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The first French test of this 2019 World Cup is made by Gaël Fickou in the 18th minute of the match. REUTERS / Issei Kato

This Saturday, September 21 in Tokyo, the XV of France was reassured and took an option on qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup, beating finish Argentina (23-21).

After the victory of this Saturday, September 21, two successes in the last three games against the United States (October 2), Tonga (October 6) or England (October 12) should now be enough for the French to reach the quarter-finals of the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

But that the Blues are scared! Camille Lopez, late in the game, saved the XV of France with a decisive drop (70th) while Benjamin Urdapilleta had returned the advantage to the Pumas (20-21, 68th). The Argentineans even had the match point at the last minute but the penalty of Emiliano Boffelli was missed.

" A good start "

However, the Blues led largely to the break (20-3) after an almost perfect first period, and two superb collective tests of Gael Fickou (18th) and Antoine Dupont (22nd). But they fell back into their straits in the second half, the Argentines catching up with their lead who scored two tries on maul and caused penalties.

For Jacques Brunel, coach of the XV of France, at the microphone of TF1, " there were two half-time totally different. We wanted to go back to what we had put in the first half, but the Argentineans were there, we knew they had a good team. We still have work, because it's about simple things that we have a little bit of a failure. But there was a good spirit, we stayed until the end, we were convinced that we could beat them, and it's a good start . "

Match sheet

Dry weather
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Dots:
France: 2 Fickou trials (18th), A. Dupont (22nd), 2 Ntamack transformations, 2 Ntamack penalties (30th, 40th + 1 minute), 1 drop Lopez (70th)
Argentina: Petti (43), Montoya (54), Sanchez (43), Sanchez (15th), Urdapilleta (61st, 69th)

The teams:
France: Medard (Ramos 62nd) - Penaud (Lopez 69e), Vakatawa, Fickou, Huget - (o) Ntamack, (m) A. Dupont (Machenaud 73rd) - Ollivon, Alldritt (Picamoles 61st), Lauret - Vahaamahina, Iturria ( B. Le Roux 55th) - Slimani (Bamba 47th), Guirado (cap., Cat 47th), Poirot (Baille 68th)
Argentina: Boffelli - Moroni, Orlando, Fuente, Moyano (Carreras 46th) - (o) Sanchez (Urdapilleta 57th), (m) Cubelli - Kremer, Ortega Desio (Lezana 61st), Matera (cap.) - Lavanini (Alemanno 64th), Petti - Figallo (Medrano 52nd), Creevy (Montoya 51st), Tetaz Chaparro (Vivas 64th)

( with AFP )