (Grenoble), *Élisa Riffoneau Élisa (Stade Rennais), Emma Poulat (Grenoble), Adele Besson (Stade Bordelais), Kiara Zago (Agen), Léa Champon (captain, Grenoble), Clémentine Pages (Blagnac), Zoé Jean (Stade Rennais), Eneka Labeyrie (Lyon OU), Maé Levy (Montpellier), Flavie Laine (Blagnac), Anna Macipe (Montpellier), Maelig Ngassa Manac (Stade Rennais), Hawa Tounkara (Bobigny), *Morgane Bourgeois (Stade Bordelais), Mélanie Blanchard (Stade Rennais), Mailys Borak Mailys (Stade Bordelais), Hina Ikahehegi (Stade Villeneuvois Lille Métropole), Taina Maka (Grenoble), Emma Lechardoy (Blagnac), Aubane Rousset (Stade Bordelais), Cléo Hagel (Lyon OU), Amalaia Bazola (Stade Toulousain), Lou Roboam (Stade Toulousain), Lyna Abdallah (Lyon OU), Lili Dezou (Stade Toulousain)
* full caps
