France of the Future down Argentina in Mendoza

France is in very fine health. A team of the future won 28-13 over Argentina on Saturday in Mendoza. Les Blues merited the win with an impressive scrum and enterprising play against a Pumas side that was not up to the pace of their rivals.

The match was the start of a new era. Felipe Contepomi’s first match in charge did not go down as a beautiful piece of work. Marcos Kremer described the performance. “If we are not the best in the contact area, it is impossible to win.” France’s rush defense slowed down Argentina who were unable to play with quick-ball.

The opening quarter was scoreless. Play-makers Antoine Hastoy and Santiago Carreras exchanged penalties to open the second quarter. 3-3 was followed by the first try-scoring opportunity with Bautista Delguy narrowly missing out on a try in the left corner.

Ten minutes later saw French captain Baptiste Serin scoring at the other end of the field. From a lineout Serin found a huge gape between Matías Alemanno and Julián Montoya. He then kicked and regathered to score.

The balance from the opening half was not repeated in the second-half. Instead, France were on top. Prop Georges-Henri Colombe went within inches of the try zone. It mattered not as Antoine Frisch scored on debut after France had good ball from an attacking scrum.

Hastoy converted the try and added a penalty. France were now 20-3 ahead after 56 minutes. Argentina looked to their captain for inspiration. An attacking lineout saw Pablo Matera, in his 99th cap, linking with Julián Montoya who ran over Lester Etien to score in the corner.

France responded five minutes later, doing so despite a loose pass. Winger Théo Attissogbé fought past Lautaro Bazán Velez and Mateo Carreras to score. France added three more points with replacement Melvyn Jaminet landing a long-range penalty for a twenty point lead.

France juggled the kick-off. Now with possession, Los Pumas went right. Jerónimo de la Fuente put in a kick for replacement Matías Orlando to chase. The Miami Sharks mid-fielder just managed to get it down. Tomás Albornoz was 0/2 with his conversions.

Los Pumas now travel to the capital. Argentina face France in game two in Buenos Aires next Saturday. Before then, however, France take-on Uruguay in Montevideo. That match will be a rare Wednesday fixture.

 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

SCORING

ARGENTINA (13)
Try – J Montoya (59′); M Orlando (77′)
Pen – S Carreras (25′)

FRANCE (28)
Try – B Serin (36′); A Frisch (45′); T Attissogbé  (66′)
Con – A Hastoy (37′, 46′)
Pen – A Hastoy (22′, 55′); M Jaminet (76′)

LINEUPS

ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo, Julián Montoya (capt.), 3 Eduardo Bello, 4 Matías Alemanno, 5 Lucas Paulos, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Bautista Delguy, 15 Martín Bogado

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Bautista Pedemonte, 21 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 22 Tomás Albornoz, 23 Matías Orlando

FRANCE
1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Gaetan Barlot, 3 Georgs-Henri Colombe, 4 Hugo Auradou, 5 Baptiste Pesenti, 6 Judicael Cancoriet, 7 Oscar Jegou, 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 Mikael Guillard, 21 Lenni Nouchi, 22 Baptiste Couilloud, 23 Melvyn Jaminet

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistants: Eoghan Cross (Ireland); Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (Argentina)