The Bleuets outclassed the inferior Welsh in part thanks to a powerful brace from prop Zinédine Aouad. Behind, the Bayonnais Xan Mousques initiated numerous attacks with his speed and his kicking game.
15. Xan Mousques: 8/10
The Aviron Bayonnais fullback has become a key member of this 2024 version of the team. We saw him again today in Cardiff. Particularly thanks to a very fair kicking game in the first half. At the very start of the match, he made a clever overhand for Brau-Boirie. He does it again with a very good deep kick but Brau-Boirie escapes the ball. Once again through his foot, he found a good 50/22 after half an hour of play. He was replaced by Oliver Cowie in the 61st minute.
14. Maxence Biasotto: 7/10
The Brive winger showed his legs this Thursday evening. We saw him volunteer several times in French attacks. In the 10th minute, he brought down the Welsh defense with his run and served Xan Mousques perfectly for the first try of the match. Active throughout the match, his inspired kicking game in the 70th minute was worth trying.
13. Fabien Brau Borie: 5.5/10
He was unable to stand out offensively despite the various phases of French possession. He could have distinguished himself with a try on a good play at the foot of Mousques but let the ball escape. Le Palois did a discreet job but held his place. He came out in the 54th minute, replaced by Robin Taccola.
Fabien Brau-Boirie had a strong match at the center of the France U20 XV.
12. Mathys Belaubre: 6.5/10
He did a superb job of undermining the fairly strong Welsh. Like this beautiful vertical and destabilizing advance for the Welsh defense, in the 30th minute in the opposing 22 meters. This is what we call a clean match and in a register that he knew how to master perfectly. At the end of the match, he slipped into the second center position seriously, so much so that he gave himself a try in the 74th minute.
11. Nathan Bollengier: 6/10
The Rochelais was playing his return match after a period of convalescence. He was first penalized with a yellow card in the 23rd minute after a failed interception attempt on a Welsh attack. Just before the fourth attempt, it was he who broke through and served Brau Boirie in his wake. A little too excited, he was penalized in the 49th minute. But he is also the one who initiated a good counter-ruck in the 52nd minute.
10. Jean Cotarmanac’h: 6.5/10
The Breton opener did the job. Author of a 100% kick (4 out of 4 conversions and 1 penalty scored out of 1 attempted), he showed his composure against the posts. In the animation, he insisted on the use of hand-held play and put his three-quarters on the right track. He found a nice penalty in the 51st minute and was able to put the pressure back on the Welsh camp. Hit in the elbow, he came out in the 56th minute.
9. Thomas Souverbie: 6/10
In a rather choppy match, he managed as best he could to set a little rhythm. Involved and active, it was he who served Tolofua with a quick pass in the 60th minute for the fifth try of the match. Overall, he led his advances with an iron fist in the combat zones, insisting on upwind when he felt it necessary.
8. Loan Lavergne: not rated
Just like Mézou and Lotrian, Lavergne was quickly injured in the match. Hit in an ankle, he left in the 18th minute. Sialevailea Tolofua (7.5/10) took his place in the center of the third line. The Toulouse player was guilty of some blunders with the ball in hand, like against Italy. But that was before shining on the meeting. In the 47th minute, he single-handedly annihilated an offensive by the locals with a counter-ruck which had its effect. On the hour mark, Tolofua performed a classy action. After recovering the ball thirty meters from the opposing goal, he was simply unstoppable. Talent and speed, which allowed the Bleuets to score their fifth try of the evening. Elected man of the match, the Haut-Garonnais was one of the great architects of the great French success.
Sialevailea Tolofua scored a magnificent try.
7. Joe Quera Karaba: 8/10
The flanker initially contented himself with working in the shadows… before demonstrating the full extent of his talent. Shortly before the half-hour mark, he made a first intervention which put the Welsh defense in difficulty (28th). A few seconds later, do it again. Quere Karaba grabbed the ball, and finished behind the line. Great art. Just before half-time, it was he who served Aouad on a plate, who ended up in the promised land.
6. Geoffrey Malaterre: 6.5/10
Little in sight in the first forty minutes, the Briviste did not take long to show himself upon returning from the locker room. On the left wing, he showed his speed before making a magnificent post-contact pass. Unfortunately, the action did not come to an end. In the 53rd minute, he saved the homeland with a severe tackle on a Welshman who had taken the interval.
5. Hugo Descube: 7.5/10
For his first appearance in this U20 Tournament, the Stade Toulouse player waited to show up. Like Mézou, he warmed his shoulders, before having fun with the leather between his fingers. Just before Aouad’s first try, he put the French ahead with his power. On his momentum, he put Wales on the back foot before the fourth French achievement. Power and mobility, everything you ask for in a modern second line. We excuse his avoidable forward in the 66th minute. A little rush.
4: Corentin Mézou: 6/10
A contrasting evening for the captain of the Bleuets. Warrior as usual, he was injured just before half-time and was forced to leave his partners earlier than expected. It was the Rochelais Simon Huchet (5.5/10) who took his place. Not much to report regarding the latter. Some will say that it is good news when we talk about a forward, others will say that it did not weigh enough on the meeting.
3. Zaccharie Affane: 6/10
World champion last summer, Affane has not really assumed his status with Cardiff. Certainly, he dominated the first scrum without being rewarded, but he was subsequently penalized for having lost his support. In the current game, the Bordelo-Béglais did not really show his power, or not enough even if some of his percussions were worth a look. A frustrating game in the end for one of the group’s executives. The right-hander was replaced at the hour mark by Duchêne.
2. Mathys Lotrian: not rated
The Perpignan match unfortunately ended in the first minute. On contact, Lotrian was knocked out and had to leave his family, completely groggy. His replacement, Léo Chauvin, had difficulty adjusting to the touchline. The Bordelo-Béglais missed a few throws. In the game, not much to remember about Chauvin, who gave himself on defense.
1. Zinedine Aouad: 8/10
The left pillar of the UBB crushed everything in its path. Discreet during the first minutes of the match, he stood out from the first French offensive with several effective percussions. His performance took on another dimension at the end of the first act. Aouad scored a powerful double (36th and 40th). Pure delight. Replaced in the 53rd minute by Léo Ametlla, the Girondin can be proud of his performance.