Argentina heartbreak after Camille Lopez’s drop goal rescues France
• Argentina rally from 20-3 down at half-time to lead
• Emiliano Boffelli narrowly misses late penalty for Pumas
France are on course for a group showdown with England in Yokohama next month after hanging on to win despite being in total control. A routine victory at half-time when Argentina had shown little appetite for the fight turned into a tense finale and ended with players scrapping on the ground when the Pumas felt they were denied an eminently kickable penalty in stoppage time.
It was typical France, sublime in the opening period when their off-loading, support play, footwork and ability to exploit Argentina’s narrow defence brought them two tries and should have earned them at least two more. They led 20-3 at the break, but a team that has lacked self-belief all decade, as they showed at the start of the Six Nations when they blew a 16-point interval lead against Wales in Paris, collapsed alarmingly before Camille Lopez came off the bench to drop the winning goal with 11 minutes to go.