Live Match Tracker:
France v Argentina
by Brendan Cole
FULL TIME: FRANCE 12 ARGENTINA 17
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80 mins+2 ALL OVER FRANCE ARE BEATEN!
80 mins Contepomi misses and France run it! They get to their own '22 after an obstruction call.
80 mins Match good as over - if it goes dead, Spreadbury may blow it up? If it goes over, no bonus points for France.
78 mins France have it, and run it out of their '22 - stalled again and lying flat and too far away from eachother, they're going nowhere. Penalty to Argentina! (Diving over the ball in the ruck).
Surely it's all over!
77 mins Contepomi misses France still in with a chance, but they've two minutes.
77 mins Check down the very bottom of this match tracker - it's interesting stuff...........!
76 mins Spinning run by Dominici down the touchline; but they spill it again and again come under pressure from a footrush/hack through.
Penalty Argentina - the game could be won here!
74 mins Hernandez kicks and chases from near his own '22. Another knock on by France. The failure to deal with ball in the air has really undermined their chances. Scrum on halfway and Argentina spin it wide - making it that nameless halfway between the '22 and 10 spot (French half) on the right hand side.
Contepomi drop attempt misses; three points would be nice for Argentina though......
73 mins Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde comes in, but it's three minutes too late. Ellisalde is a top kicker, and normally plays with Michalak. Serious cock up by French manager Bernard Laporte in not getting him on sooner.
72 mins 'Spreaders' is still shouting at the Argentines in broad West Country-ian. Learn Spanish Tony!
Argentina clear to between the French '22 and 10 metre line.
Reinforcements come in - some Argentine forwards switched.
70 mins Michalak lines it up - pressure is on.........
And he misses it. Badly. Yards wide.
69 mins Worst up and under yet; Michalak gets on it and knocks it down the field. France get a penalty for not releasing; Manuel Contepomi is injured, and he needs to lie down near where the kick would be taken from...........
67 mins France maul it, and Traille clears to their own 10 - no sign of any go forward though, and time is starting to become an issue for them.
65 mins Argentina maul but Chabal is in one man wrecking ball mode and turns it over with a brave rip; Michalak clears.
Up and under from the lineout again. France set it up and run, but are tackled on their own 10. Stalled again, until turnover ball and a nice kick by the hooker Ledesma (!) put them back in their own '22.
63 mins Bonorino, a prop, comes on for Scelzo. Argentina disrupt and break through! 60 yards in seconds and they are so close to another try but an attempted offload just fails to stick! Felipe Contepomi had the match in his fingertips but couldn't hang on; Corleto's offload wasn't great though.
62 mins Rougerie charges up the wing; France ten away. Argentine man goes down - clever? - but it's an Argentine lineout. Knock on Argentina is the call; little bit contentious?
61 mins Freddy (Michalak) is on; France get going by getting the shove on Argentina in the scrum. Turnover ball, and again they are on the Argentine '22 with ruck ball.
61 mins Messy lineout won by Argentina. Chip an go doesn't come off, but France knock on the turnover ball - Chabal's first charge ends with Szarzewski knocking on his offload effort.
Skrela is down injured - doesn't look great. Could be Michalak's moment?
59 mins France 12 Argentina 17
Skrela slots it as Chabal comes in. Could be a big moment. Dmitri Szarzewski also on. Martin and Ibanez off.
58 mins Advantage France - penalty given by Spreadbury for coming in from the side of the maul. Number 18, the lock Alvarez, has replaced the Fernandez Lobbe lock and gave it away.
57 mins It's a two score game; and time is running out. No urgency from France though; they are camped on the Argentine '22. A maul gets going though and makes five yards.
56 mins Play back in France's half. Heymans gathers and kicks; it trickles to just short of the Argentine line, but Hernandez clears as far as their own '22.
Sebastien Chabal is being lined up.
55 mins He's missed it! One your granny might get! Right in front but Skrela's 20 handicapper slice slews it to the right.
Unbelievable.
54 mins Advantage France; lying on the ball. Silly stuff from Argentina; obvious penalty - Ostiglia the culprit.
Skrela lines it up, as Traille gets more treatment on his bloody head.
53 mins The head bandaged Martin Contepomi missed the tackle on Rougerie; perhaps feeling the effects of the knock. Are Argentina beginning to crack?
Scrum France; big test for both eights.
52 mins Rougherie runs back another poor Garryowen, Heymans caught one!, makes 50 metres: brilliant stuff from France and they set up camp in the Argentine '22.
