Argentina 17 France 12
KEY POINTS:
Everyone this morning was talking about Argentina's thrilling upset win over Les Tricolores in the World Cup opener.
Here's a sampling of what the global rugby media are saying:
The Daily Mail (UK)
Argentina rang the neck of the cockerel here on a night that was meant to display the exuberance of French rugby to the world.
The old songs of the south gave way to jeers as the game's most upwardly mobile power rocked the hierarchy 80 minutes into a six-week competition.
Desperate spectators for much of the second half, the Pumas hung on through sheer tenacity after taking an early lead they never surrendered.
On this form the Six Nations committee would be wise to keep ignoring Argentina's claim for admission.
The home unions would be black and blue from trying to subdue their southern hemisphere brethren. France are already deeply wounded. defeat against Ireland here in 13 days could send them crashing out of their own tournament.
The Scotsman:
The result leaves Bernard Laporte's team struggling in a group in which they must now beat Ireland to retain hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals. The rest of the rugby world should be celebrating the fact this tournament has opened with a shock result, and the hope that it may signal more lively pool contests than in the past. Argentina, with so many of their players earning their living in France, were understandably ecstatic yet humble in victory.
The Daily Telegraph:
Hadn't the Pumas read the script? This was France's night, France's tournament, France's hour of glory. The unexpected is the essence of sport. Scripts are for those organising opening ceremonies. Argentina obeyed no dictates. Except the one that insists you play with heart and soul, as well as muscle and bone. Noble traditions.
The Times:
You could also see another thought forming over the Argentinians: we don't have to play. We don't have to take risks. We can sit back and soak these guys up. Weasel words: a tactic of fear. Our discipline, in short, versus your creativity. Argentina slowed everything down, broke the flow, lay on the ground and yelled for the trainer. France huffed, puffed and searched for a score: searched, above all, for themselves.
International Herald Tribune:
A nation's high expectations of a first World Cup title simply got to the French team. Les Tricolores lost the opening game to Argentina 17-12 and all that brash title talk became little more than a whisper.The team atmosphere leading up to Friday's opening match was of a serene French squad confident of overcoming the Pumas and getting their bid for a first World Cup title off to the perfect start.France was unable to get its running game together and failed to score a try - a rarity for coach Bernard Laporte's attack-minded side.
- NZHERALD STAFF
