2012 France rugby union tour of Argentina

2012 France rugby union tour of Argentina
Coach(es)	Philippe Saint-André
Tour captain(s)	Pascal Papé
Top point scorer(s)	Frédéric Michalak (38)
Top try scorer(s)	Yoann Huget (2) Geoffrey Doumayrou (2)
Top test point scorer(s)	Frédéric Michalak (19)
Top test try scorer(s)	Yoann Huget (2)
Summary	P W D L
Total	3 2 0 1
Test match	2 1 0 1
Opponent	P W D L
Argentina	1 1 0 1
Tour chronology
Previous tour	South Africa & Argentina 2010
Next tour	New Zealand 2013

In June 2012, France toured Argentina to play two Tests against the Pumas. The French tour was one in a series of tours by northern teams to be hosted by southern hemisphere nations.

The previous French tour of Argentina took place in 2010 as part of a global Two Test tour of South Africa and Argentina, where France lost to both nations. France's last winning tour of Argentina dated back to 1998 when the touring side claimed victory in both Tests. Since then France had an overall losing record against Argentina with 5 wins (4 at home and 1 in Ireland in the 1999 Rugby World Cup) and 7 losses (3 at home including two in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and 4 in Argentina).

No mid-week fixture had been planned for this tour, however most of the French squad, styled for the occasion as the "XV du Président", played a warm-up fixture against a team hand-picked by Serge Betsen, a former France international, for his jubilee.^[1]

The series was drawn 1-1, Argentina winning the first test and France the second.^[2]

Argentina and France's next encounter took place on 17 November 2012 on French soil as part of the 2012 end of year tests. France claimed another victory (39-22) against their old foes.

Background

Argentina experienced a strong start in the 2011 Rugby World Cup with a rather successful pool stage, finishing runners-up to England with three wins (over Georgia, Romania and Scotland) and a narrow loss to England (9-13). However the Pumas were unable to capitalise on it when they met future World Champions the All Blacks in the quarter-finals, losing 33-10.

France, on the other hand, experienced a rather slow start in the competition with two wins (over Japan and Canada) and two losses (to New Zealand and Tonga), finishing runners-up to New Zealand on the virtue of a greater tally of bonus points than Tonga (who also finished with two wins and two losses). However France produced a stronger showing in the knock-out stages, beating England in the quarter-finals (19-12), Wales in the semi-finals (9-8) and losing with the narrowest of margins to New Zealand in the final (8-7).

Due to the World Cup neither team played any Test in the 2011 end of year tests. On 2 January 2012 France was ranked 3rd in the IRB World Rankings while Argentina stood in the 7th place.

France experienced a disappointing 2012 Six Nations Championship with two wins (over Italy and Scotland), two losses (to England and Wales) and a draw (with Ireland), finishing 4th overall.

As a result on 2 April France had dropped to the 6th place in the IRB Rankings while Argentina remained on the 7th spot.

As part of Italy's Summer Tour of Americas and prior to the arrival of the French team, Argentina played a Test against Italy on Saturday 9 June in San Juan. Argentina won the game 37-22.^[3]

Before the first test between France and Argentina they remained respectively on the 6th and 7th spot in the IRB Rankings.

Warm-up fixture

Serge Betsen's XV FB 15 Pepito Elhorga RW 14 Dave Vainqueur OC 13 Romain Cabannes IC 12 Damien Traille LW 11 Jean-Baptiste Gobelet FH 10 Andrew Mehrtens SH 9 Byron Kelleher N8 8 Chris Masoe OF 7 Jean Monribot BF 6 Serge Betsen (c) RL 5 Gambo Adamou LL 4 Kirill Kulemin TP 3 Tim Payne HK 2 Benoît August LP 1 Benoît Lecouls Replacements: HK 16 Benjamin Noirot PR 17 Jérémy Castex PR 18 Fabien Barcella LK 19 Bernard N'Nomo FL 20 Oscar Limani UB 21 Benjamin Dambielle UB 22 Paul Warwick UB 23 Julien Laharrague WG 24 Marvin O'Connor Coach: David Ellis

