Argentina 10 France 49:FRANCE'S REVAMPED backs had a field day, with five tries, including two from winger Yoann Huget, in a crushing victory over Argentina in the second test in Tucuman on Saturday.
Flyhalf Frederic Michalak weighed in with 19 points from five conversions and three penalties, and flanker Alexandre Lapandry added a late sixth try as the French exacted revenge for their narrow defeat in the first test. Winger Benjamin Fall, Huget and scrumhalf Maxime Machenaud, winning his first cap, scored first half tries as France ran up a 30-3 lead.
Centre Maxime Mermoz, Huget and Lapandry went over in the second half. The halfbacks plus Fall and Mermoz were brought in by France coach Philippe Saint-Andre after his team succumbed to a late try in Cordoba last Saturday.
Pumas centre Felipe Contepomi kicked a first-half penalty and converted flanker Tomas de la Vega’s late consolation try two minutes after France replacement front-rower Christopher Tolofua was sin-binned. Contepomi played his last test as captain.
The French victory, their first in Argentina for 10 years, levelled the two-match series.
ARGENTINA: Tuculet, Barrea, Gosio, Contepomi, Montero, Urdapilleta, Cubelli, Guinazu, Bordoy, Gomez Kodela, Farias Cabello, Lozada, De La Vega, Leonardi, Senatore. Replacements: Postiglioni, Tetaz Chaparro, Guzman, Macome, Baez, Landajo, Ascarate.
FRANCE: Dulin, Fall, Fritz, Mermoz, Huget, Michalak, Machenaud, Debaty, Szarzewski, Attoub, Pape, Maestri, Lapandry, Ouedraogo, Picamoles. Replacements: Tolofua, Domingo, Samson, Lauret, Parra, Trinh-Duc, Fofana.
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
