This epic battle began with a spine-tingling near acapella rendition of the French national anthem, under the spectacular light show at the Stade de France.
After a fiercely contested start, the intervention of the Television Match Official (TMO) marked the first major action of the game. Referee Luke Pearce issued a yellow card to Los Pumas captain Julián Montoya for dangerous play at the breakdown.
With Argentina down to 14 players, France seized the initiative. A well-executed line-out move on the Argentine 5-metre line saw Thibaud Flament, the towering French second-row, crash over from close range. Thomas Ramos converted, taking the score to 7-0 after 10 minutes.
However, Los Pumas responded quickly. They pieced together a series of fluid attacking phases and were eventually rewarded with an easy shot at goal. Tomás Albornoz capitalised on the opportunity, narrowing the gap to four points.
Argentina immediately infringed at the breakdown, presenting Ramos with a chance to extend the lead from 34 metres out. His laser-guided accuracy, so instrumental in France’s victory over the All Blacks, made it 10-3.
Back to a full complement of players, Argentina’s attack began to find rhythm. A French infringement at the breakdown gave Albornoz another straightforward penalty opportunity. The successful kick reduced the deficit to 10-6.
Argentina prop Joel Sclavi succumbed to the French might at scrum time, conceding a penalty that handed Ramos another shot at goal from 50 metres out. He struck it as if it were on a string; the flags went up, and the French lead grew to seven points (13-6) with 23 minutes gone.
Another French infringement at the breakdown gave Albornoz a shot at goal from 40 metres out. Like Ramos, he slotted the penalty, closing Argentina’s deficit to just four points.
In the 32nd minute, the French forwards went to work. After countless phases hammering at the Argentine defence, France shifted the ball out wide. It found Gabin Villière, whose short carry saw him crash over the line for France's second try. Ramos successfully converted, extending the lead to 20-9.
A minute later, a French chip kick through the middle saw Ramos deftly drop the ball onto his foot, allowing French flyer Louis Bielle-Biarrey to chase it. Under pressure from the pursuing Frenchman, Juan Martín González slapped the ball into touch to prevent the try. Referee Pearce immediately blew his whistle twice, and after a brief consultation with the TMO, a penalty try was awarded, along with a yellow card for González. This took the score to 27-9.
The final action of the first half saw Argentina penalised for a late tackle. Ramos once again stepped up, this time from 40 metres out, to take the score to 30-9.
A quieter second half in terms of point-scoring was brought to life in the 55th minute by Argentine prop Thomas Gallo, who burrowed over from a few metres out. Albornoz added the conversion, taking the score to 30-16.
France immediately hit back. A charged-down box kick from Charles Ollivon, followed by some quick handling from the French side, saw the ball land in danger man Bielle-Biarrey’s hands. He dropped the ball onto his foot and set off in pursuit, outpacing the Argentine defence to dot the ball down for Les Bleus' first points of the second half. Ramos’s successful conversion extended the score to 37-16.
Los Pumas had the last word of the match in the 70th minute. After a period of sustained attacking pressure. Ignacio Ruiz powered over from a metre out under the posts, and Albornoz converted with his easiest kick of the night.
Argentina had once again closed the gap to France, bringing the score to 37–23, but it wouldn’t be enough to overturn a strong French team at the Stade de France.
