History of rugby union matches between Argentina and France

Last updated

France's national rugby union team first played Argentina in 1949 when they undertook a two-test tour of the latter country. France won both matches. [1] Argentina did not manage a win over France until their 16th meeting in 1985, under the captaincy of Hugo Porta. [1]

Contents

France has been Argentina's most frequent Test match opponent. France played a significant role in the early development of Argentine rugby in which the two countries played each other 13 times between 1949 and 1977. In total, the two countries have met 51 times, with France winning 36 games, Argentina 14 and one game is drawn.

The teams have played each other three times at Rugby World Cup tournaments: In 1999 France won a quarter-final, and in 2007 Argentina beat France 17–12 in the tournament-opening pool game and again 34–10 in the playoff for third and fourth place after Argentina had lost to tournament winners South Africa in the semi-final. Even though Argentina had shown strong form in the year leading up to the tournament (winning 10 of 13 Test matches plus a one-point loss to France), the opening-game win was regarded as an upset by the media. [2] [3]

Though about two-thirds of the games have been played on Argentina's ground, France has won more than two-thirds of them. France won the only match the two have played on neutral ground.

The biggest difference in points was achieved by France during the second game of their 2012 tour to Argentina, winning 49–10.

Since 2000, the series has been especially closely fought, though Argentina has had the upper hand. In the 19 matches played in that time frame, the Pumas are 10–9, but nine of the matches were decided by a converted try (7 points) or less.

When the IRB introduced their world team rankings system in 2003, Argentina was ranked seventh and France fifth. [4] Since then the ranking changed frequently and the two teams' order was reversed many times like in March 2009, when Argentina climbed to fourth place and France fell to seventh. [5] Most recently, following Argentina's win in the first of their two-Test series in June 2012, the two teams switched places in the rankings with the Pumas in sixth and France in seventh but after their second game a week later, which saw France won by 39 points, France climbed back to the 5th place and Argentina drop to eighth.

Summary

Overview

DetailsPlayedWon by
Argentina
Won by
France
DrawnArgentina pointsFrance points
In Argentina329221465780
In France195140326435
Neutral venue20204968
Overall53143818381,285

Records

Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.

RecordArgentinaFrance
Longest winning streak4 (15 June 2002 – 25 November 2006)12 (28 August 1949 – 2 July 1977)
Largest points for
Home41 (26 June 2010)39 (17 November 2012)
Away34 (19 October 2007)49 (23 June 2012)
Largest winning margin
Home28 (26 June 2010)23 (19 October 1975)
Away24 (19 October 2007)39 (23 June 2012)