XV du Président FB 15 Brice Dulin RW 14 Yoann Huget OC 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou IC 12 Maxime Mermoz LW 11 Benjamin Fall FH 10 Frédéric Michalak SH 9 Maxime Machenaud N8 8 Raphaël Lakafia OF 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo BF 6 Wenceslas Lauret RL 5 Romain Taofifenua LL 4 Pascal Papé (c) TP 3 David Attoub HK 2 Dimitri Szarzewski LP 1 Yvan Watremez Replacements: HK 16 Arnaud Héguy PR 17 Antoine Guillamon PR 18 Yannick Forestier LK 19 Alexandre Flanquart N8 20 Damien Chouly SH 21 Florian Cazenave FH 22 François Trinh-Duc CE 23 Henry Chavancy WG 24 Romain Martial Coach: Philippe Saint-André

• 6 players from the XV du Président (all among the replacements) were not originally included in the French squad that toured Argentina. Arnaud Héguy, Yannick Forestier, Alexandre Flanquart, Damien Chouly, Florian Cazenave and Henry Chavancy respectively replaced Christopher Tolofua, Vincent Debaty, Yoann Maestri and Christophe Samson, Louis Picamoles, Morgan Parra and Wesley Fofana and Florian Fritz, on club duty for the Top 14 playoffs. (Jean-Marcellin Buttin was also on club duty but no additional player was called to replace him as Brice Dulin filled the full-back position.)

Test Matches

First Test

16 June 2012 18:10 ART (UTC-03)

Argentina	23–20 (13–14)	France
Try: Agulla 4' c Montero 76' c Con: Contepomi (2/2) 5', 77' Pen: Contepomi (3/6) 24', 39', 56'	Report	Try: Picamoles 26' m Con: Parra (0/1) Pen: Parra (4/5) 3', 10', 22', 43' Trinh-Duc (1/1) 52'

Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba Attendance: 20,000 [4] Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Argentina FB 15 Román Miralles  40' RW 14 Belisario Agulla OC 13 Joaquín Tuculet IC 12 Felipe Contepomi (c) LW 11 Manuel Montero FH 10 Ignacio Mieres SH 9 Martín Landajo  48' N8 8 Tomás Leonardi 51' to 61' OF 7 Tomás de la Vega BF 6 Julio Farías Cabello RL 5 Esteban Lozada  56' LL 4 Benjamín Macome  65' TP 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro  56' HK 2 Bruno Postiglioni  56' LP 1 Eusebio Guiñazú Replacements: HK 16 Andrés Bordoy  56' PR 17 Pablo Henn  56' LK 18 Rodrigo Bruno  65' LK 19 Rodrigo Báez  56' SH 20 Tomás Cubelli  48' FB 21 Benjamín Urdapilleta  40' WG 22 Facundo Barrea Coach: Santiago Phelan

France FB 15 Brice Dulin RW 14 Jean-Marcellin Buttin OC 13 Wesley Fofana IC 12 Florian Fritz  78' LW 11 Yoann Huget FH 10 François Trinh-Duc  58' SH 9 Morgan Parra N8 8 Louis Picamoles  66' OF 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo BF 6 Wenceslas Lauret RL 5 Yoann Maestri  74' LL 4 Pascal Papé (c) TP 3 David Attoub HK 2 Dimitri Szarzewski  66' LP 1 Yvan Watremez  40' Replacements: HK 16 Christopher Tolofua  66' PR 17 Vincent Debaty  40' LK 18 Romain Taofifenua  74' FL 19 Alexandre Lapandry  66' SH 20 Maxime Machenaud FH 21 Frédéric Michalak  58' CE 22 Maxime Mermoz  78' Coach: Philippe Saint-André

• Brice Dulin, Romain Taofifenua, Christopher Tolofua and Yvan Watremez made their full international debuts for France in this match.
• Rodrigo Baez made his full international debut for Argentina in this match.
• With this match Argentina extended their winning streak at home against France to 5 games and 10 years and overcame them in the IRB Rankings (swapping their 7th place with France's 6th).

