Enterprising Argentina Come Good Against France

An enterprising Argentina came good against France in Buenos Aires on Saturday. A week after an underwhelming showing against Les Bleus in Mendoza, Los Pumas played impressive and aggressive rugby to run out 33-25 winners. The win meant France were denied a first test series win in Argentina since 1998.

The score does not do justice to the match. Argentina were a lot better than France but issues with execution handed France easy scoring opportunities. Los Pumas scored five tries to three with replacement loose head prop, Thomas Gallo the hero as he scored twice.

The jump from Super Rugby Americas to Los Pumas is possible. Franco Molina showed that he was up to the required level. Molina was solid in the lineout. he also made the first break of the match. His run gave Argentina a chance but it was not taken.

Instead, France scored the opening points at Vélez Sarsfield. Scrum-has and captain Baptiste Serin scored down the left. It came after Argentina knocked-on; Bautista Delguy made a half-break only to loose the ball.

The scrum had been a significant flaw in Mendoza. It was not a problem at all in Buenos Aires; indeed, Argentina had their own in this area. Argentina’s lineout also functioned very well. The solid set-piece enabled Argentina to unload many enterprising attacks as the match unfolded.

While Serin’s try came from an error while looking to be creative, Argentina recovered very well. Good go-forward ball and pass culminated in tight head prop Eduardo Bello scoring. Santiago Carreras converted to level the scoring at 7-7.

France responded with a penalty. Argentina then turned von the pressure to score twice before half-time. First, Los Pumas‘ advancing scrum from 5 meter out resulted in a penalty try. For some reason no Frenchman was yellow carded. Second, a set-pice move from a lineout saw Santiago Carreras touching down. With it was a 21-10 lead.

Les Bleus had a dream start to the second-half. Hastoy landed a penalty while center Émilien Gailleton and winger Théo Attissogbe both scored. Both were punishing scores rather than crafted tries. Gailleton charged-down a box-kick from Lautaro Bazán Vélez while Delguy misjudged the bounce of the ball for it to favor Attissogbe who scored untouched.

Argentina’s lead had disappeared but Felipe Contepomi’s team did not panic. The Head Coach made use of his replacements in a strategic manner. Gallo’s double restored the lead and set-up a 33-25 win. Captain Julian Montoya watched-on happily. He was forced off injured in the opening quarter.

France’s South American tour has now concluded. It ends with two wins and one defeat. Argentina now have a trip across the Rio de la Plata. Los Pumas face Uruguay next Saturday in Maldonado. It is Argentina’s final match before the 2024 Rugby Championship.

SCORING

ARGENTINA (33)
Try – E Bello (16′); Penalty Try (29′); S Carreras (36′); T Gallo 2 (57′, 65′)
Con – S Carreras (17′, 37′, 66′); No Kick (29′)

FRANCE (25)
Try – B Serin (8′); E Gailleton (44′); T Attissogbe (49′)
Con – A Hastoy (9′, 45′)
Pen – A Hastoy (25′, 42′)
YC – G-H Colombe (56′)

LINEUPS

ARGENTINA
1 Mayco Vivas, 2 Julián Montoya (capt.), 3 Eduardo Bello, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Lucas Paulos, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 9 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Bautista Delguy, 15 Santiago Cordero

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Pedro Rubiolo, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Tomás Albornoz, 23 Matías Orlando

FRANCE
1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Gaetan Barlot, 3 Georges-Henri Colombe, 4 Mikael Guillard, 5 Baptiste Pesenti, 6 Lenni Nouchi, 7 Judicael Cancoriet, 8 Jordan Joseph, 9 Baptiste Serin (capt.), 10 Antoine Hastoy, 11 Lester Etien, 12 Antoine Frisch, 13 Émilien Gailleton, 14 Théo Attissogbé, 15 Léo Barré

Replacements: 16 Teddy Baubigny, 17 Sebastián Taofifenua, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Posolo Tuilagi, 20 Romain Briatte, 21 Killian Tixeront, 22 Baptiste Jauneaud, 23 Léo Berdeu

 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistants: Chris Busby (Ireland); Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)