50 mins La Marseillaise rings out, the crowd try to get their men going, but it ends abruptly as Heymans messes up again. Drops le ballon, another up and under, but manages to clear. Another drop goal attempt fouled up by Hernandez from the lineout. Dominici clears well; into the Argentine half.
49 mins Argentina get on the ball, but again the lineout is poor. Midfield fumble gives France a sniff, but Leguizamon gathers and puts in some nice handoffs for good measure. Nicely tidied up.
Penalty Argentina after a hand in the ruck by France.
Martin Contepomi comes back on.
48 mins Martin Contepomi bleeding, and forced off for a few minutes. Sencillosa - an amateur player believe it or not - comes on. Hernandez kicks the penalty down to the Argentine 10 metre line.
46 mins Another drive, but Argentina still hold firm; France shift it out to Jauzion, who offloads, but there is no momentum - turnover Argentina - huge moment - penalty for not releasing.
Phenomenal defense against the odds!
44 mins France lineout and maul - big yards they're two yards out! Crowd going mental but the maul is taken down! Fringe drive time, but Argentina hold firm!
43 mins Skrela kicks - momentum not happening - but there isn't much to it. Borges collects and marks. Hernandez kicks from his pass but it's poor - French crowd give him the bird.
43 mins Fringe driving from France. Huge hit by Hernandez on Harinorduquy when they shift it inside! Shuddering stuff.
42 mins France run it and, at last, look fluent down the wing. They move it to the far side but again Martin's poor passing lets him down. Argentina knock it on this time. The 'wing to wing' game is starting to happen for France......
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41 mins Hernandez kicks off; France collect on their own '22. Traille clears to halfway. No sign of any changes.
21.02pm Players back on the pitch.
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HALF TIME: FRANCE 9 ARGENTINA 17
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40 mins France 9 Argentina 17
Skrela lines it up; this time from near the Argentine 10 metre line. Knocks it over, and that's the half.
38 mins Laporte looks bothered; France drive it to the 10. The fringe thing is all that's working. Another pen though; diving over the ruck to get at the scrum-half, which ain't allowed.
37 mins France gather and maul - not surprising as their backs have been brutal - stopped on halfway, Hernandez tackles them back all on his own. Penalty France though: hands in the ruck again.
37 mins Hernandez kicks another clever one; this time into the corner. Argentina penalised for a technical infringement before the lineout. French lineout back on their own 10 metre line.
36 mins Martin claims the Argentine lineout - the third time it's happened - and France kick it to near the 10. Play continues despite and Argetine player being injured.
35 mins Contepomi charges Heymans kick down! Heymans gathers again and tries to run it but he swallowed up five yards from his line! Skrela clears to the French '22
33 mins France 6 Argentina 17
Contepomi sticks it over from a yard inside his half; it must be years since they've scored this fluently in a big game.........
32 mins Another Hernandez up and under; again fairly poor (getting tedious? a little). Another penalty, this time for hands in the ruck by Martin.
31 mins Skrela clears the kick-off to halfway.
30 mins France 6 Argentina 14
It's easy: inside the '22 and straight. Skrela kicks it over.
30 mins France get a penalty: 'hands off' shouts ref Tony before blowing the whistle.
29 mins France claim the kick off; can't get anything going around their own 10 though: fringe drives, but they spread it and a line break by Skrela gets them going forward and into the '22; it's side to side from there though.
29 mins Corleto was forced wide, and Contepomi hits the post. One of the easier kicks he's had........
28 mins France 3 Argentina 14
What a try! Remy Martin intercepted - what a silly pass - no offside from the up and under and with France all ahead of the ball, Corleto runs it in after taking a nice feed!
26 mins Pelous nickes the lineout; up and under Skrela; Pichot catches well - beating his team mate Borges - Hernandez sticks it up
25 mins Argentine player down: it's, injured after putting in a brave tackle on Traille.
Doesn't look too good.....but he gets up and will play on.
24 mins Argentina catch the kickoff, Hernandez clears but Harinordoquy catches and feeds Heymans - bit of rugby/tennis kicking until Ostiglia crashes it up to halfway.
Another up and under; not great, claimed by Jauzion after a bounce. France again spread, but again it's poor. Skrela forced to kick and it's poor - low hook.
23 mins France 3 Argentina 9 Corleto metres away from the line as Argentina spin it wide; sidesteps one man but desperate tackling stops him five short. Jauzion tackle stops the momentum.
Penalty Argentina again though, and Felipe Contepomi sticks it over, again from the touchlines.
19 mins Another knock on after big French tackling gives them the scrum on their own '22. 'Spreaders' gets on Roncero's back, as the French scrum again looks strong. Skrela clears, nearly blocked! But play is brought to half way.