Second Test

23 June 2012 18:10 ART (UTC-03)

Argentina	10–49 (3–30)	France
Try: Vega 74' c Con: Contepomi 1/1 74' Pen: Contepomi 1/1 25'		Try: Fall 11' c Huget (2) 33' c, 62' m Machenaud 39' c Mermoz 55' c Lapandry Con: Michalak 5/6 12', 33', 40', 56', 68' Pen: Michalak 3/3 17', 27', 30'

Estadio José Fierro, Tucumán Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Argentina FB 15 Joaquín Tuculet  40' RW 14 Facundo Barrea OC 13 Agustín Gosio IC 12 Felipe Contepomi (c) LW 11 Manuel Montero FH 10 Benjamín Urdapilleta SH 9 Tomás Cubelli N8 8 Leonardo Senatore  58' OF 7 Tomás Leonardi BF 6 Tomás de la Vega RL 5 Esteban Lozada LL 4 Julio Farías Cabello  27' TP 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela HK 2 Andrés Bordoy  55' LP 1 Eusebio Guiñazú Replacements: PR 16 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro HK 17 Bruno Postiglioni  55' LK 18 Santiago Guzmán LK 19 Benjamin Macome  27' FL 20 Rodrigo Báez  58' SH 21 Martín Landajo CE 22 Gabriel Ascarate  40' Coach: Santiago Phelan

France FB 15 Brice Dulin RW 14 Benjamin Fall  58' OC 13 Florian Fritz IC 12 Maxime Mermoz LW 11 Yoann Huget FH 10 Frédéric Michalak  69' SH 9 Maxime Machenaud  69' N8 8 Louis Picamoles  64' OF 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo BF 6 Alexandre Lapandry  79' RL 5 Pascal Papé (c) LL 4 Yoann Maestri  47' TP 3 David Attoub  47' HK 2 Dimitri Szarzewski  56'  79' LP 1 Vincent Debaty Replacements: HK 16 Christopher Tolofua  56' 72' to 80' PR 17 Thomas Domingo  47' LK 18 Christophe Samson  47' FL 19 Wenceslas Lauret  64' SH 20 Morgan Parra  69' FH 21 François Trinh-Duc  69' CE 22 Wesley Fofana  58' Coach: Philippe Saint-André

• Facundo Barrea made his full international debut for Argentina in this match.
• Maxime Machenaud and Christophe Samson made their full international debuts for France in this match.
• France won the Series, tied 1-1, on points difference (69-33).
• With this victory France ended a 14-year timespan without a win against the Pumas on Argentinian soil, the previous victorious Test dating back to 28 June 1998, and once again overcame Argentina in the IRB Rankings.

Touring squad

Philippe Saint-André announced his 28-man France squad for the June tour to Argentina. Several key faces were rested, including captain Thierry Dusautoir.^[5]

• Caps updated before the June tour. Ages are as of the first Test on 16 June.

