Argentina upset hosts France in opener
Argentina's fans celebrated a famous win
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Friday, 07, Sep 2007 10:01
Argentina stunned hosts France to win 17-12 in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup at the Stade De France.
In a bruising battle, the Pumas produced a stunning first-half display to lead 17-9 at the break with a try from Ignacio Corleto while Felipe Contepomi kicked four penalties.
David Skrela kicked four penalties for Les Bleus but they were guilty of missing a host of penalties and could not break down the Argentine defence in the second half.
Argentina exploded into action in the first-half with the impressive Contepomi kicking over three penalties in the opening 24 minutes.
The Pumas, coached by the Leicester-bound Marcelo Loffreda, threatened a major upset with a try on 27 minutes.
Remy Martin passed the ball straight to Argentine wing Lucas Borges who fed Corleto with the full-back sprinting past the French defence to touch down.
Contepomi's coversion went in off the post to give the South Americans a shock 14-3 lead.
Contepomi kicked another penalty to increase the Pumas lead before two Skrela penalties kept Les Bleus in the game at the break.
Bernard Laporte's side vastly improved in the second period but were denied by the Puma's rock-solid defence.
Skrela kicked over a penalty on 59 minutes to reduce the deficit to five points with man-mountain Sebastien Chabal coming on for skipper Fabien Pelous.
Frederic Michalak joined Sale forward Chabal on the field minutes later as the Six Nations champions threw everything at the Argentines.
Argentina wasted the chance to increase their lead on 64 minutes when Contepomi dropped full-half Corleto's pass after a sweeping move.
Michalak scuffed a penalty wide in the closing stages as the Pumas hung on for a famous victory.