France finished strongly to beat the SA Under-18 ‘A’ side 40-14 in the final clash of the U18 International Series at Paarl Gimnasium on Saturday.

The visitors led 18-14 at half-time and then pulled clear in the closing stages, running in three unanswered tries to cap a second series victory, having also outplayed England earlier in the week.

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In cold but dry conditions, France dominated territory and possession early on. Wing Lourenzo Laouna and centre Malobe Mbaye crossed for tries, while scrumhalf Timeo Gillouin-Lemaire added a conversion and penalty.

Hooker Thomas Muller struck back for the South Africans from a maul, before a penalty try narrowed the gap to 15-14. But another Gillouin-Lemaire penalty on the stroke of half-time gave the French a slender advantage.

The second half was an arm wrestle until fullback Andoni Echegaray’s try broke the deadlock. From there, France’s fitness and precision shone through as Gaetan Ngassa Manac’h and Yanis Brosset added further tries to seal a commanding win.

Scorers:

SA U18 ‘A’ (14): Tries – Thomas Muller, Penalty Try; Conversion – Jeandre Uithaler.

France (40): Tries – Lourenzo Laouna, Malobe Mbaye, Andoni Echegaray, Gaetan Ngassa Manac’h, Yanis Brosset; Conversions – Timeo Gillouin Lemaire, Louis Favrau (2); Penalties – Gillouin-Lemaire (2), Favrau.

Photo: X/@SAJuniorRugby