# 2012 France rugby union tour of Argentina

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.
The series was drawn 1-1, Argentina winning the first test and France the second.
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.
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 | XV du Président |
| Try: Traille Mehrtens Con: Mehrtens (2) | Report | Try: Huget Lauret Doumayrou (2) Michalak Lakafia Ouedraogo Héguy Con: Michalak (7) |
* Parc des sports d'Aguilera, Biarritz Referee: TBC (France)
Serge Betsen's XV :
| FB | 15 | Pepito Elhorga |
| RW | 14 | Dave Vainqueur |
| OC | 13 | Romain Cabannes |
| IC | 12 | Damien Traille |
| LW | 11 | Jean-Baptiste Gobelet |
| FH | 10 | Andrew Mehrtens |
| SH | 9 | Byron Kelleher |
| N8 | 8 | Chris Masoe |
| OF | 7 | Jean Monribot |
| BF | 6 | Serge Betsen (c) |
| RL | 5 | Gambo Adamou |
| LL | 4 | Kirill Kulemin |
| TP | 3 | Tim Payne |
| HK | 2 | Benoît August |
| LP | 1 | Benoît Lecouls |
| Replacements: |||
| HK | 16 | Benjamin Noirot |
| PR | 17 | Jérémy Castex |
| PR | 18 | Fabien Barcella |
| LK | 19 | Bernard N'Nomo |
| FL | 20 | Oscar Limani |
| UB | 21 | Benjamin Dambielle |
| UB | 22 | Paul Warwick |
| UB | 23 | Julien Laharrague |
| WG | 24 | Marvin O'Connor |
| Coach: |||
| David Ellis ||||
XV du Président :
| FB | 15 | Brice Dulin |
| RW | 14 | Yoann Huget |
| OC | 13 | Geoffrey Doumayrou |
| IC | 12 | Maxime Mermoz |
| LW | 11 | Benjamin Fall |
| FH | 10 | Frédéric Michalak |
| SH | 9 | Maxime Machenaud |
| N8 | 8 | Raphaël Lakafia |
| OF | 7 | Fulgence Ouedraogo |
| BF | 6 | Wenceslas Lauret |
| RL | 5 | Romain Taofifenua |
| LL | 4 | Pascal Papé (c) |
| TP | 3 | David Attoub |
| HK | 2 | Dimitri Szarzewski |
| LP | 1 | Yvan Watremez |
| Replacements: |||
| HK | 16 | Arnaud Héguy |
| PR | 17 | Antoine Guillamon |
| PR | 18 | Yannick Forestier |
| LK | 19 | Alexandre Flanquart |
| N8 | 20 | Damien Chouly |
| SH | 21 | Florian Cazenave |
| FH | 22 | François Trinh-Duc |
| CE | 23 | Henry Chavancy |
| WG | 24 | Romain Martial |
| Coach: |||
| Philippe Saint-André ||||
* Touch judges:
* TBC
* 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)
| Argentina | 23–20 | France |
| Try: Agulla 4' c Montero 76' c Con: Contepomi (2/2) 5', 77' Pen: Contepomi (3/6) 24', 39', 56' | Report | Try: Picamoles 26' m Con: Parra (0/1) Pen: Parra (4/5) 3', 10', 22', 43' Trinh-Duc (1/1) 52' |
* Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba Attendance: 20,000 Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Team details :
Argentina :
| FB | 15 | Román Miralles | | 40' |
| RW | 14 | Belisario Agulla |
| OC | 13 | Joaquín Tuculet |
| IC | 12 | Felipe Contepomi (c) |
| LW | 11 | Manuel Montero |
| FH | 10 | Ignacio Mieres |
| SH | 9 | Martín Landajo | | 48' |
| N8 | 8 | Tomás Leonardi | 51' to 61' |
| OF | 7 | Tomás de la Vega |
| BF | 6 | Julio Farías Cabello |
| RL | 5 | Esteban Lozada | | 56' |
| LL | 4 | Benjamín Macome | | 65' |
| TP | 3 | Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro | | 56' |
| HK | 2 | Bruno Postiglioni | | 56' |
| LP | 1 | Eusebio Guiñazú |
| Replacements: |||
| HK | 16 | Andrés Bordoy | | 56' |
| PR | 17 | Pablo Henn | | 56' |
| LK | 18 | Rodrigo Bruno | | 65' |
