Pumas clinch thrilling win

Argentina 33 France 32

Gonzalo Quesada’s injury-time drop goal gave Argentina a narrow 33-32 victory over France in the second and final Test of the series in Buenos Aires.

The Pumas fly-half scored 20 points with five penalties, a conversion and the drop to win the man-of-the-match award.

Argentina opened the scoring in the second minute when Juan Manuel Hernandez crossed for a try which Quesada converted and the number 10 added a penalty four minutes later to give the Pumas a 10-0 lead.

France pulled back with two penalties from Yann Delaigue but in the 11th minute Jose Orenco scored a second try for Argentina for a 15-6 lead.

Argentina were 21-12 ahead at half-time after skipper Lisandro Arbizu dropped a goal and Quesada added a penalty after two penalties from Frederic Michalak had closed the gap.

Martin Scelzo was sin-binned for an offence in a ruck and the Argentinians were reduced to 14 men.

Making the most of the man advantage, France opened the second half on the attack and Yannick Jauzion crossed for a try in the first minute which Michalak converted to make the score 21-19.

Michalak’s penalty in the 56th minute put France ahead for the first time but Quesada put Argentina ahead again three minutes later and another penalty made it 27-22 for the Pumas on the hour mark.

Pepito Elhorga scored a try under the posts with 10 minutes left, converted by Michalak, to give France a 29-27 lead.

In the closing minutes Quesada’s penalty put Argentina 30-29 ahead, Michalak hit back with a penalty for France to go ahead 32-30.

Then came Quesada’s winning drop deep into injury time to give Argentina the win and a first series victory against France.