Under-20 Six Nations
France (33) 45
Tries: Akrab 2, Echegaray 2, Tilloles, Cowie, Cotarmanac’h Con: Cotarmanac’h 5
Scotland (22) 40
Tries: Brown, Watson, Blyth-Lafferty, Van Wyk, Douglas Con: Urwin 2, Brown Pen: Urwin 2 Drop-goal: Urwin
France secured the Under-20 Six Nations title for the first time since 2018 but were made to work for their win as they edged a nailbiting 12-try thriller against a brave Scotland in Paris.
The hosts needed to win at Stade Jean Bouin while hoping Wales did them a favour by beating England – and that is how it turned out, just.
It took France just 52 seconds to get the scoreboard ticking as full-back Jon Echegaray set up hooker Lyam Akrab to power over, with Jean Cotarmanac’h converting.
Scotland responded within six minutes through full-back Jack Brown and Matthew Urwin levelling with the boot.
However, despite France losing number eight Antoine Chalus-Cercy to a yellow card for a high tackle during the build-up, it was the hosts who were next to cross the line through Akrab.
French scrum-half Baptiste Tilloles, centre Oliver Cowie and Echegaray also all scored for the hosts before the end of a seesaw first half along with Scotland centre Fergus Watson and prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty as the hosts led 33-22.
An Urwin penalty and a try from replacement Cameron van Wyk either side of another Echegaray touchdown reduced the gap to eight points.
Fly-half Cotarmanac’h converted his own try to give the hosts some breathing space, but Scotland captain Freddy Douglas barged through two tackles to score and Brown’s conversion increased the home nerves.
Scotland piled on the pressure as the clock ticked down and Urwin took the three points from a drop goal knowing a converted try would not be enough.
It gave the visitors the chance to snatch an incredible victory from the restart, but the hosts won a penalty to end the match and kick-start their celebrations.
