Ireland were handed their third defeat of the Under-20 Six Nations as a dominant first-half display helped France earn a 22-12 win in Cork.
Tries from Jon Echegaray and Tom Leveque put the visitors in control and despite losing flanker Noa Traversier to one of their three first-half yellow cards, a Lyam Akrab try extended France’s lead.
The second yellow card of the game was pulled just before half time. This time it was lock Bartholome Sanson who was sent off for slapping the ball from the tail of an Irish maul.
On the stroke of half-time, Ireland were gifted a foothold in the game with a penalty try after a TMO review found Echegaray to have deliberately knocked on five metres from the French line as he became the third visiting player to be yellow carded.
While finding themselves down to 12 men at the start of the second half, it was their performance in the opening 40 minutes that set up France’s victory.
Echegaray opened the scoring for the French with a sharp step and finish from close range before a textbook French backline move sent winger Leveque over for their second.
Blindside flanker Traversier was the first of the French to see yellow after an illegal clearout at the breakdown.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, France powered over for their third try through Montpellier hooker Akrab as he finished off a dominant five-metre maul.
However, the yellow carding of Sanson and Echegaray enabled Ireland to hit back with their penalty try.
France initially appeared to have notched a fourth try at the other end as Echegaray released scrum-half Baptiste Tilloles under the posts, but after a TMO review, the score was chalked off.
Moments later, Echegaray was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on as Ireland were awarded their touchdown.
Restored to their full complement in the second half, France secured their bonus point with another thundering maul, Akrab grabbing his second try of the night.
A consolation score for the Irish came late on from winger Ciaran Mangan as he dotted down in the corner.
Neil Doak’s Ireland side will look to end their tournament on a high as they face Italy away, while France take on Scotland at the Stade Jean Bouin.
Ireland Under-20s: Daniel Green; Charlie Molony, Gene O’Leary Kareem, Eoghan Smyth, Ciarán Mangan, Tom Wood, Will Wootton, Billy Bohan, Mikey Yarr, Alex Mullan, Mahon Ronan, Billy Corrigan, Michael Foy, Bobby Power, Éanna McCarthy (capt).
Replacements: Henry Walker, Paddy Moore, Tom McAllister, Conor Kennelly, David Walsh, Clark Logan, Sam Wisniewski, Connor Fahy.
France Under-20s: Jon Echegaray, Tom Leveque, Simeli Daunivucu, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Nolann Donguy, Luka Keletaona, Baptiste Tilloes, Samuel Jean-Christophe, Lyam Akrab, Mohamed Megherbi, Bartholome Sanson, Corentin Mezou, Antoine Deliance, Noa Traversier, Baptiste Britz,
Replacements: Quentin Algay, Edouard-Junior Jabea Njocke, Jean-Yves Liufau, Jacques Nguimbous, Sialevailea Tolofua, Simon Daroque, Jean Cotarmanac’h, Oliver Cowie.
