After their narrow loss to the Springboks on the weekend, an eighth-ranked France will look to hit back with a win over ninth-ranked Argentina in Lille on Saturday, writes Shaun Goosen.
France v Argentina
17 November 2018
22h05
Stade Pierre-Mauroy
To Win (80 mins)
France 7/20
Draw 20/1
Argentina 23/10
Handicap
France (-6) 9/10
Argentina (+6) 9/10
*forecast handicaps
Having displayed encouraging signs for much of their encounter with South Africa, Jacques Brunel’s charges were to be undone by a late Bongi Mbonambi-try that ultimately saw them go down by 26-29 at the Stade de France.
With so much pressure on Brunel to change France’s fortunes of late, that loss would have been all the more painful for a rugby community that has become accustomed to dire results. While there were some obvious points of improvement for the French, particularly up front, the lack of chemistry in key positions set them back once more.
So too did a degree (or lack thereof) of communication on the park. An obvious example would be Teddy Thomas’ excellent break inside his own twenty-two and his subsequent failure to find his supporting runners on either side of him.
Coming up against another steadily improving side in Los Pumas, it will again be important for the hosts to consolidate matters up front before opting to play free flowing footy from the back.
Argentina have a pack capable of causing any team problems on their day, so the collisions will be a vital area for Guilhem Guirado and his men.
Speaking of the French skipper, the look on his face at the final whistle of the Paris Test was one of utter dejection. Winning clearly means a heck of a lot to Le Bleus, something that has perhaps been missing from recent incarcerations of the French national team. All indications are that they want to get back to the top of the world rugby ladder. If they can keep growing as a unit, with consistent selections, they will be well on their way.
Verdict: France (-6) 9/10 *forecast handicaps
Despite Argentina’s steady run of results in 2018, I’m backing the French to claim a win against their old foes at home. It will be mighty close though – perhaps by 10 or less.
