PREVIEW: Improving Argentina look to spring Paris surprise on Friday

Autumn Nations Series
France v Argentina
Friday 22 November, 20:10
Stade de France, Saint-Denis

An improving Argentina outfit will be looking to bring the curtain down on a successful year with a shock victory of France at Stade de France on Friday evening. France, who beat the All Blacks last week, will be high on confidence and know that defeat against Argentina will represent a major setback. 

To Win Match
France 1/6 | Draw 28/1 | Argentina 16/5

The teams met twice in Argentina in July, with each winning one match apiece. It must be said though that Fabien Galthie did pick a second/third-string squad for that South American tour and will this week have far better resources to call upon. The French were also embroiled in a number of off-field scandals at the time, and will be fully focused in Saint-Denis come Friday.

In defence of the Argentine performances in July, they were just getting used to life under new coach Felipe Contepomi and, having enjoyed notable success in the Rugby Championship campaign that followed, are a far more settled outfit now than they were then.

The hosts head into this one off the back of a one-point defeat of the All Blacks, in a game that issued a timely reminder that the side many picked as favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup at their own World Cup tournament last year look to be getting back to their best. After finishing second in the Six Nations, a campaign affected by the withdrawal of Olympics-bound Antoine Dupont, France are building up some proper momentum once more.

Argentina were pipped 19-22 by Ireland in Dublin last time out after trouncing Italy 50-18 in Udine the week before. They will definitely ask France questions at the breakdown and at set piece but should be on the receiving end of a narrow loss.

Verdict: Argentina (+11.5) 4/5

There’s a great deal of history in this fixture that always makes for competitive encounters but ultimately France at home should be too strong.