2012 France rugby union tour of Argentina

Philippe Saint-André Pascal Papé Frédéric Michalak (38) Yoann Huget (2)Geoffrey Doumayrou (2) Frédéric Michalak (19) Yoann Huget (2) 3 2 0 1 2 1 0 1 ARG 1 1 0 1 South Africa & Argentina 2010 New Zealand 2013 In June 2012, France toured Argentina to play two Tests against the Pumas. The French tour was one in a series of tours by northern teams to be hosted by southern hemisphere nations. The previous French tour of Argentina took place in 2010 as part of a global Two Test tour of South Africa and Argentina, where France lost to both nations. France's last winning tour of Argentina dated back to 1998 when the touring side claimed victory in both Tests. Since then France had an overall losing record against Argentina with 5 wins (4 at home and 1 in Ireland in the 1999 Rugby World Cup) and 7 losses (3 at home including two in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and 4 in Argentina). No mid-week fixture had been planned for this tour, however most of the French squad, styled for the occasion as the "XV du Président", played a warm-up fixture against a team hand-picked by Serge Betsen, a former France international, for his jubilee.Betsen : Offrir ce que j'ai reçu rugbyrama.fr The series was drawn 1-1, Argentina winning the first test and France the second.Pumas close off June with Les Bleus le response! http://www.sanzarrugby.com/therugbychampionship/news/pumas-close-off-june-with-les-bleus-le-response/ www.sanzarrugby.com 29 January 2013 Argentina and France's next encounter took place on 17 November 2012 on French soil as part of the 2012 end of year tests. France claimed another victory (39-22) against their old foes. Background Argentina experienced a strong start in the 2011 Rugby World Cup with a rather successful pool stage, finishing runners-up to England with three wins (over Georgia, Romania and Scotland) and a narrow loss to England (9-13). However, the Pumas were unable to capitalise on it when they met future World Champions the All Blacks in the quarter-finals, losing 33-10. France, on the other hand, experienced a rather slow start in the competition with two wins (over Japan and Canada) and two losses (to New Zealand and Tonga), finishing runners-up to New Zealand on the virtue of a greater tally of bonus points than Tonga (who also finished with two wins and two losses). However, France produced a stronger showing in the knock-out stages, beating England in the quarter-finals (19-12), Wales in the semi-finals (9-8) and losing with the narrowest of margins to New Zealand in the final (8-7). Due to the World Cup neither team played any Test in the 2011 end of year tests. On 2 January 2012 France was ranked 3rd in the IRB World Rankings while Argentina stood in the 7th place. France experienced a disappointing 2012 Six Nations Championship with two wins (over Italy and Scotland), two losses (to England and Wales) and a draw (with Ireland), finishing 4th overall. As a result on 2 April France had dropped to the 6th place in the IRB Rankings while Argentina remained on the 7th spot. As part of Italy's Summer Tour of Americas and prior to the arrival of the French team, Argentina played a Test against Italy on Saturday 9 June in San Juan. Argentina won the game 37-22.Pumas humble Italy https://web.archive.org/web/20120613181011/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_7804092,00.html 2012-06-13 planetrugby.com Before the first test between France and Argentina they remained respectively on the 6th and 7th spot in the IRB Rankings. Warm-up fixture 6 June 2012 20:15 CET (UTC+2) Serge Betsen's XV 14 - 54 Reporthttp://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/les-bleus-se-baladent_sto3302393/story.shtml Les "Bleus" se baladent 6 June 2012 rugbyrama.fr 14 September 2017 XV du Président TrailleMehrtens Mehrtens (2) HugetLauretDoumayrou (2)MichalakLakafiaOuedraogoHéguy Michalak (7) Parc des sports d'Aguilera, Biarritz TBC (France) Serge Betsen's XV FB 15FRA Pepito ElhorgaRW 14FRA Dave VainqueurOC 13FRA Romain CabannesIC 12FRA Damien TrailleLW 11FRA Jean-Baptiste GobeletFH 10NZL Andrew MehrtensSH 9 NZL Byron KelleherN8 8 NZL Chris MasoeOF 7 FRA Jean MonribotBF 6 FRA Serge Betsen (c)RL 5 CMR Gambo AdamouLL 4 RUS Kirill KuleminTP 3 ENG Tim Payne HK 2 FRA Benoît August LP 1 FRA Benoît LecoulsReplacements:HK 16FRA Benjamin NoirotPR 17FRA Jérémy CastexPR 18FRA Fabien BarcellaLK 19CMR Bernard N'NomoFL 20RSA Oscar LimaniUB 21FRA Benjamin DambielleUB 22AUS Paul WarwickUB 23FRA Julien LaharragueWG 24FRA Marvin O'ConnorCoach:ENG David EllisXV du Président FB 15Brice DulinRW 14Yoann HugetOC 13Geoffrey DoumayrouIC 12Maxime MermozLW 11Benjamin FallFH 10Frédéric MichalakSH 9 Maxime MachenaudN8 8 Raphaël LakafiaOF 7 Fulgence OuedraogoBF 6 Wenceslas LauretRL 5 Romain TaofifenuaLL 4 Pascal Papé (c)TP 3 David AttoubHK 2 Dimitri SzarzewskiLP 1 Yvan WatremezReplacements:HK 16Arnaud HéguyPR 17Antoine GuillamonPR 18Yannick ForestierLK 19Alexandre FlanquartN8 20Damien ChoulySH 21Florian CazenaveFH 22François Trinh-DucCE 23Henry ChavancyWG 24Romain MartialCoach:FRA Philippe Saint-André Touch judges: FRA TBC FRA TBC Television match official: TBC 6 players from the XV du Président (all among the replacements) were not originally included in the French squad that toured Argentina. Arnaud Héguy, Yannick Forestier, Alexandre Flanquart, Damien Chouly, Florian Cazenave and Henry Chavancy respectively replaced Christopher Tolofua, Vincent Debaty, Yoann Maestri and Christophe Samson, Louis Picamoles, Morgan Parra and Wesley Fofana and Florian Fritz, on club duty for the Top 14 playoffs. (Jean-Marcellin Buttin was also on club duty but no additional player was called to replace him as Brice Dulin filled the full-back position.) Test Matches First Test 16 June 2012 18:10 ART (UTC-03) ARG 23–20 Reporthttp://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9817_7820701,00.html Planet Rugby | Rugby Union Tournaments | International Friendlies | F… https://archive.today/20130131123537/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9817_7820701,00.html 31 January 2013 dead FRA Agulla 4' cMontero 76' c Contepomi (2/2) 5', 77' Contepomi (3/6) 24', 39', 56' Picamoles 26' m Parra (0/1) Parra (4/5) 3', 10', 22', 43' Trinh-Duc (1/1) 52' Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba 20,000 http://www.infobae.com/notas/653843-Los-Pumas-vencieron-en-forma-agonica-a-Francia-en-Cordoba.html Los Pumas vencieron en forma agónica a Francia en Córdoba – Infobae.com 2012-06-20 2012-06-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20120619192328/http://www.infobae.com/notas/653843-Los-Pumas-vencieron-en-forma-agonica-a-Francia-en-Cordoba.html dead George Clancy (Ireland) Team details _lospumas12aw _whitesides ffffff ffffff ffffff 5D99D4 5D99D4 Argentina _francerugby11h _francerugby11h _francerugby11h _francerugby11h 18327D 18327D 231F20 18327D France Argentina FB 15Román Miralles 40RW 14Belisario AgullaOC 13Joaquín Tuculet IC 12Felipe Contepomi (c)LW 11Manuel MonteroFH 10Ignacio MieresSH 9 Martín Landajo 48N8 8 Tomás Leonardi 51 61OF 7 Tomás de la VegaBF 6 Julio Farías CabelloRL 5 Esteban Lozada 56LL 4 Benjamín Macome 65TP 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro 56HK 2 Bruno Postiglioni 56LP 1 Eusebio GuiñazúReplacements:HK 16Andrés Bordoy 56PR 17Pablo Henn 56LK 18Rodrigo Bruno 65LK 19Rodrigo Báez 56SH 20Tomás Cubelli 48FB 21Benjamín Urdapilleta 40WG 22Facundo BarreaCoach:ARG Santiago PhelanFrance FB 15Brice DulinRW 14Jean-Marcellin ButtinOC 13Wesley FofanaIC 12Florian Fritz 78LW 11Yoann HugetFH 10François Trinh-Duc 58SH 9 Morgan ParraN8 8 Louis Picamoles 66OF 7 Fulgence OuedraogoBF 6 Wenceslas LauretRL 5 Yoann Maestri 74LL 4 Pascal Papé (c)TP 3 David AttoubHK 2 Dimitri Szarzewski 66LP 1 Yvan Watremez 40Replacements:HK 16Christopher Tolofua 66PR 17Vincent Debaty 40LK 18Romain Taofifenua 74FL 19Alexandre Lapandry 66SH 20Maxime MachenaudFH 21Frédéric Michalak 58CE 22Maxime Mermoz 78Coach:FRA Philippe Saint-André Touch judges: ENG Wayne Barnes RSA Christie du Preez Television match official: RSA Shaun