2007 Rugby World Cup: Argentina shock France in tournament opener
{{date|September 7, 2007}}
{{footballbox|
date=September 7, 2007<br>21:00 (UTC+2) |
team1=[[w:France national rugby union team|France]] [[Image:Flag of France.svg|20px]] |
score= 12 – 17 |
team2=[[Image:Flag of Argentina.svg|20px]] [[w:Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]] |
report= |
goals1='''Pen:''' [[w:David Skrela|D Skrela]] (4) 7', 31', 40', 60'|
goals2='''Try:''' [[w:Ignacio Corleto|I Corleto]] 27'<br>'''Pen:''' [[w:Felipe Contepomi|F Contepomi]] (4) 5', 10', 24', 34'|
stadium=[[w:Stade de France|Stade de France]], [[w:Paris|Paris]] |
referee=[[w:Tony Spreadbury|Tony Spreadbury]] [[Image:Flag of England.svg|20px]]}}

[[Image:RugbyWorldCup2007.png|left|200px]]
[[Image:2007 Corleto Paris.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Corleto running to french in-goal <small>Image: [[commons:User:Fabienkhan|F Dany]]</small>]]
Tournament hosts [[France]] slumped to a shock defeat against [[Argentina]] in the opening match of the [[w:2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 Rugby World Cup]].

France looked shaky, making errors throughout and Argentina took the lead early on through [[w:Penalty (rugby)|penalties]] from [[w:Felipe Contepomi|Felipe Contepomi]]. [[w:Ignacio Corleto|Ignacio Corleto]] scored the only [[w:Try|try]] of the match for Argentina in the 27th minute, but Contepomi missed the conversion, hitting the post. At half time Argentina led by 17 points to 9, with all France's points coming from penalties scored by [[w:David Skrela|David Skrela]].

Although France improved in the second half, Argentina's strong defence held them off and France were only able to close the lead to five points when David Skrela scored his fourth penalty of the match in the 60th minute. Skrela and his replacement [[w:Frederic Michalak|Frederic Michalak]] both missed penalties, damaging French chances of a comeback.

This is the first time that the French have lost during the pool stages of the World Cup.

2003 champions [[w:England national rugby union team|England]] start defending their title tomorrow when they play the [[w:United States national rugby union team|United States]]. [[w:Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] face [[w:Japan national rugby union team|Japan]] while [[w:All Blacks|New Zealand]], who are one of the favourites to win the tournament, play [[w:Italy national rugby union team|Italy]].

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
{{commons|Category:2007 Rugby World Cup France vs Argentine|2007 Rugby World Cup - France vs Argentine}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6975751.stm
|title=France 12 - 17 Argentina
|author=
|pub=BBC Sport
|date=September 7, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=100/match=10073/report.html#argentina+stun+france+opening+match
|title=Argentina stun France in opening match
|author=
|pub=Rugby World Cup
|date=September 7, 2007}}

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Rugby]]
[[Category:Rugby World Cup]]
[[Category:France]]
[[Category:Argentina]]

[[es:Los Pumas vencen a Francia y comienza la Copa Mundial de Rugby]]
[[fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : la France chute devant l'Argentine]]
[[it:Rugby Coppa del Mondo 2007: incontro inaugurale, Argentina - Francia 17-12]]
200px
F Dany
Tournament hosts France slumped to a shock defeat against Argentina in the opening match of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

France looked shaky, making errors throughout and Argentina took the lead early on through penalties from Felipe Contepomi. Ignacio Corleto scored the only try of the match for Argentina in the 27th minute, but Contepomi missed the conversion, hitting the post. At half time Argentina led by 17 points to 9, with all France's points coming from penalties scored by David Skrela.

Although France improved in the second half, Argentina's strong defence held them off and France were only able to close the lead to five points when David Skrela scored his fourth penalty of the match in the 60th minute. Skrela and his replacement Frederic Michalak both missed penalties, damaging French chances of a comeback.

This is the first time that the French have lost during the pool stages of the World Cup.

2003 champions England start defending their title tomorrow when they play the United States. Australia face Japan while New Zealand, who are one of the favourites to win the tournament, play Italy.

es:Los Pumas vencen a Francia y comienza la Copa Mundial de Rugby
fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : la France chute devant l'Argentine
it:Rugby Coppa del Mondo 2007: incontro inaugurale, Argentina - Francia 17-12
Sports Rugby Rugby World Cup France Argentina