18mins Pelous claims from two. France tighten it up and maul to near their own '22. Skrela dummies to kick but fumbles! Turnover again, dashing dart by F Contempomi when they shift it left. French midfield defence holding up well though.........
16 mins Great kick by Hernandez: lineout inside the French 5 metre line. Damien Traille becomes the first player to get an RWC war wound; bleeding head forces a blood sub, and it's Freddy Michalak who comes in, to a massive cheer.
Skrela moves to centre?
15 mins Might be better for Ireland if France win, but it's hard not to admire the Argentine effort: They turn it over again and run it to the '22. Leguizamon crashes it up.
13 mins French scrum again dominant: Roncero forced to pop up. Pichot with a cheeky intercept between the French eight and nine at the scrum turns it over again! Great start to the game; Argentina run it and get play to halfway but French take possession after a fumble by Argentina.
Scrum France on the Argentine 10 metre line.
12 mins It's all Argentina; inventive kicking by Hernandez, and he runs back the return - but gets hammered. Play brought back for an earlier knock on; French scrum again looks stronger, but Argentina set it up and start to drive the fringes.
Back moves stalled in the middle; big Betsen tackle puts them on the back foot. Betsen turns it over and France start to run it back - great handling, they're almost at the Argentine line: ends with multiple knock ons - first one by Argentina. Mignoni dropped with line gaping!
Scrum inside the Argentina '22: what a turnaround!
12 mins France 3 Argentina 6
Contepomi doesn't like the ball; maybe it's a bit flat. 'Spreaders' tells him to kick it as it's the match ball, tough kick from wide on the right, but he sticks it over all the same.
France are rattled.
10 mins France run it from their own '22; enterprising stuff, but Argentina turn it over and run it to within five of the French line. Another penalty; great reverse slip by Contepomi had the French under massive pressure.
7 mins France 3 Argentina 3
Scrum straight away from the kick off; France dominate, and win a penalty. Easy kick for Skrela and he knocks it over.
5 mins France 0 Argentina 3
A friend who shall remain nameless reckoned the 6/4 about a French penalty being the first score looked the best bet of the night: Contepomi nails it though; first blood to Argentina.
3 mins France clear from their own sticks again; Argentine lineout; which they win. Another drop by Hernandez, but this time Skrela blocks, and France start to work the short side.
Penalty for holding on; not releasing. Argentina elect to kick and with Federico Todeschini on the bench, Felipe Contepomi will take.
2 mins Brillliant tap tackle on Heymans by Pichot after a kick through by the Argentine nine. Play right to the French line, but they clear for an Argentine lineout.
Drop goal effort by Hernandez after they win the ball
1 min Away we go; Skrela kicks off, Argentina catch it on their '22, Hernandez belts it way down the pitch. French crowd giving it the 'Allez Les Bleus' treatment already.
8.06pm Ref jerseys are a rather distracting orange.
8.05pm Argentina's is a rather dainty number: emotional for them, tedious for us. La Marseillaise follows; what a tune; should be the first great moment of RWC 2007.....
It's been better; spoiled by the poor singing of the French players, but still a good moment.
8pm Scheduled kick off passes, but nobody seems to mind. Sid's speech is short and sweet; 'bon chance': Anthem time.
7.57pm Players on the way out; epic music and slow mo shots (expect 'creative' French TV directors to spoil rather a lot of this World Cup; these are the guys who missed Dancing Brave's (I think) winning Arc run), speeches first: Syd Millar is clearing his throat.............
7.55pm Tony 'Spreaders' Spreadbury is the ref; and he'll be using the same whistle as at all previous World Cups since 1987. Hygienic? Course it is.
7.50pm A brief excursion down as far as Kiely's earlier this evening (for research purposes only!) revealed that the people of Donnybrook can fairly be said to have more money than sense: authentic Ireland jerseys everywhere. Atmosphere was good, if a little manic. I'm glad I'm here doing the text commentary though. Honest.
Also spotted was a Paddy Wallace doppelganger getting off the 46A at Donnybrook church. It couldn't have been the real thing could it? It should be at least three weeks before the subs start getting sick of hanging around and head for home........
7.44pm RWC 2007 is almost upon us but for the moment it's a case of "Let The Nonsense Begin!!!"; yes, that's right, it's an opening ceremony.
Drummers, biggest scrum between loads of the otherwise unemployable dancers ever etc. etc. etc. blah blah blah Shouldn't be long until the match gets started though..............
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France bench: D Szarzewski, J-B Poux, S Chabal, J Bonnaire, T Dusautoir, J-B Elissalde, F Michalak.
