France football team out of World cup fans focus on Rugby France vs Argentina rugby preview
It may not be the World Cup, but France can score some sporting redemption with a win on over Argentina on Saturday in rugby.
The 2010 Six Nations Cup winners would like a win to reverse a couple of losses, but this tired squad might have a tough time when they face Argentina on the road. They looked simply too tired to put up much of a fight against the South Africans recently, losing 42-17. And they’ll be a little bruised in battered. With the constant strain a rugby match can put on the body, France’s players, many of whom are coming off of a gruelling regular season with their club teams, will have to dig deep to give a hard push to beat the Argentinians.
Coach Marc Lievremont spoke to media about this recently.
"It is always the case at the end of the season. It is always difficult to find a cohesion. Bodies are tired, the players are weary and that is entirely understandable," said coach Marc Lièvremont.
As the winners of the Six Nations Cup, France is in some ways to standard-bearer of rugby in the Northern hemisphere, and look to take that title with pride against the Argentinians.
Argentina digs in, looks to continue success against France
If France is looking to overcome Argentina, they’ll have to do it against a very determined side that had its pride hurt against Scotland recently. The Scottish team, which has looked better as of late came to Argentina and beat them twice on home soil, so the Pumas will be determined not to let France do the same thing.
They’ll have history on their side, too. The past two times the French have showed up in Argentina they’ve been beaten, and the Pumas as 6-2 against France at home.
But this is a match either team can win, and the Argentinians will simply have to do better about powering the ball to their opponents’ end. They’ve been unable to score many tries recently, having to settle instead for kicking for points. France does have a physical squad and will test what has been an underpowered Argentinian side.
More importantly, they’ll need to keep their discipline, something they sorely lacked against Scotland and paid for it throughout those matches. If the Argentinians want to beat France, they’ll need to keep their heads about them to do it.
Santiago Phelan, Argentina’s coach, is keeping his line-up that lost to Scotland substantially intact, making only three changes in the starting 15. Flanker Alejandro Campos will get the nod, and Phelan is attempting to shore-up his back line with Nicolas Vergallo and Rafael Carbello.
France wants consistency
The French team has wavered between excellence and mediocrity this year. After their sweep of the Six Nations Cup, they stunned the South African Springboks with a victory at home. But they’ll then they haven’t looked quite as impressive. But with the final game of the season, they’ll want to cap off what has truly been a season to be proud of with a victory in South America.
For France, this problem may simply be motivation. Captain Thierry Dusautoir noted that after having won the Six Nations Cup, becoming motivated for international friendly tests wasn’t quite as easy.
“"At one time, we had the idea that our work was done," he said. "This tour was not a priority in everyone's head.”
They recently played a warm-up match against the Argentina A-side, which they won 37-14, showing they still have the form to win.
Look for France to get a bit of consolation for the World Cup with a win to close out their season. While their players might be more tired, they should have the discipline and strength advantage to take out the Argentinians.
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