Gus Jones scores one of his four tries for England Under-20s © Getty Images

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Wales can only hope their weekend gets better after they were humiliated 67-7 by England in the Under-20 Six Nations match at Newcastle. It can hardly get worse after a one-sided thrashing in which they only got on the scoreboard at all thanks to a controversial penalty-try three minutes from time.

Wales came into the game having only conceded one try in three matches, but they shipped five in each half as England almost scored at will, Wasps openside Gus Jones finishing with four.

Fly half Billy Burns slotted a penalty in the second minute - he later added six conversions - and then the impressive Henry Taylor opened the floodgates in the sixth minute after a break by Joel Conlan.

Although Wales looked good in the scrums it counted for nothing as they were outclassed in the ruck while their backs were always struggling. Eight of England's tries were from forwards. Trailing 10-0 after 22 minutes, by half-time the game was done and dusted with England 38-0 up.

Wales looked tighter in the second-half but a 60-metre breakaway from England wing Zak Kibirige after 51 minutes knocked the remaining fight out of them and again England took a stranglehold.

Scant consolation came near the end when Howard Packman was harshly adjudged to have fouled, getting himself a yellow card and sparing the Welsh from going home without any points.

France remain top of the Six Nations and maintained their 100% record with an 18-13 win over Scotland at Galashiels, but they were pushed all the way after it had seemed the match was as good as over.

Tries either side of half-time by Tommy Reynaud and Brandon Fajardo had given them an 18-3 lead but Isaac Miller and Damien Hoyland both went over to bring Scotland back into the game giving the French a nervous final ten minutes.

Ireland started brightly before fading in an uninspiring 18-0 win over Italy in Athlone. A try from Cian Kelleher and the boot of Ross Byrne had given them a 13-0 lead after 21 minutes but thereafter the Irish struggled to break down the Italians or land their kicks. Three minutes into the second half Filippo Buscema and Kelleher were both sin-binned for an off-the-ball altercation. Adam Byrne sealed the tie when he went over for a try on 55 minutes to round off the scoring.

France's Francois Cros is tackled by Scotland's Ben Chambers © Getty Images

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