Oct 20, 2007, 0:50 GMT
Paris - Upstarts Argentina capped a marvelous run in the Rugby World Cup by thrashing hosts France 34-10 in the match for third place, played Friday at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
Player of the Year candidate Felipe Contepomi scored 19 points, including two tries, as the Pumas proved superior to the French in almost every aspect of the game.
If anyone had thought that this 'small final,' as the French call it, would be lacking in passion and commitment, they were soon proven wrong by the fierceness of the tackling and the testiness of the players.
New Zealand referee Paul Honiss, who broke Welshman Derek Bevan's record by overseeing his 45th Test match, had difficulty keeping control of the match, and ended the first half by sending two players, France captain Raphael Ibanez and Argentina's Rimas Alvarez Kairelis, to the sin bin.
By that time, the Argentine's had built a 17-3 lead on ferocious defence, opportunistic offence and a series of French errors.
However, the French began the match with the kind of offensive flair that was missing in their 14-9 semi-final loss to England, and spent most of the first 20 minutes of the game in the Argentine half. But all they could reap from their domination was a Jean-Baptiste Elissalde penalty kick at 18 minutes.
The Pumas evened the score the first time they threatened offensively, with Felipe Contepomi converting a penalty at 21 minutes.
Contepomi scored his first try the second time Argentina ventured deep into French territory, touching down in the 28th minute off a clever pass from captain Agustin Pichot. Contepomi converted and the Pumas led 10-3.
Four minutes later, the Pumas recovered a ball in a breakdown and prop Omar Hassan Jalil bulled over the try line. Contepomi converted again, to expand the lead to 17-3.
France had the ball inside the Argentine 5-metre line for the last 10 minutes of the first half, but they were unable to break down the Argentine defence.
With the two sides playing with 14 men, the French opened the second half with another serious offensive thrust, but could not make an impression. Instead, it was the Pumas who created the most spectacular play of the match, again after a ball recovered on the ground.
The play was ignited by a brilliant solo run by fullback Ignacio Corleto and covered 60 metres and the entire breadth of the pitch before wing Federico Martin Aramburu touched down in the 53rd minute.
Ten minutes later, Argentina's Juan Manuel Leguizamon was sent off for 10 minutes for a late tackle, but this did not faze the Argentines. Again they recovered a French handling mistake, and Corleto sprinted 80 metres for his side's fourth try, at 65 minutes.
The French saved some honour by exploiting their one-man advantage when fullback Clement Poitrenaud scored a try at 69 minutes, to reduce the score to 27-10 after Lionel Beauxis converted.
But the Pumas replied quickly, with Contepomi registering his second try in the 77th minute. He converted to end the day's scoring and cap a famous Argentine victory.
For Argentina, the victory represented a stunning turnaround after they were overwhelmed 37-13 by South Africa in last Sunday's semi-final, their only loss of the tournament against six victories.
Argentina head coach Marcelo Loffreda was delighted with the performance of his team in the match and in the entire tournament.
'We have lost only one game, against South Africa. We couldn't play for first place but we knew today was very important for us. I am very happy, I am very proud. The pride, mentality and toughness were extremely important in this game,' Loffreda said.
Alejandro Risler, the chairman of the Argentine Rugby Union, said, 'It's an enormous joy. We are convinced that they (the Argentine players) have achieved something spectacular, and there is no doubt that Argentine rugby is going to benefit from this.'
After their best-ever performance in the World Cup, the Argentines will be looking to be invited to a major annual tournament, such as the Six Nations in Europe or the Tri Nations in the Southern Hemisphere.
Ibanez, who was playing in his 98th, and last, Test match, was full of praise for the winners.
'I am not sure there has ever been such a strong generation of Argentinian rugby players (as this), but from the French point of view we'll be preparing for the next France-Argentina (match).'
The defeat ends a very disappointing World Cup for France, who had galvanized the country by defeating favourites New Zealand in the quarter-final.
But a bitter loss to England in the semi-final and the jeering of the crowd at the Parc des Princes at the final whistle on Friday spoiled what was to have been an exciting rugby party for the hosts.
On Saturday, 1995 champion South Africa will be favoured when they face holders England in the World Cup final at the Stade de France, outside Paris.
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