Argentina has won 17/12.

Great! Although if I don't really care... jaja

Poor old France :lol:

Argentina shock France in opener

 

France's Cedric Heymans is caught by Felipe Contepomi

 

France (9) 12

Pens: Skrela (4)

 

Argentina (17) 17

Tries: Corleto

Pens: F Contepomi (4)

 

Argentina rocked tournament hosts France with a sensational 17-12 victory in the opening match of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in Paris.

 

The fired-up Pumas outplayed an error-ridden and nervous-looking France with a first-half try from full-back Ignacio Corleto.

 

Centre Felipe Contepomi chipped in with 12 points to leave the 80,000-strong Stade de France crowd stunned.

 

France could only muster four penalties from struggling fly-half David Skrela.

 

The French became only the second home side in the six-event history of the World Cup to lose their opening game. England lost to New Zealand in 1991.

 

No side since the tournament's inception in 1987 has lost a game in the pool stages and still gone on to win the World Cup.

 

Argentina ripped into France from the off and the intensity of their start looked to have unsettled Les Bleus.

 

Juan Martin Hernandez tried a couple of early drop-goals before Contepomi slotted the first points of the World Cup with a penalty on five minutes.

 

Skrela hit back for France but Argentina were on the front foot and a promising foray deep into French territory resulted in another penalty for the Pumas.

 

France were edgy and lacking their usual sharpness and precision, while Argentina's forwards were aggressive and eager, coupled with the enterprising Felipe Contepomi and Hernandez asking a variety of questions behind the scrum.

 

The hosts finally showed some trademark spark with a threatening, surging break involving the likes of power runners Yannick Jauzion and Aurelien Rougerie.

 

But the move broke down and soon Felipe Contepomi stroked Argentina further ahead with a third penalty, shortly after missing with a speculative drop-goal effort.

 

Three minutes later, France suffered a deeper blow when a dangerous run from Damien Traille ended with Remy Martin throwing an interception.

 

Argentina's Felipe Contepomi shipped on the ball quickly to racy full-back Corleto, who outpaced the covering defence to score in the right corner.

 

Felipe Contepomi missed with his conversion and France sneaked back another penalty when Skrela's break set up good field position. And the French fly-half traded another kick with Contepomi to close the first half eight points adrift.

 

France's forward battalions had a point to prove after the break and a rumbling, driving maul, roared on by an expectant crowd, looked certain to set up a close-range score with barely five minutes gone.

 

But Argentina bravely withstood repeated surges at their line before drawing a penalty to snuff out the danger and make an emphatic point of their own.

 

Skrela, suffering a poor night all round, missed a crucial penalty on 55 minutes, though he found the target soon after to narrow the gap to 12-17.

 

But Argentina went close to putting the game out of sight with 16 minutes left, only for Felipe Contepomi to spill what may have been the scoring pass after a lightning counter attack.

 

France squandered another opportunity to edge closer when Frederic Michalak, on for Skrela, missed a three-pointer with 10 minutes left.

 

The Pumas missed two late penalties of their own but a monstrous defensive display backed up by a simple gameplan was enough to secure a famous victory.

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

France: Cedric Heymans; Aurelien Rougerie, Yannick Jauzion, Damien Traille, Christophe Dominici; David Skrela, Pierre Mignoni; Olivier Milloud, Raphael Ibanez (capt), Pieter de Villiers, Fabien Pelous, Jerome Thion, Serge Betsen, Remy Martin, Imanol Harinordoquy.

Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Sebastien Chabal, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Frederic Michalak.

 

Argentina: Ignacio Corleto; Lucas Borges, Manuel Contepomi, Felipe Contepomi, Horacio Agulla; Juan Martin Hernandez, Agustin Pichot (captain); Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma, Martin Scelzo, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Patricio Albacete, Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Lucas Ostiglia, Juan Manuel Leguizamon.

Replacements: Alberto Vernet Basualdo, Santiago Gonzalez Bonorino, Rimas Alvarez, Martin Durand, Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, Federico Todeschini, Hernan Senillosa.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6975751.stm

Poor old France :lol:

 

Did they play too arrogantly??:P

France still get a point for losing by less than 7pts

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/tables/default.stm

France still get a point for losing by less than 7pts

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/tables/default.stm

 

I wondered what the 2nd bonus point was awarded for, I know if you score a certain number of tries you get a bonus point.

4 tries in a game I think

NewZealand will undoubtably top the table, so progression for Italy will probably need a win against the scots

Another 3 early tries might do it :P

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/6389855.stm

 

miracles happen just once:D!!!

 

anyway.....France was too scared yesterday...too pressure....but Argentina will be the surprise of this WC:they can reach semifinals....;)

 

BTW....is anyone following ITA v NZ?

I'm watching it, in between the England cricket

 

I'd love Italy to win but if they lose by less than 20 points it'll be a miracle

 

miracles do happen though ;)

I'm watching it, in between the England cricket

 

I'd love Italy to win but if they lose by less than 20 points it'll be a miracle

 

miracles do happen though ;)

 

that's my prediction:)....20 points less...We have our best team...no injuried players....We'll do the best i think

38-0 for NZ after 22 mins.....:(...............

38-0 for NZ after 22 mins.....:(...............

 

Could end up as a world record score!!:stunned:

ouch! :stunned:

Could end up as a world record score!!:stunned:

 

43-7:D:D:D...we made a try!!

50-7......try by Jack......were at the 50th min:/

50-7......try by Jack......were at the 50th min:/

 

Only 58 points to go, then!:rolleyes:

omg...60 to 7......

76-14 it's over, finally

If England lose to South Africa and finish 2nd in the group, than they got the Aussies in the quarter finals if the Aussies win the group. If they beat SA, than there is a strong chance England will get the Welsh in the QF's.

That's why its important to win the group - we've already seen France slip up, if they finish 2nd (which is now probable should they qualify), they have to play their Q/F game in the UK away from their home support! What's worse, it'll be against New Zealand! :lol:

and boy do we need the welsh in the qf. if we manage to get through the group stages, we're stuffed if meet the aussies

ouch! poor Olly Barkley will have a sore head in the morning

and boy do we need the welsh in the qf. if we manage to get through the group stages, we're stuffed if meet the aussies

 

We'll be stuffed if we meet the Aussies, the Kiwis or the Springboks!!:rolleyes:

Good victory at the end of the day.

 

Good wins for all 3 english teams