IRB RWC - Bronze Final - 2007 - Match Review

France 10  v Argentina 34

19 October 2007 - 21:00, Parc des Princes, Paris

Wow, it was less of the Ooh La La and much more of the Olé!, Olé!,Olé!, Olé!, Olé!............

France and Argentina walked out at the Parc des Princes for their last game at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, winners of this match would be crowned RWC Bronze medallists'.  After their performance's in the Semi Finals they would no doubt  have had to lift themselves and both teams did this with pride.

What a fantastic game of rugby to watch if you were a neutral of course.  From the kick off, the Pumas did to France what they had done six weeks earlier in the very first opening match but this time even better.

This game had it all, what excitement.  The French, getting very rattled and out came their handbags on a few occasions helped along by a couple of Argentineans.  Having said that the rugby was intense also.  The Pumas used a similar game plan picking to their opening match in the tournament, picking, driving, place kicking superb although penalties were exchanged early on in the first half, it was really all about Argentina.

I would have expected the French to do their homework a bit better but it seems they always fail the paper against the Pumas and that the Pumas know just exactly how to win against France.  At the closing minutes of the first half Argentina's Rimas Álvarez Kairelis receives a yellow card. and also France's Raphaël Ibanez receives a yellow card.  First half 3-17

Argentinas Ignacio Corleto scores his sides fourth try of the game - Empics

The second half the Pumas ran riot and had a carnival of a time both at the Parc des Princes and I am sure in Buenos Aires, they scored some fantastic tries especially in the closing 20,mins.   The French just could not live with them in the end, they looked a tired and demoralised team, even Chabal coming on to a roar from the home crowd could not impact on the game.

Well done Argentina very worthy winners. Final Score France 10 v Argentina 34

The final word must go to Captain Agustin Pichot, who will be missed by many fans in Europe.

 ”I couldn't think of a better way to end than this,'' 

”I think it's the end of a great period, a great time playing with the Argentine jersey. I'll probably play one more time (with the Pumas) in Argentina to say goodbye but this is surely my last game in Europe.

”I've been part of great, special group that will always be remembered as the Argentine 2007 rugby team.''

France (3) 10
Try: Poitrenaud
Con: Beauxis
Pen: Ellisalde

Arentina (17) 34
Try: F Contepomi (2), Hasan Jalil, Aramburu, Corleto
Con: F Contepomi (3)
Pen: F Contepomi

Yellow Card: R Ibanez (Fra), R Alvarez Kairelis (Arg), JM Leguizamon (Arg)

France: C Poitrenaud; A Rougerie, D Skrela, D Traille, C Dominici; F Michalak, J-B Elissalde, J-B Poux, R Ibanez (capt), P de Villiers, L Nallet, J Thion, Y Nyanga, T Dusautoir, I Harinordoquy.  Replacements: S Bruno, N Mas, S Chabal, R Martin, P Mignoni, L Beauxis, V Clerc.

Argentina: I Corleto; FM Aramburu, G Tiesi, F Contepomi, H Agulla; JM Hernandez, A Pichot; R Roncero, A Vernet Basualdo, O Hasan, R Alvarez Kairelis, P Albacete, M Durand, JM Fernandez Lobbe, G Longo Elia.  Replacements: M Ayerza, E Guinazu, E Lozada, JM Leguizamon, N Fernandez Miranda, F Todeschini, H Senillosa.

Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)

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