| LK | 19 | Rodrigo Báez | | 56' |
| SH | 20 | Tomás Cubelli | | 48' |
| FB | 21 | Benjamín Urdapilleta | | 40' |
| WG | 22 | Facundo Barrea |
| Coach: |||
| Santiago Phelan ||||
France :
| FB | 15 | Brice Dulin |
| RW | 14 | Jean-Marcellin Buttin |
| OC | 13 | Wesley Fofana |
| IC | 12 | Florian Fritz | 78' |
| LW | 11 | Yoann Huget |
| FH | 10 | François Trinh-Duc | 58' |
| SH | 9 | Morgan Parra |
| N8 | 8 | Louis Picamoles | 66' |
| OF | 7 | Fulgence Ouedraogo |
| BF | 6 | Wenceslas Lauret |
| RL | 5 | Yoann Maestri | 74' |
| LL | 4 | Pascal Papé (c) |
| TP | 3 | David Attoub |
| HK | 2 | Dimitri Szarzewski | 66' |
| LP | 1 | Yvan Watremez | 40' |
| Replacements: |||
| HK | 16 | Christopher Tolofua | 66' |
| PR | 17 | Vincent Debaty | 40' |
| LK | 18 | Romain Taofifenua | 74' |
| FL | 19 | Alexandre Lapandry | 66' |
| SH | 20 | Maxime Machenaud |
| FH | 21 | Frédéric Michalak | 58' |
| CE | 22 | Maxime Mermoz | 78' |
| Coach: |||
| Philippe Saint-André ||||
* Touch judges:
* Wayne Barnes
* Christie du Preez
* Television match official:
* Shaun Veldsman

### Second Test

* 23 June 2012 18:10 ART (UTC-03)
| Argentina | 10–49 | France |
| Try: Vega 74' c Con: Contepomi 1/1 74' Pen: Contepomi 1/1 25' | Report | Try: Fall 11' c Huget (2) 33' c, 62' m Machenaud 39' c Mermoz 55' c Lapandry Con: Michalak 5/6 12', 33', 40', 56', 68' Pen: Michalak 3/3 17', 27', 30' |
* Estadio José Fierro, Tucumán Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Team details :
Argentina :
| FB | 15 | Joaquín Tuculet | 40' |
| RW | 14 | Facundo Barrea |
| OC | 13 | Agustín Gosio |
| IC | 12 | Felipe Contepomi (c) |
| LW | 11 | Manuel Montero |
| FH | 10 | Benjamín Urdapilleta |
| SH | 9 | Tomás Cubelli |
| N8 | 8 | Leonardo Senatore | 58' |
| OF | 7 | Tomás Leonardi |
| BF | 6 | Tomás de la Vega |
| RL | 5 | Esteban Lozada |
| LL | 4 | Julio Farías Cabello | 27' |
| TP | 3 | Francisco Gómez Kodela |
| HK | 2 | Andrés Bordoy | 55' |
| LP | 1 | Eusebio Guiñazú |
| Replacements: |||
| PR | 16 | Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro |
| HK | 17 | Bruno Postiglioni | 55' |
| LK | 18 | Santiago Guzmán |
| LK | 19 | Benjamin Macome | 27' |
| FL | 20 | Rodrigo Báez | 58' |
| SH | 21 | Martín Landajo |
| CE | 22 | Gabriel Ascarate | 40' |
| Coach: |||
| Santiago Phelan ||||
France :
| FB | 15 | Brice Dulin |
| RW | 14 | Benjamin Fall | 58' |
| OC | 13 | Florian Fritz |
| IC | 12 | Maxime Mermoz |
| LW | 11 | Yoann Huget |
| FH | 10 | Frédéric Michalak | 69' |
| SH | 9 | Maxime Machenaud | 69' |
| N8 | 8 | Louis Picamoles | 64' |
| OF | 7 | Fulgence Ouedraogo |
| BF | 6 | Alexandre Lapandry | 79' |
| RL | 5 | Pascal Papé (c) |
| LL | 4 | Yoann Maestri | 47' |
| TP | 3 | David Attoub | 47' |
| HK | 2 | Dimitri Szarzewski | 56' | 79' |
| LP | 1 | Vincent Debaty |
| Replacements: |||
| HK | 16 | Christopher Tolofua | 56' | 72' to 80' |
| PR | 17 | Thomas Domingo | 47' |
| LK | 18 | Christophe Samson | 47' |
| FL | 19 | Wenceslas Lauret | 64' |
| SH | 20 | Morgan Parra | 69' |
| FH | 21 | François Trinh-Duc | 69' |
| CE | 22 | Wesley Fofana | 58' |
| Coach: |||
| Philippe Saint-André ||||
* Touch judges:
* Wayne Barnes
* Christie du Preez
* Television match official:
* Shaun Veldsman

## 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.
* Caps updated before the June tour. Ages are as of the first Test on 16 June.
Head coach: Philippe Saint-André
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Dimitri Szarzewski | Hooker | (1983-01-26)26 January 1983 (aged 29) | 61 | Stade Français |
| Christopher Tolofua | Hooker | (1993-12-31)31 December 1993 (aged 18) | 0 | Toulouse |
| David Attoub | Prop | (1981-06-07)7 June 1981 (aged 31) | 2 | Stade Français |
| Vincent Debaty | Prop | (1981-10-02)2 October 1981 (aged 30) | 6 | Clermont |
| Thomas Domingo* | Prop | (1985-08-20)20 August 1985 (aged 26) | 17 | Clermont |
| Antoine Guillamon | Prop | (1991-06-04)4 June 1991 (aged 21) | 0** | Lyon |
| Yvan Watremez* | Prop | (1989-04-21)21 April 1989 (aged 23) | 0 | Biarritz |
| Yoann Maestri | Lock | (1988-01-14)14 January 1988 (aged 24) | 5 | Toulouse |
| Pascal Papé (c) | Lock | (1980-10-05)5 October 1980 (aged 31) | 40 | Stade Français |
| Christophe Samson | Lock | (1984-03-01)1 March 1984 (aged 28) | 0 | Toulon |
| Romain Taofifenua | Lock | (1990-09-14)14 September 1990 (aged 21) | 0 | Perpignan |
| Alexandre Lapandry | Flanker | (1989-04-13)13 April 1989 (aged 23) | 6 | Clermont |
| Wenceslas Lauret | Flanker | (1989-03-28)28 March 1989 (aged 23) | 1 | Biarritz |
| Fulgence Ouedraogo | Flanker | (1986-07-21)21 July 1986 (aged 25) | 25 | Montpellier |
| Raphaël Lakafia | Number 8 | (1988-10-28)28 October 1988 (aged 23) | 3 | Biarritz |
| Louis Picamoles | Number 8 | (1986-02-05)5 February 1986 (aged 26) | 26 | Toulouse |
| Maxime Machenaud | Scrum-half | (1988-12-30)30 December 1988 (aged 23) | 0 | Agen |
| Morgan Parra | Scrum-half | (1988-11-15)15 November 1988 (aged 23) | 41 | Clermont |
| Frédéric Michalak | Fly-half | (1982-10-16)16 October 1982 (aged 29) | 54 | Sharks |
| François Trinh-Duc | Fly-half | (1986-11-11)11 November 1986 (aged 25) | 40 | Montpellier |
| Geoffrey Doumayrou | Centre | (1989-09-16)16 September 1989 (aged 22) | 0** | Montpellier |
| Wesley Fofana | Centre | (1988-01-20)20 January 1988 (aged 24) | 5 | Clermont |
| Florian Fritz | Centre | (1984-01-17)17 January 1984 (aged 28) | 20 | Toulouse |
| Maxime Mermoz | Centre | (1986-07-28)28 July 1986 (aged 25) | 17 | Perpignan |
| Benjamin Fall | Wing | (1989-03-03)3 March 1989 (aged 23) | 2 | Racing Métro |
| Yoann Huget | Wing | (1987-06-02)2 June 1987 (aged 25) | 7 | Bayonne |
| Romain Martial | Wing | (1984-11-13)13 November 1984 (aged 27) | 0** | Castres |
| Jean-Marcellin Buttin | Fullback | (1991-12-16)16 December 1991 (aged 20) | 1 | Clermont |
| Brice Dulin | Fullback | (1990-04-23)23 April 1990 (aged 22) | 0 | Agen |
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.)
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 |
| Forwards Coach | Yannick Bru | France |
| Backs & Defence Coach | Patrice Lagisquet | 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. Esteban Lozada was a late addition to the squad after his recovery from injury.
Head coach: Santiago Phelan
* Caps updated before tour. Ages are as of the first Test on 16 June.
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Andrés Bordoy | Hooker | (1982-12-30)30 December 1982 (aged 29) | 3 | Pau |
| Eusebio Guiñazú | Hooker | (1982-01-15)15 January 1982 (aged 30) | 8 | Biarritz |
| Francisco Gómez Kodela | Prop | (1985-07-03)3 July 1985 (aged 26) | 3 | Biarritz |
| Pablo Henn | Prop | (1982-07-15)15 July 1982 (aged 29) | 2 | Brive |
| Bruno Postiglioni | Prop | (1987-04-08)8 April 1987 (aged 25) | 0 | La Plata |
| Rodrigo Roncero | Prop | (1977-02-16)16 February 1977 (aged 35) | 44 | Stade Français |
| Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro | Prop | (1989-06-11)11 June 1989 (aged 23) | 3 | Stade Français |
| Rodrigo Bruno | Lock | (1987-05-15)15 May 1987 (aged 25) | 2 | Villa Maria |
| Santiago Guzmán | Lock | (1989-01-11)11 January 1989 (aged 23) | 5 | Tucumán |
| Esteban Lozada | Lock | (1982-01-08)8 January 1982 (aged 30) | 17 | Edinburgh |
| Benjamin Macome | Lock | (1986-01-10)10 January 1986 (aged 26) | 3 | Tucumán |
| Rodrigo Báez | Flanker | (1989-02-08)8 February 1989 (aged 23) | 0 | Liceo |
| Tomás de la Vega | Flanker | (1990-09-28)28 September 1990 (aged 21) | 3 | CUBA |
| Julio Farías Cabello | Flanker | (1978-09-19)19 September 1978 (aged 33) | 8 | Tucumán |
| Genaro Fessia | Flanker | (1981-07-22)22 July 1981 (aged 30) | 11 | Córdoba |
| Tomás Cristian Leonardi | Number 8 | (1987-07-01)1 July 1987 (aged 24) | 6 | SIC |
| Leonardo Senatore | Number 8 | (1984-05-13)13 May 1984 (aged 28) | 3 | Toulon |
| Tomás Cubelli | Scrum-half | (1989-06-12)12 June 1989 (aged 23) | 0 | Belgrano |
| Martín Landajo | Scrum-half | (1988-06-14)14 June 1988 (aged 24) | 6 | CASI |
| Felipe Contepomi (c) | Fly-half | (1977-08-20)20 August 1977 (aged 34) | 65 | Stade Français |
| Ignacio Mieres | Fly-half | (1987-04-06)6 April 1987 (aged 25) | 0 | Exeter Chiefs |
| Gabriel Ascarate | Centre | (1987-08-20)20 August 1987 (aged 24) | 3 | Natación |
| Matias Orlando | Centre | (1991-11-14)14 November 1991 (aged 20) | 0* | Huirapuca |
| Benjamín Urdapilleta | Centre | (1986-03-11)11 March 1986 (aged 26) | 2 | Harlequins |
| Belisario Agulla | Wing | (1988-05-23)23 May 1988 (aged 24) | 5 | Agen |
| Facundo Barrea | Wing | (1989-03-10)10 March 1989 (aged 23) | 0 | Córdoba |
| Agustín Gosio | Wing | (1983-03-17)17 March 1983 (aged 29) | 2 | London Scottish |
| Manuel Montero | Wing | (1991-11-20)20 November 1991 (aged 20) | 0 | Pucara |
| Roman Miralles | Fullback | (1983-08-01)1 August 1983 (aged 28) | 4 | Duendes |
| Joaquín Tuculet | Fullback | (1989-08-01)1 August 1989 (aged 22) | 0 | Sale Sharks |
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 | Argentina |
| Assistant coach | Fabián Turnes | Argentina |
| Backs Coach | Martín Gaitán | Argentina |
| Forwards and Scrum Coach | Mauricio Reggiardo | Argentina |

## 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. 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 Series while Argentina will host England in a Two-Test Series and Georgia for a one-off Test.