Figurita20
June 15th, 2002, 5:19:15 PM
This one is going to make reeves very happy
FT Argentina 28 France 27
Argentina recorded a stunning victory over Six Nations champions France tonight - and served notice of what under-strength England can expect at Velez Sarsfield next Saturday.
The Pumas scored three tries during eight second-half minutes through former Northampton hooker Federico Mendez, ex- Gloucester wing Diego Albanese and Bristol fly-half Felipe Contepomi.
France, who responded through touchdowns from wing Nicolas Jeanjean and centre Tony Marsh, almost snatched a spectacular win, but fly-half Gerald Merceron missed a long- range injury-time penalty.
England boss Clive Woodward was among the crowd as the Pumas lifted some of the gloom surrounding a nation left distraught by their football team's shock World Cup exit.
Contepomi also kicked a two penalties and two conversions, while substitute Gonzalo Quesada dropped a goal.
Full-back Nicolas Brusque claimed France's opening touchdown, with Merceron booting 12 points.
France went into battle without their inspirational Six Nations skipper Fabien Galthie through injury - Pierre Mignoni deputised - while fitness problems also sidelined prop Pieter De Villiers and number eight Imanol Harinordoquy.
Christian Labit earned a back-row recall, with hooker Raphael Ibanez taking over captaincy duties from Galthie.
Despite France's notable absentees though, Argentina still faced a significant task as they sought to end a run of eight successive defeats in the fixture, stretching back to 1992.
The Pumas, who also face South Africa in Johannesburg later this month while France contemplate a two-Test series against world champions Australia Down Under, included three current Premiership players - Bristol half-backs Contepomi and Agustin Pichot, together with Leeds' new recruit Albanese.
Pichot proved to be the Pumas' attacking catalyst early on, almost freeing Albanese following a lightning burst, and Argentina deservedly took a 15th-minute lead when Contepomi struck an angled penalty after French flanker Serge Betsen strayed offside.
Jeanjean and flanker Olivier Magne both went close for France, but they wasted a gilt- edged 23rd-minute chance after lock Fabien Pelous spilled possession in sight of Argentina's line.
Pelous was put clear by centre Damien Traille, yet Argentina were able to clear the danger and threaten themselves through another Pichot intervention that resulted in him being obstructed. Contepomi slotted the resulting 18-metre penalty for a 6-0 advantage.
Much of the action was scrappy and disjointed, yet despite conceding territorial supremacy, France drew level by half-time through a Merceron penalty double.
Quesada, top point-scorer in the 1999 World Cup, replaced Pumas captain Lisandro Arbizu for the second period, but overall standards remained low as both sides compounded their problems through poor basic skills.
Quesada's introduction meant that Contepomi moved from fly-half to centre, but he retained the goalkicking duties, sending a 48-metre penalty chance narrowly wide.
Quesada wasted little time making an impression though, dropping a 30-metre goal, yet France responded by cutting Argentina open through some incisive back play.
Centre Marsh proved the key man, his sleight of hand and exquisite pass creating just enough room for Brusque to claim a try that Merceron converted.
Argentina, with so little recent success against France, could have been excused for thinking that fate was not on their side but they produced a stunning riposte through three quickfire tries.
Mendez powered over for the first, rampaging through a retreating French defence, then Albanese collected a classic second.
The ex-Gloucester man received possession from Contepomi 30 metres out, but sprinted around Jeanjean and touched down in the corner.
At 21-13 down, France knew they had to score next, yet the Pumas had other ideas.
France launched an attack from the edge of their own 22, only for substitute Sebastien Chabal's pass to find Contepomi and not its intended destination Traille.
Contepomi gleefully intercepted and scored between the posts, adding the conversion, for a 28-13 lead.
But Jeanjean rounded off Marsh's break for another try, and Marsh caused more flutters with a 79th-minute effort to threaten a spectacular fightback, only for Merceron to miss his last-gasp chance.
FT Argentina 28 France 27
Argentina recorded a stunning victory over Six Nations champions France tonight - and served notice of what under-strength England can expect at Velez Sarsfield next Saturday.
The Pumas scored three tries during eight second-half minutes through former Northampton hooker Federico Mendez, ex- Gloucester wing Diego Albanese and Bristol fly-half Felipe Contepomi.
France, who responded through touchdowns from wing Nicolas Jeanjean and centre Tony Marsh, almost snatched a spectacular win, but fly-half Gerald Merceron missed a long- range injury-time penalty.
England boss Clive Woodward was among the crowd as the Pumas lifted some of the gloom surrounding a nation left distraught by their football team's shock World Cup exit.
Contepomi also kicked a two penalties and two conversions, while substitute Gonzalo Quesada dropped a goal.
Full-back Nicolas Brusque claimed France's opening touchdown, with Merceron booting 12 points.
France went into battle without their inspirational Six Nations skipper Fabien Galthie through injury - Pierre Mignoni deputised - while fitness problems also sidelined prop Pieter De Villiers and number eight Imanol Harinordoquy.
Christian Labit earned a back-row recall, with hooker Raphael Ibanez taking over captaincy duties from Galthie.
Despite France's notable absentees though, Argentina still faced a significant task as they sought to end a run of eight successive defeats in the fixture, stretching back to 1992.
The Pumas, who also face South Africa in Johannesburg later this month while France contemplate a two-Test series against world champions Australia Down Under, included three current Premiership players - Bristol half-backs Contepomi and Agustin Pichot, together with Leeds' new recruit Albanese.
Pichot proved to be the Pumas' attacking catalyst early on, almost freeing Albanese following a lightning burst, and Argentina deservedly took a 15th-minute lead when Contepomi struck an angled penalty after French flanker Serge Betsen strayed offside.
Jeanjean and flanker Olivier Magne both went close for France, but they wasted a gilt- edged 23rd-minute chance after lock Fabien Pelous spilled possession in sight of Argentina's line.
Pelous was put clear by centre Damien Traille, yet Argentina were able to clear the danger and threaten themselves through another Pichot intervention that resulted in him being obstructed. Contepomi slotted the resulting 18-metre penalty for a 6-0 advantage.
Much of the action was scrappy and disjointed, yet despite conceding territorial supremacy, France drew level by half-time through a Merceron penalty double.
Quesada, top point-scorer in the 1999 World Cup, replaced Pumas captain Lisandro Arbizu for the second period, but overall standards remained low as both sides compounded their problems through poor basic skills.
Quesada's introduction meant that Contepomi moved from fly-half to centre, but he retained the goalkicking duties, sending a 48-metre penalty chance narrowly wide.
Quesada wasted little time making an impression though, dropping a 30-metre goal, yet France responded by cutting Argentina open through some incisive back play.
Centre Marsh proved the key man, his sleight of hand and exquisite pass creating just enough room for Brusque to claim a try that Merceron converted.
Argentina, with so little recent success against France, could have been excused for thinking that fate was not on their side but they produced a stunning riposte through three quickfire tries.
Mendez powered over for the first, rampaging through a retreating French defence, then Albanese collected a classic second.
The ex-Gloucester man received possession from Contepomi 30 metres out, but sprinted around Jeanjean and touched down in the corner.
At 21-13 down, France knew they had to score next, yet the Pumas had other ideas.
France launched an attack from the edge of their own 22, only for substitute Sebastien Chabal's pass to find Contepomi and not its intended destination Traille.
Contepomi gleefully intercepted and scored between the posts, adding the conversion, for a 28-13 lead.
But Jeanjean rounded off Marsh's break for another try, and Marsh caused more flutters with a 79th-minute effort to threaten a spectacular fightback, only for Merceron to miss his last-gasp chance.