France notch Test victory over Pumas

France 15 Argentina 9

France picked up only their third victory in 10 matches against the Pumas since the turn of the millennium in a defence-dominated Test in Montpellier.

Scrum-half Morgan Parra opened the scoring with a penalty in the 11th minute after Pumas counterpart Nicolas Vergallo threw a punch in a ruck – but an offside from Parra helped fly-half Felipe Contepomi square things up six minutes later.

Parra converted another penalty in the 26th minute and increased the lead to 9-3 five minutes later after Argentina had been penalised for an infringement at a ruck.

Contepomi’s 46th-minute penalty reduced the arrears but fly-half Damien Traille made it 12-6 with a 49th-minute drop goal.

Parra booted his fourth penalty just before the hour mark after Argentina collapsed a scrum but Contepomi did likewise two minutes later after debutant winger Yoann Huget failed to release the ball.