France concluded their autumn rugby tests in emphatic style with a 37-23 victory over Argentina at Stade de France on Friday, November 22.
The commanding performance, marked by clinical execution and resilient defense, earned Les Tricolores their third consecutive win, following victories against Japan and New Zealand.
France set the tone early, with lock Thibaud Flament and winger Gabin Villière crossing for tries in the first half. A penalty try and the precise goalkicking of Thomas Ramos added to Argentina’s woes, giving France a formidable 30-9 lead by halftime.
The home side capitalized on Argentina’s lack of discipline, a theme that haunted the Pumas throughout the match.
Argentina, despite an aggressive start, struggled to maintain composure under pressure. Their captain, Julian Montoya, was shown a yellow card for a leg twist incident in the first half, forcing France’s Jean-Baptiste Gros to leave the field.
Another pivotal moment came when flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez deliberately batted the ball forward, resulting in a penalty try for France and a yellow card for Gonzalez. These setbacks left Argentina chasing the game against a dominant French side.
Argentina’s resilience surfaced in the second half, as prop Thomas Gallo and replacement hooker Ignacio Ruiz scored tries.
Flyhalf Tomas Albornoz converted both, narrowing the deficit to 37-23. However, France’s disciplined defense and strategic gameplay stifled any hopes of a Pumas comeback.
The second half also showcased Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s attacking prowess. The left winger added France’s fourth try, continuing his streak of scoring in every test match this autumn.
A late attempt by Emilien Gailleton to extend France’s lead was disallowed due to a knock-on in the buildup.
Ramos, transitioning seamlessly from fullback to flyhalf, was instrumental in France’s victory. His unerring accuracy from the tee yielded 15 points, propelling him further up France’s all-time scoring list.
He is now poised to surpass Christophe Lamaison’s 380 points in the upcoming Six Nations, with only Frédéric Michalak ahead.
Post-match, head coach Fabien Galthié praised his squad’s cohesion and performance. “I would like to praise all the players. For me, there are only positives to take.
They are all winners,” Galthié said, while also addressing the importance of team unity in light of reported tensions within the squad.
The victory capped a successful autumn campaign for France, who also routed Japan 52-12 and edged New Zealand 30-29 in a nail-biter. Flanker Charles Ollivon highlighted the significance of finishing the series on home soil.
“Three matches, three wins, and we finished things off here in front of our fans. What more could you ask for?” he said.
Argentina, under coach Felipe Contepomi, showed flashes of brilliance but lacked consistency. Despite their 57-17 demolition of Italy earlier this autumn, they failed to replicate their Rugby Championship form, leaving them winless in France for a decade.
France’s clean sweep of the autumn tests bolsters their confidence as they prepare for the Six Nations and a crucial year in international rugby.
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