Can Argentina replicate 2007 World Cup upset to topple France again?
It’s been 12 years since Argentina turned the rugby world on its head to upset France 17-12 in their own backyard in the 2007 World Cup opener.
Heavily tipped to bag a victory in the opening match of their own World Cup, Les Bleus were trounced by the Pumas in a riveting display to dish the hosts their first-ever defeat in the pool stages.
It was a victory which catapulted Argentina’s status within World Rugby to that of a tier one side, as they went on to make a maiden semi-final appearance and beat France again to finish the tournament in third place.
The landmark result was the catalyst for Argentina’s ascent to the upper echelons of test rugby, and a second semi-final outing four years ago further enhanced their standing within the global game.
The @wallabies have set themselves the target of winning this year's @rugbyworldcup, but @fijirugby will have a big say about that in their opening clash in Sapporo on Saturday. #RWC2019 https://t.co/DiNnB28ihO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 20, 2019
Now, the Pumas have a chance to replicate that success on Saturday as they again meet France in their opening pool game of the 2019 World Cup in Tokyo.
A quick look through the odds placed on this match by various betting agencies suggests that France are favourites to claim victory this time round, as was the case in 2007, although by a significantly lesser margin.
Another look through the form book validates why Les Bleus are considered favourites, as a string of strong warm-up results – two big wins and a tight loss – has put Jacques Brunel’s side in good stead for Pool C, which is being dubbed as the ‘Pool of Death’.
Following Argentina, they will take on England, Tonga and the USA, and with only two quarter-final spots up for grabs, one of the three tier one sides in the group is going to miss out.
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That means the ramifications of this encounter will be massive, and so while they were upset at the Stade de France after being brandished as favourites 12 years ago, going into this clash with the perceived upper hand should be comforting for the French.
By comparison, Argentina haven’t won a test in over a year, with their last success on the international stage coming against the Wallabies on the Gold Coast on September 15 last year.
In fact, Mario Ledesma’s squad have claimed just seven scalps from 40 outings in the test arena since the last World Cup.
That alone makes them an outside chance to qualify out of Pool C ahead of England and France, but, as reflected by the team they have named for tomorrow’s match, they have anticipated the threat that Les Bleus pose on their knockout stage hopes.
13 of Argentina’s starting XV play for the Jaguares, who finished runners-up in this year’s Super Rugby.
The only two who don’t play for the franchise are flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez of Stade Francais and Montpellier prop Juan Figallo.
It means the forward pack consists of a variety of burly forwards, including star men Agustin Creevy, Guido Petti and Pablo Matera, while out wide, the back three trio of Ramiro Moyano, Matias Moroni and Emiliano Boffelli will be a handful for their opposites.
As for France, skipper Guilhem Guirado returns to the starting XV after being benched for his side’s 47-19 thrashing of Italy three weeks ago.
He’s accompanied by a raft of new names, but the additions of a new-look midfield consisting of Virimi Vakatawa and Gael Fickou, playing alongside each other in the No. 12 and No. 13 jerseys for the first time, is one of particular interest.
Both players are threatening in contrasting ways, but having that element of balance in the midfield should work well, especially when coming up against the defensively astute Jeronimo de la Fuente and Matias Orlando.
Veteran No. 8 Louis Picamoles will bring valuable experience from the bench, and the presence of Maxime Medard at fullback will help offset the inexperience on offer in the middle of the park.
All in all, Brunel has put together a formidable side capable of asking tough questions of whoever they come up against, and Argentina is no exception.
However, if the Pumas need any extra motivation to pull off what would be a minor upset in their vital first-up World Cup clash, the exploits of the playing group from 2007 shouldn’t too far from the minds of the current crop of players when they take the field at Ajinomoto Stadium.
Recent Form:
France:
W 47-19 vs Italy at Stade de France, Paris (30/8)
L 14-17 vs Scotland at Murrayfield, Edinburgh (24/8)
W 32-3 vs Scotland at Stade de France, Paris (17/8)
W 25-14 vs Italy at Stadio Olimpico, Rome (16/3)
L 14-26 vs Ireland at Aviva Stadium, Dublin (10/3)
Argentina:
L 18-24 vs South Africa at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (17/8)
L 13-46 vs South Africa at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta (10/8)
L 10-16 vs Argentina at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (27/7)
L 16-20 vs New Zealand at Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires (20/7)
L 9-14 vs Scotland at Murrayfield, Edinburgh (24/11/2018)
Last Five Head-To-Head Results:
France 28-13 Argentina at Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille (2018)
France 27-0 Argentina at Estadio Jose Ferrio, Tucuman (2016)
France 19-30 Argentina at Estadio Jose Ferrio, Tucuman (2016)
France 13-18 Argentina at Stade de France, Paris (2014)
France 39-22 Argentina at Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille (2012)
Playing Record:
France wins: 36
Argentina wins: 14
Draw(s): 1
France:
1. Jefferson Poirot, 2. Guilhem Guirado, 3. Rabah Slimani, 4. Arthur Iturria, 5. Sebastian Vahaamahina, 6. Wenceslas Lauret, 7. Charles Ollivon, 8. Gregory Alldritt, 9. Antoine Dupont, 10. Romain Ntamack, 11. Yoann Huget, 12. Virimi Vakatawa, 13. Gael Fickou, 14. Damian Penaud, 15. Maxime Medard.
Reserves: 16. Camille Chat, 17. Cyril Baille, 18. Demba Bamba, 19. Bernard Le Roux, 20. Louis Picamoles, 21. Maxime Machenaud, 22. Camille Lopez, 23. Thomas Ramos.
Argentina:
1. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2. Agustin Creevy, 3. Juan Figallo, 4. Guido Petti, 5. Tomas Lavanini, 6. Pablo Matera, 7. Marcos Kremer, 8. Javier Ortega Desio, 9. Tomas Cubelli, 10. Nicolas Sanchez, 11. Ramiro Moyano, 12. Jeronimo de la Fuente, 13. Matias Orlando, 14. Matias Moroni, 15. Emiliano Boffelli.
Reserves: 16. Julian Montoya, 17. Mayco Vivas, 18. Santiago Medrano, 19. Matias Alemanno, 20. Tomas Lezana, 21. Felipe Ezcurra, 22. Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23. Santiago Carreras.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
26 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments