Pumas shock France in World Cup opener

France 12 Argentina 17

World Cup hosts France face a fight to reach the tournament’s knockout stages after Argentina recorded a stunning 17-12 victory in tonight’s opening game.

Full-back Igancio Corleto scored a try and centre Felipe Contepomi kicked four penalties to leave Les Bleus shell-shocked.

France must now effectively beat Pool D rivals Ireland at Stade de France in two weeks’ time, or they are unlikely to progress.

Four David Skrela penalties proved insufficient to unsettle the Pumas, who can now march on in confident fashion as France were booed off.

Les Bleus suffered a nightmare opening 40 minutes as the Pumas swept clear through full-back Ignacio Corleto’s interception try and four Felipe Contepomi penalties.

The host nation had little to offer, relying on three David Skrela penalties for their points during a half dominated by Argentina.

France fly-half David Skrela launched the 20-team tournament into action, but his opposite number Hernandez replied confidently, rifling a 50-metre kick into touch deep inside the French half.

And it was the Pumas who drew first blood when centre Felipe Contepomi slotted a 35-metre penalty after the French forwards pulled down a maul.

The lead lasted just two minutes, with Skrela equalising from short range, yet Argentina looked far more confident with ball in hand and a second Contepomi penalty made it 6-3.

France, in contrast, were nervy and fractious, finding themselves starved of possession until a pulsating counter-attack almost produced a breathtaking try after Betsen’s crunching tackle on Contepomi.

A sweeping move had Argentina’s defence scampering to all parts as France fired a first warning signal at them.

The game was a fast and furious affair, and a French midfield blunder saw Argentina regain their initial attacking platform as home centre Damien Traille left the field with blood seeping from a head wound.

Frederic Michalak took his place to a rapturous reception, but Argentina continued pressing and France continued to find themselves hassled and harried in all phases.

Contepomi drifted a 21st-minute drop-goal attempt narrowly wide, yet France couldn’t get out of their own 22.

Had Argentina’s finishing matched their approach play, then the hosts would undoubtedly have found themselves comfortably adrift on the scoreboard.

Contepomi, though, then completed his penalty hat-trick for a 9-3 advantage, and worse was soon to follow for France.

Traille, back on the field instead of Michalak, burst clear in midfield and found flanker Remy Martin in support, but his pass was intercepted.

Wing Horacio Agulla found full-back Corleto sprinting up on his outside and he stormed clear for a spectacular try.

Contepomi’s conversion attempt struck the post, and although Skrela kicked his second penalty nine minutes before the break, France remained in deep strife.

Lock Rimas Alvarez-Kairelis replaced injured Argentina lock Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, and Contepomi’s fourth penalty – from a metre inside his own half – made it 17-6 before Skrela found the target again.

Laporte resisted any temptation to make changes during the interval, yet with Ireland also in their qualifying group, France could ill afford to fall flat at the first hurdle.

Les Bleus made a lively start to the second period, but errors still scarred their game until they resorted to a mighty forward drive that finally asked questions of Argentina’s defence.

The Pumas, though, were up to the challenge and some remarkable defensive work gained its reward when referee Spreadbury penalised France.

France were more threatening than they had been before the break, with a greater urgency to their performance, but Skrela allowed Argentina an astounding let-off when he missed a penalty from in front of the posts.

The Pumas could scarcely believe it, and France knew they had missed a golden opportunity to move within striking distance.

The final quarter was going to be about a survival of the fittest, and Skrela atoned for his earlier blunder by kicking an angled 59th minute penalty that made it 17-12.

Laporte made a double switch on 60 minutes, replacing Ibanez with Dimitri Szarzewski and sending on Sale Sharks powerhouse Sebastien Chabal instead of Pelous.

Argentina did not have similar power in reserve on the bench, and Michalak returned to the action when he took over from a limping Skrela.

Chabal’s arrival gave France much-needed momentum, yet Argentina almost struck another breakaway blow when Corleto scorched away, but his low inside pass failed to find Contepomi.

Like Chabal, Michalak offered a cool head as pressure grew on the home side, but Argentina had no intention of letting their lead slip.

Ahead since the fifth minute, Argentina should have seen their advantage reduced to two points, but Michalak failed to find the target with a 25-metre penalty.

The closing minutes were nerve-shredding from both teams’ perspective, but Argentina did just enough to spark scenes of wild celebration.