Autumn Internationals: France v Argentina, Today, Marseilles, 3.0, TV5: Six Nations champions France have a national record of nine games without defeat in their sights when they host Argentina in Marseille today.
Bernard Laporte's side is riding high after their 27-14 win over Australia which led Wallabies coach Eddie Jones to say they were "pretty close to being the best team in the world".
They also know, however, they are going to face a true test against a Pumas team who have always been one of their most awkward opponents.
"We lost our last three games against Argentina in Buenos Aires, enough is enough," said coach Bernard Laporte. "This time we are playing at home and a win over Argentina is of paramount importance because we want to prove to the world that we don't play yo-yo any more and have found continuity in results."
At the end of the 2001/'02 season France travelled to Buenos Aires after winning seven games in a row. They lost by one point. Argentina also defeated France 10-6 and 33-32 in June 2003, the Pumas' first series victory over France, during their preparation for the World Cup in Australia.
The Pumas, however, can not believe history will repeat itself.
"The French are not concerned they've gone three matches without beating us. They know those matches were played in Buenos Aires and that things will be different", said scrumhalf and captain Agustin Pichot. Pichot plays club rugby with Stade Francais and will be among the 11 France-based Pumas in the Argentine team at the Stade Velodrome.
So will Pau lock Patricio Albacete who played in the first Test of the June 2003 series. "To play against France is already like a classic, both teams know each other well and also, most of us are playing in French rugby," he said. "The French are really confident and they've also got the incentive of never having lost in Marseille."
Argentina have made a late change to their bench with Eusebio Guinazu replacing prop Daniel Rodriguez, who suffered a recurrence of a calf injury.
FRANCE: N Brusque; A Rougerie, T Marsh, Y Jauzion, C Heymans; F Michalak, J-B Elissalde; O Milloud, W Servat, S Marconnet, J Thion, F Pelous, S Betsen, O Magne, I Harinordoquy. Replacements: S Bruno, N Mas, P Pape, J Bonnaire, J Peyrelongue, C Poitrenaud, J Marlu.
ARGENTINA: J M Hernandez; L Borges, F Aramburu, M Contepomi, H Senillosa; F Contepomi, A Pichot (capt); R Roncero, M Ledesma, O Hasan, P Albacete, R Alvarez, M Durand, L Ostiglia, G Longo. Replacements: F Mendez, E guinazu, P Bouza, M Schusterman, N Fernandez Miranda, J de la Cruz Fernandez, G Tiesi.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa).
