Argentina 18 – France 13
by “Lee Grant”
There was only one try in this test match and one team kicked four drop goals. It was dour sometimes and doesn’t sound like it was much fun, but it was absorbing.
France had a good win against a poorly-performing Australia last week though they nearly lost it at the end. Coach Philippe Saint-André dropped rising star winger, Teddy Thomas, who was late to a team meeting. He also retained the same halves pairing for the third game in a row – a first for him.
After a lacklustre loss to Scotland in their opening game, Argentina recovered by beating Italy in their second with some fresh players. But they had another poor first half in Genoa; they had to start better in Paris.
Uini Atonio – big bopper on the burst
First half
Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade pulled a new plan off the drawing board for the test at Stade de France. His team had shown some admirable ball-in-hand qualities in The Rugby Championship [TRC] but in the first half hour Los Pumas had the fruits of a tactical game on the scoreboard.
They visited the France half of the field and took points from goals before France could get the ball back. After the restarts they repeated the dose: flyhalf Sanchez slotted two penalties and two drop goals, and centre JM Hernandez bagged a droppie also.
With ten minutes left in the half Argentina had a lead of 15-0 and the winning of the game.
Nicolas Sanchez – kicked three drop goals and two penalties
France attempted a lineout drive instead of going for posts but they dropped the ball in the maul. However flyhalf Camille Lopez got France on the board with a penalty just before the break.
Half-time score: Argentina 15 – France 3.
It was an odd match: the first scrum didn’t happen until the 34th minute and only one side seemed to be playing—France couldn’t get into the game and kept turning the ball over in important areas.
There was niggle: opposing locks Pascal Papé of France and Tomas Lavanini of Argentina kept snarling at and shoulder bumping each other—not in the game; this was from the blowing of the whistle for half-time until they disappeared from sight walking up the tunnel.
Lavanini and Papé – shoulder to shoulder
Second half
Argentina seemed to lose the vibe after the break when their own scrum was penalised on the France five-metre line, and later missed a penalty goal. But they got it back when Sanchez kicked his third field goal to make the score 18-3 at 45 minutes.
France missed their third penalty goal attempt of the game, but they were getting into their work and after their best concerted effort of the match, centre Wesley Fofana scored.
The conversion made the tally Argentina 18 – France 10 at 58 minutes—it was game on !!
It was even closer five minutes later when Rory Kockott kicked a long penalty goal: 18-13. A converted try would do it for France.
Strapping Scott Spedding – burst over the line but was held up
It was sheer attrition and it came down to a lineout in the 79th minute 15 metres out from the Argentina goal line. Puma skipper Augustin Creevy took advantage of advantage by committing three maul infringements in ten seconds.
Bodies were thrown at each other and there was time for another lineout said referee Clancy – penalty – tap kick – France fullback Scott Spedding bursts over the line – held up – Argentina wins in the 83rd minute – 18-13.
Skipper Creevy was inspirational for the victors but Argentina scrummie Nicholas Sanchez was my man-of-the-match for his three field goals and taking the impact to hold up strapping Scott Spedding over the line at the end.
Although Argentina has beaten France before, the benefits of playing in the TRC are becoming more noticeable now.
Argentina win in Paris
The teams
France: 1 X. Chiocci, 2. B. Kayser, 3. N. Mas, 4. P. Papé, 5. S. Vahaamahina, 6. T. Dusautoir (c), 7. B. le Roux, 8. D. Chouly, 9. S. Tillous-Borde, 10. C. Lopez, 11. Maxime Médard, 12. W. Fofana, 13. M. Mermoz, 14. Y. Huget, 15. S. Spedding.
Reserves: 16. G. Guirado, 17. A. Menini, 18. U. Atonio, 19. Y. Maestri, 20. C. Ollivon, 21. R. Kockott, 22. R. Talès, 21. M. Bastareaud.
Argentina: 1. M. Ayerza, 2. A. Creevy (c), 3. NT Chaparro, 4. GP Pagadizaval, 5. T. Lavanini, 6. F. Isa, 7. JO Desio, 8. L. Senatore, 9. T. Cubelli, `10. N. Sanchez, 11 M. Montero, 12. JM Hernández, 13. M. Bosch, 14. J. Imhoff, 15. J. Tuculet.
Reserves: 16. M. Cortese, 17. LN Paz, 18. R. Herrera, 19. L. Ponce, 20. T. Lezana, 21. M. Landajo, 22. SG Iglesias, 23. LG Amorosino.
The scoring
Argentina 18 (N. Sanchez 3 dgoals, 2 pens; JM Hernandez dgoal) def. France 13 (W. Fofana try, C. Lopez pen, con; R. Kockott pen).
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