France v Argentina: Four drop-goals for Pumas as they upset hosts at Stade de France

Argentina kicked four drop-goals and produced some stout defence to complete an 18-13 victory over France at the Stade de France in Paris.

Pumas fly-half Nicolas Sanchez kicked three drop-goals and also kicked two penalties, while Juan Martin Hernandez slotted the other drop-goal in a tactical victory for the visitors.

Wesley Fofana scored the only try of the game just before the hour mark, but it was not enough for France who got two penalties from Camille Lopez and Rory Kockott.

The Toulon fly-half’s kicks led to the Pumas leading 18-3 early in the second half, before the hosts, who failed to display the same intensity that had seen them comfortably beat Fiji and edge Australia earlier this month, hit back with Fofana’s try in the 57th minute.

Les Bleus cut the gap to 18-13 in the 64th minute and almost pulled off a late comeback but Scott Spedding's try in the last play of the game was overruled by touch judge Steve Walsh as the player was deemed to have been held up.

The win is Argentina's second this autumn after they beat Italy 20-18 last week after previously falling 41-31 to Scotland.

Response

France could have tied the game in the 12th minute but Lopez missed with his own penalty attempt and five minutes later Sanchez's drop goal doubled Argentina's lead.

The visitors were forced to make a substitution shortly after with Marcelo Bosch sustaining a shoulder injury. He was replaced by Gonzalez Iglesias.

In the 26th minute, Les Bleus were penalised for offside and Sanchez made no mistake to extend his team's lead.

Argentina then hit France with two consecutive drop goals - the first from Juan Martin Hernandez and the next by Sanchez to go 15-0 up.

Camille Lopez kicked the hosts' first points of the game after Argentina were penalised for pulling down a maul.

Second half

But the Pumas picked up where they left off after the re-start and in the 45th minute, Sanchez missed a penalty for the first time to give the French hope.

Two minutes later, a third drop goal by Sanchez - and fourth overall for the Pumas - extended Argentina's lead to 18-3. The French reacted and got a try in the 57th minute.

Fofana bulldozed his way over after hitting substitute Rory Kockott's pop pass at pace. Lopez kicked the resulting conversion to make it 18-10.

The French continued to press forward and a Kockott penalty closed the gap to 18-13 with 16 minutes remaining before, roared by the fans, Les Bleus made a last-ditch effort to get a try.

The crowd and the players believed they had won the game when Spedding went over but their claims were waved away without the use of the Television Match Official and Argentina were left celebrating a huge victory.