Head Coach: Philippe Saint-André

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of Birth (Age) Caps Club/province Dimitri Szarzewski Hooker (1983-01-26)26 January 1983 (aged 29) 61 Stade Français Christopher Tolofua Hooker (1993-12-31)31 December 1993 (aged 18) 0 Toulouse David Attoub Prop (1981-06-07)7 June 1981 (aged 31) 2 Stade Français Vincent Debaty Prop (1981-10-02)2 October 1981 (aged 30) 6 Clermont Thomas Domingo* Prop (1985-08-20)20 August 1985 (aged 26) 17 Clermont Antoine Guillamon Prop (1991-06-04)4 June 1991 (aged 21) 0** Lyon Yvan Watremez* Prop (1989-04-21)21 April 1989 (aged 23) 0 Biarritz Yoann Maestri Lock (1988-01-14)14 January 1988 (aged 24) 5 Toulouse Pascal Papé (c) Lock (1980-10-05)5 October 1980 (aged 31) 40 Stade Français Christophe Samson Lock (1984-03-01)1 March 1984 (aged 28) 0 Toulon Romain Taofifenua Lock (1990-09-14)14 September 1990 (aged 21) 0 Perpignan Alexandre Lapandry Flanker (1989-04-13)13 April 1989 (aged 23) 6 Clermont Wenceslas Lauret Flanker (1989-03-28)28 March 1989 (aged 23) 1 Biarritz Fulgence Ouedraogo Flanker (1986-07-21)21 July 1986 (aged 25) 25 Montpellier Raphaël Lakafia Number 8 (1988-10-28)28 October 1988 (aged 23) 3 Biarritz Louis Picamoles Number 8 (1986-02-05)5 February 1986 (aged 26) 26 Toulouse Maxime Machenaud Scrum-half (1988-12-30)30 December 1988 (aged 23) 0 Agen Morgan Parra Scrum-half (1988-11-15)15 November 1988 (aged 23) 41 Clermont Frédéric Michalak Fly-half (1982-10-16)16 October 1982 (aged 29) 54 Sharks François Trinh-Duc Fly-half (1986-11-11)11 November 1986 (aged 25) 40 Montpellier Geoffrey Doumayrou Centre (1989-09-16)16 September 1989 (aged 22) 0** Montpellier Wesley Fofana Centre (1988-01-20)20 January 1988 (aged 24) 5 Clermont Florian Fritz Centre (1984-01-17)17 January 1984 (aged 28) 20 Toulouse Maxime Mermoz Centre (1986-07-28)28 July 1986 (aged 25) 17 Perpignan Benjamin Fall Wing (1989-03-03)3 March 1989 (aged 23) 2 Racing Métro Yoann Huget Wing (1987-06-02)2 June 1987 (aged 25) 7 Bayonne Romain Martial Wing (1984-11-13)13 November 1984 (aged 27) 0** Castres Jean-Marcellin Buttin Fullback (1991-12-16)16 December 1991 (aged 20) 1 Clermont Brice Dulin Fullback (1990-04-23)23 April 1990 (aged 22) 0 Agen Note*: After he sustained an injury in the First Test, Yvan Watremez was replaced in the squad by Thomas Domingo. (Philippe Saint-André originally planned to call up Castres prop Yannick Forestier but the latter was touring Japan with the French Barbarians and no satisfactory travel arrangement could be made, hence prompting the return of Domingo in the French squad after he sustained an important injury prior to the 2011 Rugby World Cup which prevented him from taking part in the competition and playing the major part of the 2011-2012 season with his club.)[6] Note**: Although they took part in the warm-up fixture, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Antoine Guillamon and Romain Martial failed to appear in any of the Tests, thus remaining uncapped at the end of the Tour. Coaching and Management Team Position Name Nationality Head Coach Philippe Saint-André  France Forwards Coach Yannick Bru  France Backs & Defence Coach Patrice Lagisquet  France Home squad Argentina's 29-man squad named for the 2012 June Tests against Italy and France. Coach Santiago Phelan decided not to select any player involved in the Top 14 playoffs, reserving his best squad for the upcoming 2012 Rugby Championship.[7] Esteban Lozada was a late addition to the squad after his recovery from injury.