Contepomi sets up Pumas' French rout
Sat, 26 Jun 2010 22:55
Argentina recorded their biggest win ever over France, a 41-13 triumph in their one-off Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
The 28-point margin surpass the 24 points (34-10) they beat the French by in their third-place play-off at the 2007 World Cup in Paris.
It is also the Pumas' ninth win over the French in their last ninth encounters and continues their 12-year unbeaten run against France in Buenos Aires.
In very blustery conditions and a game of many penalties - 20-odd were dished out by Australian referee Stuart Dickinson - there were also some delightful moments and great tries.
Two of those went to captain Felipe Contepomi - who scored 31 of his team's points, including three conversions and five penalties, in a man-of-the-match performance.
The Pumas were very physical at the breakdown and their pack just outmuscled the French - turning over plenty of ball.
The tired-looking French team just could not cope with the physicality of the home side.
The Pumas were also very effective on the counter - being far more energetic against the French than the plodding displays they produced against Scotland in the previous fortnight.
The first half, in which the Pumas dominated the last 10 minutes, produced a very scrappy opening half-hour.
There were penalties by Felipe Contepomi (in the fourth, eighth, 26th and 37th minutes), as well as Jerome Porical (second minute) and Morgan Parra (18th minute).
But the game burst into life after Florian Fritz was yellow carded for repeated infringements in the 36th minute.
The defining moment came in the 39th minute - Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe went over for the game's first try as Argentina made their numerical advantage count. Fernández Lobbe started and finished a counter from a poor French kick. He started running near his own 22, then made ground into the French half, offloaded to Martín Rodríguez, followed up and received the return pass to score in the right corner.
Contepomi added the conversion and the home team took a 19-6 lead into the half-time break.
Contepomi then scored one of the most sublime individuals tries of the year - weaving in and out of the French defence to go over under the uprights. An explosion of pace and a weaving run that showed just how brilliant he can be created the score. Contepomi added the conversion and Argentina lead 26-6.
The French made a brief comeback - Julien Malzieu scored France's only try. Francois Trinh-Duc set up the try with a delightfully well-timed pass. Parra added the conversion and the gap closed to 13-26.
But after this if was the Contepomi show.
Rafael Carballo scored the third try in the 60th minute, as the Pumas again used the turnover ball to great effect - going left and then right, finding plenty of space. Contepomi could not add the extras, one of his rare misses in the game - 31-13.
Contepomi added a 65th-minute penalty to take the lead to 34-13.
With just over 10 minutes left on the clock Contepomi scored, as the rout continued. From a scrum heel against the head quick hands saw Contepomi sprint over for another delightful score. Contepomi added the conversion and the lead was 41-13.
Man of the match: There was the brutal force of the Puma pack - with Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe's physical presence and ball in hand ability that stood out. But for us there is only one choice - captain and Argentinean flyhalf Felipe Contepomi - for his creative play and the manner in which he ran the French ragged.
Moment of the match: Contepomi's tries were delightful and brilliant individuals scores, but the most decisive moment was Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe's try in 39th minute - he started and finished a counter and it is the score that turned the game.
Villain of the match: This one is also easy. It goes to Florian Fritz and his yellow card. It cost his team dearly.
The scorers:
For Argentina:
Tries: Fernández Lobbe, Contepomi 2, Carballo
Cons: Contepomi 3
Pens: Contepomi 5
For France:
Try: Malzieu
Con: Parra
Pens: Porical, Parra
Yellow card: Florian Fritz (France, 36 - repeated offences at the breakdown)
Teams:
Argentina: 15 Martín Rodríguez, 14 Lucas González Amorosino, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Santiago Fernández, 11 Rafael Carballo, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 9 Nicolás Vergallo, 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, 7 Alejandro Campos, 6 Genaro Fessia, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4
Manuel Carizza, 3 Martín Scelzo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Mariano Galarza, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 21 Agustín Figuerola, 22 Horacio Agulla.
France: 15 Jerome Porical, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Lionel Mazars, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Louis Picamoles, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Fabian Barcella.
Replacements: 16 Guillem Guirado, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Gregory Lamboley, 20 Dimitri Yachvili, 21 Maxime Mermoz, 22 Clement Poitrenaud.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referees: Dave Pearson (England), Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
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