France vs Argentina Result: Rugby World Cup 2007

Argentina started the Rugby world cup 2007 campaign with a memorable win. Argentina has defeated host country France in the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2007. To tell the truth, France was clearly favorite in the match against Argentina. However, the reality was very harsh for the home crowd as France lost the match by 12-17. Argentina was really excellent in the match. Being the underdog in the match, Argentina dominated over France throughout the match.

In stead of saying France vs Argentina match, you can say it Skrela vs Contepomi match because most of the points were achieved by these two key players of their teams. Only one try was seen in the whole match which was made by Corleto for Argentina. So, you can say it a penalty match. Argentina scored four penalties and France also scored four penalties. So, it looks that the only try of the match made by Corleto made the difference between France and Argentina. However, actually it was Contepomi who from the very beginning of the match started to create pressure on France. Corleto also played very well in the match.

It was thought that Pool D is a pool of death and to many, it was only for the presence of Argentina in the pool. Now, it seems that competition is Pool D is going to be a hard for the first two places of the Pool. However, for the home crowed it would be very hard to bear this sorrow. However, France still have four matches and they can still get into the quarter final match.

Source:

Sky Sports

France vs Argentina: Argentina not to Repeat the Mistakes

Argentina is going to face France in the opening match of Rugby world cup 2007. The match will be held in 7 September. It is interesting that Argentina is going to play the opening match of rugby world cup third time in a row. In the last world cup tournaments, Argentina faced the host teams in the opening match of the competition. The only problem of playing the first match is pressure because rugby fans want some thing special from the first match and the opening match always gets extra focus.

Now, ahead of the opening match against France, the Argentine players are confident to play well and they do not repeat the performance of last two world cup tournament. In 2003, Argentina faced Australia in the first match and lost by 24-4. Four years earlier in 1999, France lost to Wales in the opening match by 23-18. So, it seems that opening match performance of Argentina is not so good. However, the opening match experience of Argentina will be an advantage it the upcoming opening match against France.

Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has said that they have analyzed the opening match of last two world cup. So, the mistakes they have done in those two matches, they will not repeat in the upcoming match.

Guardian reported:
"We gave away five penalties in the opening 20 minutes for going in early and that was a result of anxiety," Loffreda told reporters on Wednesday after naming his team for Friday's match.
"It's going to be very important how those opening minutes are played, when I think Argentina could become dominant.
"France are clearly the favourites, the whole setting will favour them but that could play against them.

With the France vs Argentina match, the home fans are really excited and they are expecting to see France as the winner of the match. It is true that France is one of the best rugby playing counties in the world. On the other hand, Argentina does not have any good track record in the history of rugby world cup. However, the most important thing is that Argentina is improving gradually which and they becoming stronger. So, France should not take Argentina lightly. Otherwise, the Rugby world cup 2007 may start with upset. Now, let us see what will happen in the opening match of the 2007 Rugby world cup.

France vs Argentina Preview: Rugby World Cup 2007

France and Argentina will meet each other in the opening match of Rugby world cup 2007. The match will be held at Stade de France in Paris. After the opening ceremony of Rugby world cup 2007, the first match of the world cup will be held. Actually, for Argentina, playing the opening match of Rugby world cup is not new. In the last two world cup competitions in 19991 and 2003, Argentina played the opening match of the competitions.

France vs Argentina match is expected to have huge excitement as Argentina is no longer an underdog team now. In the last two rugby world cup competition their performance was really praiseworthy. In 1999 rugby world cup in Wales, they played in the quarter final and from then on, Argentina’s performance graph is increasing day by day. In the last world cup in Australia they won two pool stage matches but they lost to Ireland by 15-16. Thus they could not qualify for the quarter final. Argentina participated in all previous rugby world cup tournaments.

However, France is definitely the favorite team in opening match against Argentina. France has a good track record in rugby world cup competitions. France has never missed their semi final appearance in any rugby world cup yet. Moreover, France has never lost any pool stage matches of rugby world cup. So, ahead of the opening match, French fans can be happy with that. However, there are some other facts that will not make their fans happy. In 2003 Rugby world cup, France lost two consecutive matches which is the first such instance for the French rugby team. France lost the semi final and bronze final matches in the last rugby world cup. France just needs 32 points to become the second team in the history of rugby world cup after New Zealand to have 1000 points in Rugby world cup. France has lost against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England in rugby world cup.

On the other hand, Argentina is not a big power in the rugby world. However, the most important point is that they are improving day by day. So, gradually they are becoming stronger. You can take the most recent match of Argentina against France as evidence of it. Argentina lost to France by 26-27 in November last year. So, no doubt, the first match of Rugby world cup 2007 between France and Argentina is going to be a classic one.

In head to heads, naturally France is ahead of Argentina. In their 39 meetings France won 30 matches whereas Argentina won eight while the other match was a draw. Actually this statistics does not say much about their recent performances. In the last five matches, Argentina won in four matches. So, you can easily understand that how much improvement this Latin side could have done in last few years. The way Argentina is improving seems excellent. I think, Argentina is going to be another power in rugby world. Their squad seems to be balanced and they have the ability to confront any big power of the rugby world at this moment. I know that Argentine fans expect to see Argentina qualify for the quarter final round in the upcoming rugby world cup.

