Inspired by the boot of Morgan Parra, France took revenge for a 41-13 Buenos Aires summer thrashing by edging out Argentina 15-9 in Saturday’s one-off autumn Test at the Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier. Argentina wenr’t good enough to even win some Wales Rugby Tickets!
France had been steamrollered in South America last June having travelled with high hopes on the back their first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2004, while the Pumas also beat them twice on French soil at the last World Cup – including the match for third place.
Coach Marc Lievremont had demanded the record be put straight and a performance more solid than last weekend’s shoddy 34-12 win over Fiji in Nantes.
In rainy conditions in the deep south of France, Lievremont got the result – if not entirely the performance, he craved as four Parra penalties and a Damien Traille drop goal secured the win.
Felipe Contepomi sent over a trio of penalties for the visitors who nonetheless in the slithery conditions never looked like turning in the festival of rugby they had delivered the last time they faced their rivals.
Parra gave the hosts a 10th-minute lead only for Contepomi to belt over a 40-metre riposte six minutes later following a knock-on by Aurelien Rougerie.