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Argentina beats France in final seconds of test match

Lucas Ostiglia, left, of Argentina attempts to break a tackle during the rugby test match against France in Buenos Aires on Friday. PHOTO: AFP

Gonzalo Quesada kicked a drop in the final seconds Friday night as Argentina edged France 33-32 in an international rugby test that saw the hosts sweep the two-test series.

Quesada was the outstanding player of the match, not only for scoring the winner but also for accurate kicking into touch and at the post.

The Argentine star scored 20 points at the post with five penalties, one conversion and the final drop in a seesaw battle played out at a stadium here.

Argentina made nine changes and France eight for their second test, which started in the same way as their first encounter June 14 -- with Argentina scoring a try in the 2nd minute to go up 7-0.

Argentina's Juan Manuel Hernandez neatly sidestepped two French defenders and Quesada made the conversion on the opening try. Quesada added penalty four minutes later as Argentina's Pumas raced to a 10-0 lead.

With Argentina able to attack more than in the first test, play was more open. After nine minutes, the score was already equal to the 10-6 outcome in which Argentina won the first test days earlier.

Scoring * Argentina: Tries; Hernandez, Orenco. Penalties; Quesada 5. Drops; Quesada, Arbizu 1. Conversions, Quesada 1 * France: Tries; Jauzian, Elhorga. Penalties; Delaigue 2, Michalak 3, Traille 1. Conversions; Michalak 2

In Friday night's action, play was also even in lineouts and scrums. Jose Orenco scored a second try for Argentina in the 11th minute for a 15-6 lead.

France could only get on the scoreboard with four penalties by Yamm Delaigue (2), Federic Michalak, and Demien Traille.

Argentina led 21-12 at the break with Captain Lisandro Arbizu adding a drop and Quesada another penalty.

Too little, too late

France only pressed near the end of the half when Argentina's Martin Scelzo was sent off temporarily for holding a rival in a ruck.

France made it close with a try by Yannick Jauzion in the 41st minute, converted by Michalak. That left Argentina up 21-19 with France threatening.

Argentina was still with just 14 men on the field until Scelzo came back in the 44th minute.

Argentina had to replace an injured Hernandez and Arbizu in the second half. Then Michalak's penalty in the 56th minute put France ahead 22-21.

But three minutes later, Quesada put Argentina up 24-22 with his third penalty and almost immediately afterward, he scored the forth penalty from midfield for Argentina's 27-22 lead.

The lead changed three times in even play.

Then with 10 minutes remaining, Pepito Elhorga scored a try under the posts, converted by Michalak to give France a 29-27 lead. There were numerous stoppages for injuries in a rough-and-tumble second half and the lead changed three more times in the final minutes.

With Quesada's penalty putting Argentina up 30-29, Michalak went tit for tat by scoring a penalty for France to lead 32-30. Then came Quesada's winning drop in extra time added for injuries, giving Argentina the 33-32 victory.

Argentina has now won the last three of its international tests against France.

Michalak led scoring for France with 13 points to Quesada's 20 points for Argentina.
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