France has recently declared their opening match squad. Cedric Heymans will join Clement Poitrenaud as the full back. Remy Martin will be playing in back row along with Serge Betsen and Imanol Harinordoquy. France includes five forwards in the match including Dusautoir and Bonnaire. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Frederic Michalak will play in the half-back position. Actually, French back is very reliable including Yannick Jauzion and Damien Traille in the midfield. In the two wings, Aurelien Rougerie and Christophe Dominici will play together.

I think, the opening match line up of France looks very strong. However, France can not relax at this moment as Argentina can come up with any surprise for them. I do not want to predict anything about the match beforehand. It is not possible to predict anything about a world cup match where both the teams are determined to win. Rather, it is better to enjoy the match. I just hope, fans will be able to experience a classic world cup opening match. Here, I am giving the opening match line up of France:

Team (15-1)

Cedric Heymans (Toulouse); Aurelien Rougerie (Clermont), Damien Traille (Biarritz), Yannick Jauzion (Toulouse), Christophe Dominici (Stade Francais); David Skrela (Stade Francais), Pierre Mignoni (Clermont); Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Remy Martin (Stade Francais), Serge Betsen (Biarritz); Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Fabien Pelous (Toulouse), Pieter de Villiers (Stade Francais), Raphael Ibanez (Wasps/ENG, capt), Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin)

Replacements: Dimtri Szarzewski (Stade Francais), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), Sebastien Chabal (Sale/ENG), Julien Bonnaire (Bourgoin), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Toulouse), Frederic Michalak (Sharks/RSA)

Source:

Sarugby.com

Expatica.com

Rugby World Cup 2007: France Aims at Wining First Rugby World Cup at Home

Rugby world cup 2007 is just a few days away. The tournament will begin from 7 September. In the opening day, Argentina will play against host France. So, fans of France rugby team are now eagerly waiting for the match. France has played in world cup final twice but could not lift the Webb Ellis Cup yet. In the first Rugby world cup in 1987, France played in the final against the winner New Zealand and in 1999 Rugby world cup, they played their second world cup final against Australia.

So, ahead of the Rugby world cup 2007 in their home soil, French rugby fans are now excited to see their team winning their first ever world cup title. Only South Africa has the distinction to win rugby world cup as the host. South Africa won 1995 Rugby world cup at their home soil. So, I think, it is clear enough that how much eager the people of France are to win a rugby world cup. Today while searching in the net, I got an article in Guardian.com where writer tried to find out some possible reasons of France’s lose to England in the semi final of last world cup in 2003. I want to share some lines from the article here:

France lost to England in the semi-final of the 2003 edition for two reasons: they could not impose themselves physically on the English at any point on the pitch, and Freddie Michalak - "mercurial", "inspired", the "French Carlos Spencer" - missed his kicks at goal. The English pack punished the French for daring to score an opportunistic try from a line out and took their points when they were offered. In other words, France were unable, or unwilling, to do the basics as well as the other team.

Well, the writer has given his/her opinions. However, I think, English side of last world cup was really very balanced and it is worthless to say that England deserved the cup in 2003. On the other hand, France team was not enough to resist the English side. A team can not play well everyday though consistency is really needed to win a big tournament like world cup. I think, that was just a bad day for France. This time, France looks strong and a combination of both young and experienced players. The squad seems to be balanced.

France will have home advantage in the upcoming tournament. So, the fans can hold their hope up for France this time. France will come up with strong challenges for the other favorites. Let us see if France can present with some memorable moments for the home crowd in Rugby world cup 2007.

Rugby World Cup 2007: Schedule of France

Rugby world cup 2007 is now knocking at the door. The tournament will start from 7 September 2007 in France. Twenty teams will participate in the tournament. Now, the teams and its coaches are busy with their last minute preparation. France as a host nation will have home team advantage. That is why, fans of France rugby team are now excited and they hope their team will win the first rugby world cup title at home.

France is one of the major teams in the rugby world and they are always considered as one of the favorite in world cup tournaments. France became runner up twice in Rugby world cup but they are unfortunate that they could not yet win the world cup trophy. France play in the final of 1987 and 1995 rugby world cup. France will play in Pool D along with Argentina, Namibia, Georgia and Ireland. France should qualify for the quarter final stage as the pool champion. In quarter final, France may face Scotland. However, it is just a simple prediction and in the pool stage matches anything can happen. Here, I am giving the pool stage schedule of France rugby squad for Rugby world cup 2007 below:

Pool D

Date	Competing Teams	Venue	Referee
7-9-2007	France vs Argentina	Saint-Denis	Tony Spreadbury (England)
16-9-2007	France vs Namibia	Toulouse	Alain Rolland (Ireland)
21-9-2007	France vs Ireland	Saint-Denis	Chris White (England)
30-9-2007	France vs Georgia	Marseille	Alan Lewis (Ireland)

I think, France is one of the strongest contenders of Rugby World Cup 2007. Coach Bernard Laporte has recently declared his 30 member squad where he did not included Oliver Magne, Pascal Papé and Thomas Castaignède. Pascal Papé is the former captain of France who captained France in New Zealand recently. Dimitri Yachvili could not make it to the world cup squad as coach has given the opportunity to Jean-Baptiste Elissalde. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde will join scrum-half Pierre Mignoni.

If you are interested to know about France squad of Rugby world cup 2007 then click here.