[8] Head Coach: Santiago Phelan Caps updated before tour. Ages are as of the first Test on 16 June. Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby. Player Position Date of Birth (Age) Caps Club/province Andrés Bordoy Hooker (1982-12-30)30 December 1982 (aged 29) 3 Pau Eusebio Guiñazú Hooker (1982-01-15)15 January 1982 (aged 30) 8 Biarritz Francisco Gómez Kodela Prop (1985-07-03)3 July 1985 (aged 26) 3 Biarritz Pablo Henn Prop (1982-07-15)15 July 1982 (aged 29) 2 Brive Bruno Postiglioni Prop (1987-04-08)8 April 1987 (aged 25) 0 La Plata Rodrigo Roncero Prop (1977-02-16)16 February 1977 (aged 35) 44 Stade Français Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro Prop (1989-06-11)11 June 1989 (aged 23) 3 Stade Français Rodrigo Bruno Lock (1987-05-15)15 May 1987 (aged 25) 2 Villa Maria Santiago Guzmán Lock (1989-01-11)11 January 1989 (aged 23) 5 Tucumán Esteban Lozada Lock (1982-01-08)8 January 1982 (aged 30) 17 Edinburgh Benjamin Macome Lock (1986-01-10)10 January 1986 (aged 26) 3 Tucumán Rodrigo Báez Flanker (1989-02-08)8 February 1989 (aged 23) 0 Liceo Tomás de la Vega Flanker (1990-09-28)28 September 1990 (aged 21) 3 CUBA Julio Farías Cabello Flanker (1978-09-19)19 September 1978 (aged 33) 8 Tucumán Genaro Fessia Flanker (1981-07-22)22 July 1981 (aged 30) 11 Córdoba Tomás Cristian Leonardi Number 8 (1987-07-01)1 July 1987 (aged 24) 6 SIC Leonardo Senatore Number 8 (1984-05-13)13 May 1984 (aged 28) 3 Toulon Tomás Cubelli Scrum-half (1989-06-12)12 June 1989 (aged 23) 0 Belgrano Martín Landajo Scrum-half (1988-06-14)14 June 1988 (aged 24) 6 CASI Felipe Contepomi (c) Fly-half (1977-08-20)20 August 1977 (aged 34) 65 Stade Français Ignacio Mieres Fly-half (1987-04-06)6 April 1987 (aged 25) 0 Exeter Chiefs Gabriel Ascarate Centre (1987-08-20)20 August 1987 (aged 24) 3 Natación Matias Orlando Centre (1991-11-14)14 November 1991 (aged 20) 0* Huirapuca Benjamín Urdapilleta Centre (1986-03-11)11 March 1986 (aged 26) 2 Harlequins Belisario Agulla Wing (1988-05-23)23 May 1988 (aged 24) 5 Agen Facundo Barrea Wing (1989-03-10)10 March 1989 (aged 23) 0 Córdoba Agustín Gosio Wing (1983-03-17)17 March 1983 (aged 29) 2 London Scottish Manuel Montero Wing (1991-11-20)20 November 1991 (aged 20) 0 Pucara Roman Miralles Fullback (1983-08-01)1 August 1983 (aged 28) 4 Duendes Joaquín Tuculet Fullback (1989-08-01)1 August 1989 (aged 22) 0 Sale Sharks Note*: Matias Orlando failed to appear in any of the Tests against both Italy and France, thus remaining uncapped at the end of the Tour. Coaching and Management Team Position Name Nationality Head Coach Santiago Phelan  Argentina Assistant Coach Fabián Turnes  Argentina Backs Coach Martín Gaitán  Argentina Forwards and Scrum Coach Mauricio Reggiardo  Argentina Aftermath On 25 June 2012 (after all mid-year Tests had been played) France stood at the 5th place (their best ranking since March 2012) in the IRB Rankings (thanks to their second test comprehensive victory over the Pumas and Wales' loss to Australia in their third test) while Argentina had dropped to the 8th spot (their worst ranking since March 2012). From August to October 2012, Argentina competed in the inaugural Rugby Championship (the new incarnation of the Tri Nations Series) with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, finishing bottom of the table with a draw (at home against the Springboks) and five losses. On 8 October 2012 France and Argentina remained respectively at the 5th and 8th places of the IRB World ranking. As part of the 2012 end of year tests the Pumas toured Wales, France and Ireland, playing one Test against each union.