France U18 Stuns SA! Rampant Victory in Paarl Gimnasium Clash!

By: Analia Gómez Published On: 16/08/2025

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France U18 delivered a dominant performance, overpowering the SA U18 A side in the U18 International Series held at Paarl Gimnasium on Saturday. The final score of 40-14 reflects France's superior play, especially in the second half.

The visitors established an early lead, heading into halftime with an 18-14 advantage. France then surged ahead in the closing stages, scoring three unanswered tries to secure a comprehensive victory. Despite the cold but dry conditions, France controlled territory and possession from the outset. Tries from wing Lourenzo Laouna and centre Malobe Mbaye, coupled with a conversion and penalty from scrumhalf Timeo Gillouin-Lemaire, put France in a commanding position.

South Africa responded with a try from hooker Thomas Muller, who powered over from a maul. A subsequent penalty try narrowed the gap to 15-14. However, another penalty from Gillouin-Lemaire just before halftime extended France's lead.

The second half initially saw a tight contest, but France broke the deadlock with a try from fullback Andoni Echegaray. From that point onwards, France's superior fitness and precision shone through. Gaetan Ngassa Manac'h and Yanis Brosset added further tries, solidifying France's commanding win.

Scorers:

SA U18 A (14) – Tries: Thomas Muller, penalty try. Conversion: Jeandre Uithaler.
FRANCE U18 (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.

This victory highlights France's strength at the U18 level and serves as a valuable learning experience for the SA U18 A team as they continue their development.

What's Next for SA Rugby?

With the U18 International Series providing crucial insights into the next generation of players, South African rugby fans will be eager to see how these young talents progress. The performance against France underscores the need for continued investment in youth development programs to ensure a strong future for the sport in the country.