Veldsman Brice Dulin, Romain Taofifenua, Christopher Tolofua and Yvan Watremez made their full international debuts for France in this match. Rodrigo Baez made his full international debut for Argentina in this match. With this match Argentina extended their winning streak at home against France to 5 games and 10 years and overcame them in the IRB Rankings (swapping their 7th place with France's 6th). Second Test 23 June 2012 18:10 ART (UTC-03) ARG 10–49 Report FRA Vega 74' c Contepomi 1/1 74' Contepomi 1/1 25' Fall 11' c Huget (2) 33' c, 62' m Machenaud 39' c Mermoz 55' c Lapandry Michalak 5/6 12', 33', 40', 56', 68' Michalak 3/3 17', 27', 30' Estadio José Fierro, Tucumán George Clancy (Ireland) Team details _lospumas12aw _whitesides ffffff ffffff ffffff 5D99D4 5D99D4 Argentina _francerugby11h _francerugby11h _francerugby11h _francerugby11h 18327D 18327D 231F20 18327D France Argentina FB 15Joaquín Tuculet 40RW 14Facundo BarreaOC 13Agustín Gosio IC 12Felipe Contepomi (c)LW 11Manuel MonteroFH 10Benjamín UrdapilletaSH 9 Tomás CubelliN8 8 Leonardo Senatore 58OF 7 Tomás LeonardiBF 6 Tomás de la VegaRL 5 Esteban LozadaLL 4 Julio Farías Cabello 27TP 3 Francisco Gómez KodelaHK 2 Andrés Bordoy 55LP 1 Eusebio GuiñazúReplacements:PR 16Nahuel Tetaz ChaparroHK 17Bruno Postiglioni 55LK 18Santiago GuzmánLK 19Benjamin Macome 27FL 20Rodrigo Báez 58SH 21Martín LandajoCE 22Gabriel Ascarate 40Coach:ARG Santiago PhelanFrance FB 15 Brice DulinRW 14 Benjamin Fall 58OC 13 Florian FritzIC 12 Maxime MermozLW 11 Yoann HugetFH 10 Frédéric Michalak 69SH 9 Maxime Machenaud 69N8 8 Louis Picamoles 64OF 7 Fulgence OuedraogoBF 6 Alexandre Lapandry 79RL 5 Pascal Papé (c)LL 4 Yoann Maestri 47TP 3 David Attoub 47HK 2 Dimitri Szarzewski 56 79LP 1 Vincent DebatyReplacements:HK 16 Christopher Tolofua 56 72 80PR 17 Thomas Domingo 47LK 18 Christophe Samson 47FL 19 Wenceslas Lauret 64SH 20 Morgan Parra 69FH 21 François Trinh-Duc 69CE 22 Wesley Fofana 58Coach:FRA Philippe Saint-André Touch judges: ENG rugby union Wayne Barnes RSA rugby union Christie du Preez Television match official: RSA Shaun Veldsman Facundo Barrea made his full international debut for Argentina in this match. Maxime Machenaud and Christophe Samson made their full international debuts for France in this match. France won the Series, tied 1-1, on points difference (69-33). With this victory France ended a 14-year timespan without a win against the Pumas on Argentinian soil, the previous victorious Test dating back to 28 June 1998, and once again overcame Argentina in the IRB Rankings. Touring squad Philippe Saint-André announced his 28-man France squad for the June tour to Argentina. Several key faces were rested, including captain Thierry Dusautoir.France call up Michalak http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7788264,00.html Planet Rugby 31 May 2012 6 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120604001641/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7788264,00.html 4 June 2012 dead dmy-all Caps updated before the June tour. Ages are as of the first Test on 16 June. Head coach: Philippe Saint-André HK Dimitri Szarzewski 2012 6 16 1983 1 26 y 61 Stade Français France HK Christopher Tolofua 2012 6 16 1993 12 31 y 0 Toulouse France PR David Attoub 2012 6 16 1981 6 7 y 2 Stade Français France PR Vincent Debaty 2012 6 16 1981 10 2 y 6 Clermont France PR Thomas Domingo* 2012 6 16 1985 8 20 y 17 Clermont France PR Antoine Guillamon 2012 6 16 1991 6 4 y 0** Lyon France PR Yvan Watremez* 2012 6 16 1989 4 21 y 0 Biarritz France LK Yoann Maestri 2012 6 16 1988 1 14 y 5 Toulouse France LK Pascal Papé (c) 2012 6 16 1980 10 5 y 40 Stade Français France LK Christophe Samson 2012 6 16 1984 3 1 y 0 Toulon France LK Romain Taofifenua 2012 6 16 1990 9 14 y 0 Perpignan France FL Alexandre Lapandry 2012 6 16 1989 4 13 y 6 Clermont France FL Wenceslas Lauret 2012 6 16 1989 3 28 y 1 Biarritz France FL Fulgence Ouedraogo 2012 6 16 1986 7 21 y 25 Montpellier France N8 Raphaël Lakafia 2012 6 16 1988 10 28 y 3 Biarritz France N8 Louis Picamoles 