Who, Where, When? France play Argentina at 8pm (Irish time) on Friday night at the Stade de France.
What's at stake? This is the first of the decisive games in Ireland's Pool (D). Basically, the winner will be in a position to top the pool if they can beat Ireland, while the best the loser can hope for is a second place finish - and most likely a quarter final against the All Blacks - for doing the same.
Match preview: France face Argentina in the first of four decisive clashes in Pool D. On the face of it, les bleus go into the match with a far greater head of steam then their opponents after an impressive pre-RWC series.
But how do you assess their home and away hammering of Brian Ashton's England? In thrashing England, France arguably did nothing more than join an 'I whipped England' club started by Ireland in the Six Nations and likely to sign up quite a few new members before RWC 2007 is over. The 'periodisation' factor is also interesting. Ireland, for example, will in theory not peak until the end of the month; France have been humming for weeks in anticipation of this clash. Could it be that they have peaked to soon?
Argentina, on the other hand, looked limited in their match against Wales; losing to a side experiencing plenty difficulties of their own. In their favour is the fact that they themselves know they are limited, and they plan accordingly. They have never been the type of side to blow teams away in the manner New Zealand or other big guns routinely do.
But when it comes to an all or nothing battle, the type of game which often becomes a strangling match, there is no worse side for a potentially nervous French outfit to face. Arguably their brand of basic rugby - albeit with a touch of class here and there - is more suited to the World Cup tournament situation than anyone else's: unsurprising given their history, and the fact that their only major tournament outlet is this one.
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Brent's Expert View: "The French will try to crash the centres and set up quick second phase ball, and then try to move it outside to the loose forwards.e French will try to crash the centres and set up quick second phase ball, and then try to move it outside to the loose forwards."
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Looking at the team selections, France appear to have gone for a 'long range' back row - one that can get from wing to wing and, in theory, force the Argentinian defence to spread wide across the pitch - along with their most muscular back three and centre pair. It seems a selection designed to make hay out wide, where Bernard Laporte must sense Argentina are weakest. The other potential effect of a 'wing to wing' attack is that the Argentine tight five may struggle to impact on the game; by moving them around, Laporte could nullify their tight ripping, grasping and driving prowess.
Argentina's counter move is fascinating. By bringing Juan Martin Hernandez to out-half they make their best back into an attacking pivot, rather than a strike runner. Perhaps even more importantly, they also make him into a potential defensive trump card. He will also play opposite David Skrela, his rival for the number 10 jersey at Stade Francais next year, adding an interesting psychological angle to the lineup.
The battle between the two scrum-halves will also be engrossing. For Argentina, Agustin Pichot is an unorthodox player, certainly he has a somewhat unique passing method, but even so he is possibly the best nine in the competition possessing vision, running ability, inspiration and most of all the ability to dictate the pace and shape of a game, as well as the knack of managing the tight five driving.
For France, Pierre Mignoni is a more classical, somewhat quieter kind of player. Efficient, with good vision in terms of placing the ball out in front of his backs but unlikely to exert the same influence as his opposite number. He and Skrela would appear to lack the potential pizazz and flair of the Argentines.
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Argentina bench: AV Basualdo, S Gonzalez Bonorino, R Alvarez, M Durand, N Fernandez Miranda, F Todeschini, H Senillosa.
The Felipe Contepomi factor could also prove decisive. As Leinster supporters know, 'The Doctor' can blow very hot or very cold. It may be, however, that playing at twelve, with the classy Hernandez inside him at ten, will enable him to be seen at his best.
Ultimately, it may come down to which team can control the ball. In doing so either side could potentially dictate the structure of the match. The temptation is to say that Argentina, with a stronger tight five, are best positioned to set the tone, especially when it comes to the scrum. France, on the other hand, have in Harinordoquy's aerial ability at the back an ideal launch pad for the type of wide channel attacking game they may attempt to play and could have the advantage in that phase, although Raphael Ibanez's one handed 'shot put' style throw is sometimes suspect over long distances.
In conclusion, France have the better form coming into the match but, as Ireland are only too aware after hitting the heights against England and Italy at the end of the Six Nations, Champagne rugby can go very flat very fast. What's the best result for Ireland? Probably a French win; the Argentina match will be a desperate struggle either way, but if France get into a backs to the wall situation, the match against them becomes a whole lot tougher. The Rugby World Cup isn't famous for shocks, but Argentina have the stronger front row and back row, better half backs and can strangle France at source.
The Pumas to shade it, and in doing so blow Pool D wide open.
France v Argentina is at 8pm on Friday night: www.rte.ie/sport will provide a live match tracker, player ratings and comprehensive analysis of the game.
