Pumas crash to France defeat

ARGENTINA will arrive in Dublin on the back of an error-strewn 15-9 defeat to France in Montpellier.

Morgan Parra kicked four penalties and fly-half Damien Traille added a drop goal in a stuttering performance by the Six Nations Grand Slam champions a week after a convincing victory against Fiji.

Felipe Contepomi kicked all the points for Argentina who were dominated by the home side throughout the match, although they did threaten an upset in the closing stages.

FRANCE: A Palisson, Y Huget, A Rougerie, Y Jauzion, M Andreu, D Traille, M Parra, T Domingo, W Servat, N Mas, J Pierre, L Nallet, T Dusautoir, J Bonnaire, S Chabal.

Replacements: J Porical for Rougerie (78), F Estebanez for Traille (77), D Yachvili for Parra (77), J Thion for Domingo (55), G Guirado for Servat (65), L Ducalcon for Pierre (55), I Harinordoquy for Chabal (61).

ARGENTINA: M Rodriguez, G Camacho, G Tiesi, S Fernandez, L Amorosino, F Contepomi, N Vergallo, R Roncero, M Ledesma, M Scelzo, M Galarza, P Albacete, G Fessia, M de Achaval, JM Fernandez Lobbe.

Replacements: M Bosch for Fernandez (66), A Creevy for Ledesma (63), M Ayerza for Scelzo (49), A Galindo for Fessia (66), J Carballo for de Achaval (41).

Referee: J Kaplan (South Africa).