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Argentina hosted France in the first of two test matches between the countries on Sunday evening. Played in the northern city of Tucumán the home side completed a 30-19 victory, doing so by three tries to one. Second-rower, Guido Petti (pictured) scored the try of the night.
The fixture was very much the continuation of a new era for both countries as rebuilding is underway following the retirement of long serving stars after Rugby World Cup 2015. Gone from Los Pumas are veterans including Horacio Agulla, Marcelo Bosch and Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe.
No longer representing France are Nicolas Mas, Frédéric Michalak, Pascal Papé and Dimitri Szarzewski. But it was not their loss but, rather, that of players involved in the Top 14 Semi Finals which severely complicated France’s preparation.
On Friday and Saturday Clermont, Montpellier, Racing 92 and Toulon disputed the Top 14 Semi Finals, thereby leaving Guy Noves without access to most players from these four clubs. Only a handful of names from these four sides will play any part in the tour whatsoever.
The two sides set to contest the final – Racing 92 and Toulon are both home to Pumas with a Juan Imhoff try having gotten the Parisians into the final. His involvement in international rugby this year remains clouded but he is set to play at the Olympic Games in August in Rio de Janeiro.
