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| | Saturday, 15 June, 2002, 21:54 GMT 22:54 UK French rue Merceron miss Gonzalo Longo is held back by Aurelien Rougerie Argentina 28-27 France Argentina served notice of the danger awaiting England as they claimed a stunning victory over Six Nations champions France on Saturday. The Pumas held on in a thrilling finish in Buenos Aires to secure their first victory over the French in ten years. But the visitors might have crowned a stirriing late comeback but for a missed penalty by Gerald Merceron two minutes into injury time. The fly-half, top points scorer in this year's Six Nations and successful with all five attempts until that point, pulled his kick narrowly wide of the posts from 40 metres.
It would have been harsh on the Argentines, who restored some national pride after their football team's calamitous World Cup exit. A blitz of 19 unanswered points in a whirlwind spell in the second half had seen the Pumas transform a 13-9 deficit into a 28-13 lead. Tries from hooker Federico Mendez, wing Diego Albanese and an inspired Felipe Contepomi had a fanatical home crowd in raptures. But the French responded with scores from Nicolas Jeanjean and the impressive Tony Marsh, adding to Nicolas Brusque's earlier try, to narrow the gap to a point. It appeared the Pumas were about to have victory snatched from their grasp, in much the same fashion as New Zealand's last-ditch victory in Buenos Aires last November. But Merceron's penalty miss reprieved the home side and sparked wild celebrations in the Argentine capital.
The first half had been pedestrian by comparison, with Merceron cancelling out two penalties from Contepomi to leave the scores tied 6-6 at the interval. Replacement Gonzalo Quesada put Argentina back in front early in the second period with a well-struck drop goal. But France appeared to have taken the initiative when centres Damien Traille and Marsh combined to send Jeanjean over. The Pumas regained the lead however when Mendez barged his way over from five metres out, and Contepomi converted for a 16-13 lead. That quickly increased as new Leeds recruit Albanese showed a devastating turn of speed to outpace the French cover and score in the right corner. Dramatic finale Contepomi then intercepted a pass on the French 22 for a try he converted to put his side in command at 28-13. But the Six Nations champions were far from finished and from a turnover in Pumas territory, Olivier Magne and Marsh worked an opening for Brusque to score in the left corner. Marsh then continued his impressive scoring streak by finishing off another inspired attack, Merceron converting both to ensure a dramatic finale. But France were not quite able to pull victory out the fire as they succumbed to their first defeat in nine Test matches. They move on to face world champions Australia in Melbourne next Saturday, while an under-strength England are next on the Pumas' menu. | |
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