On a brisk Saturday at Paarl Gimnasium, the young guns of South Africa's U18 ‘A’ team found themselves steamrolled by a ferociously efficient French side, who clinched a 40-14 victory in the final bout of the U18 International Series. After a tightly contested first half, the French colts galloped away in the second, leaving the SA youngsters eating their dust with a series of unreturned tries.
The match kicked off under the cold gaze of an indifferent sky, with the French squad rapidly asserting dominance. Wingers and centres weren't just passing—they were practically piercing through the defense. Lourenzo Laouna and Malobe Mbaye made it over the try line, with Timeo Gillouin-Lemaire chipping in a conversion and a penalty to kick things off. The South Africans, not ones to roll over so easily, pushed back as Thomas Muller bulldozed his way through from a maul. A subsequent penalty try squeezed the springboks right back into contention, trailing a mere point at 15-14.
However, just as halftime brews were being contemplated, Gillouin-Lemaire slotted another penalty, allowing the French a slight breather at 18-14. The break did little to dampen the French flair. As the second half unfolded, it was clear that the French had more in the tank. Andoni Echegaray’s try was not just a score but a statement, breaking the deadlock and the spirits of some SA defenders.
The French train didn't stop there. Gaetan Ngassa Manac’h and Yanis Brosset found the try line too, punctuating a performance that was as clinical as it was bruising. Conversions by Gillouin-Lemaire and Louis Favrau only twisted the knife deeper into South African hopes.
"It was an arm wrestle until we managed to find that extra gear," remarked a satisfied French coach, underlining the shift in momentum.
By the final whistle, the scoreboard read a stark 40-14. The French, having already dismantled England earlier in the series, walked off with heads held high and chests puffed out, leaving the SA U18 ‘A’ to ponder what could have been in a game of two halves where the better half decisively belonged to the visitors.