2012 6 16 1986 2 5 y 26 Toulouse France SH Maxime Machenaud 2012 6 16 1988 12 30 y 0 Agen France SH Morgan Parra 2012 6 16 1988 11 15 y 41 Clermont France FH Frédéric Michalak 2012 6 16 1982 10 16 y 54 Sharks (Currie Cup) South Africa FH François Trinh-Duc 2012 6 16 1986 11 11 y 40 Montpellier France CE Geoffrey Doumayrou 2012 6 16 1989 9 16 y 0** Montpellier France CE Wesley Fofana 2012 6 16 1988 1 20 y 5 Clermont France CE Florian Fritz 2012 6 16 1984 1 17 y 20 Toulouse France CE Maxime Mermoz 2012 6 16 1986 7 28 y 17 Perpignan France WG Benjamin Fall 2012 6 16 1989 3 3 y 2 Racing Métro France WG Yoann Huget 2012 6 16 1987 6 2 y 7 Bayonne France WG Romain Martial 2012 6 16 1984 11 13 y 0** Castres France FB Jean-Marcellin Buttin 2012 6 16 1991 12 16 y 1 Clermont France FB Brice Dulin 2012 6 16 1990 4 23 y 0 Agen France Note*: After he sustained an injury in the First Test, Yvan Watremez was replaced in the squad by Thomas Domingo. (Philippe Saint-André originally planned to call up Castres prop Yannick Forestier but the latter was touring Japan with the French Barbarians and no satisfactory travel arrangement could be made, hence prompting the return of Domingo in the French squad after he sustained an important injury prior to the 2011 Rugby World Cup which prevented him from taking part in the competition and playing the major part of the 2011-2012 season with his club.)Watremez forfait, Domingo appelé http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/xv-de-france/2010-2011/bleus-watremez-forfait_sto3315877/story.shtml Rugbyrama 17 June 2012 Note**: Although they took part in the warm-up fixture, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Antoine Guillamon and Romain Martial failed to appear in any of the Tests, thus remaining uncapped at the end of the Tour. Coaching and Management Team Position Name Nationality Head coach Philippe Saint-André France France Forwards Coach Yannick Bru France France Backs & Defence Coach Patrice Lagisquet France France Home squad Argentina's 29-man squad named for the 2012 June Tests against Italy and France. Coach Santiago Phelan decided not to select any player involved in the Top 14 playoffs, reserving his best squad for the upcoming 2012 Rugby Championship.Argentina name squad for June tests http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7778198,00.html https://archive.today/20120908211827/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7778198,00.html dead 8 September 2012 Planet Rugby 25 May 2012 Esteban Lozada was a late addition to the squad after his recovery from injury.http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3885_7809975,00.html Planet Rugby Argentina ring the changes 13 June 2012 22 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121116203815/http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3885_7809975,00.html 16 November 2012 dead dmy-all Head coach: Santiago Phelan Caps updated before tour. Ages are as of the first Test on 16 June. HK Andrés Bordoy 2012 6 16 1982 12 30 y 3 Pau France HK Eusebio Guiñazú 2012 6 16 1982 1 15 y 8 Biarritz France PR Francisco Gómez Kodela 2012 6 16 1985 7 3 y 3 Biarritz France PR Pablo Henn 2012 6 16 1982 7 15 y 2 Brive France PR Bruno Postiglioni 2012 6 16 1987 4 8 y 0 La Plata Argentina PR Rodrigo Roncero 2012 6 16 1977 2 16 y 44 Stade Français France PR Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro 2012 6 16 1989 6 11 y 3 Stade Français France LK Rodrigo Bruno 2012 6 16 1987 5 15 y 2 Villa Maria Argentina LK Santiago Guzmán 2012 6 16 1989 1 11 y 5 Tucumán Argentina LK Esteban Lozada 2012 6 16 1982 1 8 y 17 Edinburgh Scotland LK Benjamin Macome 2012 6 16 1986 1 10 y 3 Tucumán Argentina FL Rodrigo Báez 2012 6 16 1989 2 8 y 0 Liceo Argentina FL Tomás de la Vega 2012 6 16 1990 9 28 y 3 CUBA Argentina FL Julio Farías Cabello 2012 6 16 1978 9 19 y 8 Tucumán Argentina FL Genaro Fessia 2012 6 16 1981 7 22 y 11 Córdoba Argentina N8 Tomás Cristian Leonardi 2012 6 16 1987 7 1 y 6 SIC Argentina N8 Leonardo Senatore 2012 6 16 1984 5 13 y 3 