Yachvili's kicking was consistent against the Pumas

Les Bleus, who had lost their previous four games against the Pumas, scored three tries including two from speedy winger Christophe Dominici.

Kicks by scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili contributed a further 12 points.

Argentina rallied bravely from 27-9 down with two second-half tries through number eight Gonzalo Longo and full-back Juan Martin Hernandez.

Two penalties by fly-half Federico Todeschini and two more as well as two conversions from Felipe Contepomi, who took over at number 10, completed the Pumas' scoring.

"We played a good match for an hour and were hoping to beat them soundly but in those last 20 minutes, we nearly died from anguish", admitted France manager Jo Maso.

France, who went into the game after back-to-back defeats by the All Blacks, will play Argentina at the same venue in the opening match of the 2007 World Cup next September.

France: Pepito Elhorga; Cedric Heymans, Florian Fritz, Yannick Jauzion, Christophe Dominici; Damien Traille, Dimitri Yachvili; Olivier Milloud, Raphael Ibanez (capt), Pieter de Villiers; Lionel Nallet, Pascal Pape; Julien Bonnaire, Remy Martin, Elvis Vermeulen.
Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Sylvain Marconnet, Loic Jacquet, Serge Betsen, Pierre Mignoni, David Marty, Aurelien Rougerie.