Results

No.DateVenueScoreWinnerCompetition
128 August 1949 Estadio GEBA, Buenos Aires 0–5Flag of France.svg  France 1949 France tour of Argentina
24 September 1949Estadio GEBA, Buenos Aires3–12Flag of France.svg  France
329 August 1954Estadio GEBA, Buenos Aires8–22Flag of France.svg  France 1954 France tour of Argentina and Chile
412 September 1954Estadio GEBA, Buenos Aires3–30Flag of France.svg  France
523 July 1960Estadio GEBA, Buenos Aires3–37Flag of France.svg  France 1960 France tour of Argentina and Uruguay
66 August 1960Estadio GEBA, Buenos Aires3–12Flag of France.svg  France
717 August 1960Estadio GEBA, Buenos Aires6–29Flag of France.svg  France
820 June 1974 Estadio Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires15–20Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1974 France tour of Brazil and Argentina
929 June 1974Estadio Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires27–31Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
1019 October 1975 Stade de Gerland, Lyon 29–6Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1975 Argentina tour of France
1125 October 1975 Parc des Princes, Paris 36–21Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
1225 June 1977Estadio Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires3–26Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1977 France tour of Argentina
132 July 1977Estadio Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires18–18draw
1414 November 1982 Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 25–12Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1982 Argentina tour of France and Spain
1520 November 1982Parc des Princes, Paris13–6Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
1622 June 1985Estadio Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires24–16Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 1985 France tour of South America
1729 June 1985Estadio Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires15–23Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
1831 May 1986 Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires15–13Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 1986 France tour of Argentina and Oceania
197 June 1986Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires9–22Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
2018 June 1988Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires15–18Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1988 France tour of South America
2125 June 1988Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires18–6Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
225 November 1988 Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes 29–9Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1988 Argentina tour of France
2311 November 1988 Stadium Lille-Metropole, Lille 28–18Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
244 July 1992Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires12–27Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1992 France tour of Argentina
2511 July 1992Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires9–33Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
2614 November 1992Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes20–24Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 1992 Argentina tour of Europe
2721 October 1995Estadio Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires12–47Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1995 Latin Cup  [ es; fr; it ]
2822 June 1996Estadio Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires27–34Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1996 France tour of Argentina
2929 June 1996Estadio Ferro Carril Oeste, Buenos Aires15–34Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
3026 October 1997 Stade Maurice Trélut, Tarbes 32–27Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1997 Latin Cup  [ es; fr; it ]
3113 June 1998Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires18–35Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1998 France tour of Argentina and Fiji
3220 June 1998Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires12–37Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
3314 November 1998Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes34–14Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1998 Argentina tour of Japan and Europe
3424 October 1999 Lansdowne Road, Dublin (Ireland)26–47Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 1999 Rugby World Cup
3515 June 2002Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires28–27Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2002 France tour of Argentina and Australia
3614 June 2003Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires10–6Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2003 France tour of Argentina and New Zealand
3720 June 2003Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires33–32Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
3820 November 2004 Stade Vélodrome, Marseille 14–24Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2004 Autumn International
3925 November 2006 Stade de France, Saint-Denis 27–26Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 2006 Autumn International
407 September 2007Stade de France, Saint-Denis12–17Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2007 Rugby World Cup (PS)
4119 October 2007Parc des Princes, Paris10–34Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2007 Rugby World Cup (3rd)
428 November 2008Stade Vélodrome, Marseille12–6Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 2008 Autumn International
4326 June 2010José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires41–13Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2010 Summer International
4420 November 2010 Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier 15–9Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 2010 Autumn International
4516 June 2012 Estadio Mario Kempes, Córdoba 23–20Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2012 France tour of Argentina
4623 June 2012 Estadio Monumental José Fierro, Tucumán 10–49Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
4717 November 2012 Grand Stade Lille Métropole, Lille39–22Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 2012 Autumn International
4822 November 2014Stade de France, Saint-Denis13–18Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2014 Autumn International
4919 June 2016Estadio Monumental José Fierro, Tucumán30–19Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 2016 France tour of Argentina
5025 June 2016Estadio Monumental José Fierro, Tucumán0–27Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
5117 November 2018Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille28–13Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 2018 Autumn International
5221 September 2019 Tokyo Stadium, Chōfu (Japan)23–21Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France 2019 Rugby World Cup
535 November 2021Stade de France, Saint-Denis29–20Flag of France.svg  France 2021 Autumn International
546 July 2024TBD 2024 France tour of Argentina
5513 July 2024TBD

List of series

PlayedWon by
Argentina
Won by
France
Drawn
171115
YearArgentinaFranceSeries winner
Flag of Argentina.svg 1949 02Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of Argentina.svg 1954 02Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of Argentina.svg 1960 03Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of Argentina.svg 1974 02Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Flag of France.svg 1975 02Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Flag of Argentina.svg 1977 01Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France [lower-alpha 1]
Flag of France.svg 1982 02Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Flag of Argentina.svg 1985 11 draw
Flag of Argentina.svg 1986 11 draw
Flag of Argentina.svg 1988 11 draw
Flag of France.svg 1988 02Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Flag of Argentina.svg 1992 02Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Flag of Argentina.svg 1996 02Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Flag of Argentina.svg 2002 01Flag of France (lighter variant).svg  France
Flag of Argentina.svg 2003 20Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Flag of Argentina.svg 2012 11 draw
Flag of Argentina.svg 2016 11 draw
Flag of Argentina.svg 2024 To be determined

Notes

  1. France won the series 1–0, the second test resulting in a draw.

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References

  1. 1 2 Pick and go Rugby Test match database - select Los Pumas vs Les Bleus
  2. "Argentina upset France up front". IRB. 2007-09-08. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  3. "Argentine upset of France kicks off rugby World Cup". 2007-09-08. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  4. 2003 IRB rankings table Archived 2010-11-05 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "IRB rankings table for 3 March 2009". Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2009.