Autumn Nations Series | Argentina chargedown that shocked France

by Paul Eddison

France won all three of their fixtures in the 2021 Autumn Nations Series but they were given a scare by Argentina, thanks in large part to a Pablo Matera chargedown.

In what was the first match of what is currently a 10-game winning streak for Les Bleus, two early penalties from Melvyn Jaminet had given France a 6-0 lead.

But from a 22 dropout, Argentina struck out of nowhere, Matera alert to Matthieu Jalibert taking liberties as he ventured too close to the line and getting up high enough to charge down the attempted clearance. The back-rower was fastest to the ball and while he was stopped short of the line, Tomas Cubelli was on hand to scoop up and dive under the posts.

With the conversion, Argentina led 7-6 midway through the first half, with a third Jaminet penalty putting France back in front.

Emiliano Boffelli added three points for Los Pumas early in the second half, but tries from Thibaud Flament, on debut, and Peato Mauvaka, gave France a lead that they would not relinquish on the way to a 29-20 success at the Stade de France.