France U20 look to finish off in style

The Tricolores and their reigning world champions host England at the end of the Tournament. With a very slim hope of final victory and before the next World Championship, Sébastien Calvet's players want to make an impression.

France have won their last two Six Nations Under-20 matches against England, managing to string together several wins against England for the first time after losing 10 of the previous 14 duels.

Léo Carbonneau's teammates have won four of their last six home matches against England in the Six Nations tournament, including the last meeting in 2022 (26-22).

The Blues return to Pau at the Stade de Hameau, where they have only played one match in the Tournament, beating Scotland 42-27 in 2019 and scoring 6 tries in this match, including a double from Jordan Joseph.

France are the only team to have completed over 80% of their Goal kicks in the Six Nations this year (86%, 18/21) and were successful in all 7 of their penalty/conversion attempts against Wales during the last day.

France Under 20s have beaten more defenders (29) and made more crossings (7.8) per game than any other team at the Six Nations 2024 and also have the highest tackle avoidance rates (28%) and dominant carries (55%). England, for their part, crossed the advantage line in the majority of their carried balls (58%).

England (87%) and France (90%) have the highest tackle success rates of any team in the 2024 U20 Six Nations. France only missed 7 tackles in their last match against Wales, the fewest numbers for a team in a match this year in the competition.

Léo CARBONNEAU (Captain France under 20)  : “  When you are French there is always a certain rivalry with the England team, even more so when you have been involved in rugby, in the Six Nations since childhood. Historically it is an important confrontation, the match is called “the Crunch”, there is symbolism around this match. Afterwards, colloquially speaking, there is a little video where there is a tackle of my father, I hope not to do the same this weekend. Now it's going to be a lot of weeks of suspension. In short, it's up to us to have a big match, and what's more, in a Hameau announced to be sold out . »

Technical sheet

Friday March 15, 2024 in Pau (Stade du Hameau)

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Ita)

Kick-off: 9:00 p.m. 

FRANCE: Ferté – Attissogbe, L. Darricarrère, Gourgues, Bollengier – (o) Reus, (m) L. Carbonneau (cap.) – Gazzotti, Quere Karaba, Castro-Ferreira – Tuilagi, Descube – Affane, Massa, Julien.

Substitutes: Couly, Aouad, Duchêne, Huchet, Si. Tolofua, Malaterre, Souverbie, Biasotto.

ENGLAND: Jones – Cousins, Waghorn, Kerr, Redshaw – (o) Makepeace-Cubitt, (m) McParland – Michelow, Pollock, Carnduff (cap) – Kpoku, Bailey – Sela, Isaac, Opoku-Fordjour

Subs: Oliver, Kirk, Halliwell, Sodeke, James, Douglas, Bellamy, Spencer