[9] They beat the Welsh but lost to the two other unions while France recorded three straight wins (against Australia, Argentina and Samoa). At the end of their Tests France had climbed to the IRB rankings 4th place, their best ranking since February 2012, while Argentina had dropped to the 9th place, their worst ranking since September 2011. However following the fourth week of Tests (of which Argentina and France were not part) Argentina climbed back to the 8th place thanks to Wales' defeat by Australia over the weekend. As a result on December 3 for the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool Draw France was drawn in Pot 1 while Argentina was drawn in Pot 2 and they ended up in Pool D and C respectively, meaning they will not meet before the Quarter Finals. From February to March 2013, France competed in the Six Nations Championship (the 14th series following this format) with England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and Wales, finishing bottom of the table with one win (at home against Scotland), a draw (in Ireland) and three losses (at home to Wales, in England and Italy). On 18 March 2013 France has dropped to the 6th place in the IRB rankings while Argentina remained on the 8th place. As part of the 2013 mid-year tests, France will tour New Zealand in a Three-Test Series[10] while Argentina will host England in a Two-Test Series and Georgia for a one-off Test. See also 2012 mid-year rugby test series References ↑ Betsen : Offrir ce que j'ai reçu rugbyrama.fr ↑ "Pumas close off June with Les Bleus le response!". www.sanzarrugby.com. Retrieved 29 January 2013.  ↑ Pumas humble Italy planetrugby.com ↑ http://www.infobae.com/notas/653843-Los-Pumas-vencieron-en-forma-agonica-a-Francia-en-Cordoba.html ↑ "France call up Michalak". Planet Rugby. 31 May 2012.  ↑ "Watremez forfait, Domingo appelé". Rugbyrama. 17 June 2012.  ↑ "Argentina name squad for June tests". Planet Rugby. 25 May 2012.  ↑ "Argentina ring the changes". Planet Rugby. 13 June 2012.  ↑ "Calendario de Los Pumas en 2012" (PDF) (in Spanish). Unión Argentina de Rugby. Retrieved 2012-04-06.  ↑ "Bleus: Prochaine tournée d'été en Nouvelle-Zélande". Rugbyrama. 24 June 2012.  France rugby union tours Argentina 1949 1954 1960 1974 1977 1985 1986 1988 1992 1996 1998 2002 2003 2010 2012 2016 Australia 1961 1968 1972 1981 1986 1990 1997 2002 2005 2008 2009 2014 New Zealand 1961 1968 1979 1984 1986 1989 1994 1999 2001 2003 2007 2009 2013 South Africa 1958 1964 1967 1971 1975 1980 1993 2001 2005 2006 2010 Europe Romania 2006 North America Canada 1978 USA 1991 Canada 1994 USA & Canada 2004 South Pacific Fiji 1979 Fiji 1998 Samoa & Tonga 1999 Asia Hong Kong & Japan 1978 Other nations Chile 1954 Brazil 1974 Brazil & Uruguay 1985 Paraguay 1988 Rugby union tours of Argentina British Lions 1910 1927 1936 New Zealand 1976 1985 1991 2001 2006 Australia 1979 1987 1997 2002 South Africa 1932 (Junior Springboks) 1959 (Junior Springboks) 1966 (Gazelles) 1972 (Gazelles) 1993 1996 2000 2004 2005 England 1981 1990 1997 2002 2013 2017 France 1949 1954 1960 1974 1977 1985 1986 1988 1992 1996 1998 2002 2003 2012 Ireland 1952 1970 2000 2007 Italy 1989 2001 2005 2007 2008 Romania 1973 Scotland 1969 1994 2008 Wales 1968 1999 2004 2006 Asia and Oceanian team 1980 1993 2003 2005 2005 Other team 1948 (Oxford-Cambridge) 1956 (Oxford-Cambridge) 1965 (Oxford-Cambridge) 1965 (Section Paloise) 1971 (Oxford-Cambridge) 1994 (New Zealand Development)