Toulon France SH Tomás Cubelli 2012 6 16 1989 6 12 y 0 Belgrano Argentina SH Martín Landajo 2012 6 16 1988 6 14 y 6 CASI Argentina FH Felipe Contepomi (c) 2012 6 16 1977 8 20 y 65 Stade Français France FH Ignacio Mieres 2012 6 16 1987 4 6 y 0 Exeter Chiefs England CE Gabriel Ascarate 2012 6 16 1987 8 20 y 3 Natación Argentina CE Matias Orlando 2012 6 16 1991 11 14 y 0* Huirapuca Argentina CE Benjamín Urdapilleta 2012 6 16 1986 3 11 y 2 Harlequins England WG Belisario Agulla 2012 6 16 1988 5 23 y 5 Agen France WG Facundo Barrea 2012 6 16 1989 3 10 y 0 Córdoba Argentina WG Agustín Gosio 2012 6 16 1983 3 17 y 2 London Scottish England WG Manuel Montero 2012 6 16 1991 11 20 y 0 Pucara Argentina FB Roman Miralles 2012 6 16 1983 8 1 y 4 Duendes Argentina FB Joaquín Tuculet 2012 6 16 1989 8 1 y 0 Sale Sharks England Note*: Matias Orlando failed to appear in any of the Tests against both Italy and France, thus remaining uncapped at the end of the Tour. Coaching and Management Team Position Name Nationality Head coach Santiago Phelan Assistant coach Fabián Turnes Backs Coach Martín Gaitán Forwards and Scrum Coach Mauricio Reggiardo Aftermath On 25 June 2012 (after all mid-year Tests had been played) France stood at the 5th place (their best ranking since March 2012) in the IRB Rankings (thanks to their second test comprehensive victory over the Pumas and Wales' loss to Australia in their third test) while Argentina had dropped to the 8th spot (their worst ranking since March 2012). From August to October 2012, Argentina competed in the inaugural Rugby Championship (the new incarnation of the Tri Nations Series) with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, finishing bottom of the table with a draw (at home against the Springboks) and five losses. On 8 October 2012 France and Argentina remained respectively at the 5th and 8th places of the IRB World ranking. As part of the 2012 end of year tests the Pumas toured Wales, France and Ireland, playing one Test against each union.http://www.uar.com.ar/upload/pdfs/equipos/155-Calendario_de_Los_Pumas_en_2012.pdf Calendario de Los Pumas en 2012 Unión Argentina de Rugby 2012-04-06 es https://web.archive.org/web/20120324184314/http://uar.com.ar/upload/pdfs/equipos/155-Calendario_de_Los_Pumas_en_2012.pdf 2012-03-24 dead They beat the Welsh but lost to the two other unions while France recorded three straight wins (against Australia, Argentina and Samoa). At the end of their Tests France had climbed to the IRB rankings 4th place, their best ranking since February 2012, while Argentina had dropped to the 9th place, their worst ranking since September 2011. However following the fourth week of Tests (of which Argentina and France were not part) Argentina climbed back to the 8th place thanks to Wales' defeat by Australia over the weekend. As a result on December 3 for the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool Draw France was drawn in Pot 1 while Argentina was drawn in Pot 2 and they ended up in Pool D and C respectively, meaning they will not meet before the Quarter Finals. From February to March 2013, France competed in the Six Nations Championship (the 14th series following this format) with England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and Wales, finishing bottom of the table with one win (at home against Scotland), a draw (in Ireland) and three losses (at home to Wales, in England and Italy). On 18 March 2013 France has dropped to the 6th place in the IRB rankings while Argentina remained on the 8th place. As part of the 2013 mid-year tests, France will tour New Zealand in a Three-Test Serieshttp://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/xv-de-france/2010-2011/bleus-tournee-d-ete-en-nz_sto3323990/story.shtml Rugbyrama Bleus: Prochaine tournée d'été en Nouvelle-Zélande 24 June 2012 while Argentina will host England in a Two-Test Series and Georgia for a one-off Test. See also 2012 mid-year rugby test series References 2012 Category:2012 rugby union tours Argentina Category:2012 in Argentine rugby union