Rugby World Cup 2019: France survive stunning Argentina comeback to edge thriller
- Fight breaks out at final whistle as Les Bleus win 23-21 after nearly blowing 17-point lead in second half
- Emilliano Bofelli narrowly misses difficult long-range kick in 79th minute
France produced some champagne rugby before almost losing the plot and having to survive a last-gasp penalty to pip Argentina 23-21 in their World Cup opener on Saturday.
Fly half Romain Ntamack paced a schizophrenic French performance with 10 points as the three-time finalists hung on to win a pulsating pool C clash in Tokyo and leave the Pumas staring into the abyss in the tournament’s so-called group of death.
Argentina, who will now likely need to beat England to avoid an early exit, almost pulled off an astonishing comeback after being sent into battle by an emotional rallying cry from football legend Diego Maradona.
Trailing by 17 points at half-time, they fell just short after a last-minute penalty from Emiliano Boffelli sailed just wide, allowing France to claim a crucial victory.
A cagey opening was punctuated by some bone-shuddering tackles from both sides, Argentine fly half Nicolas Sanchez sent sprawling by prop Jefferson Poirot in a monster collision.