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PARIS - France captain Raphael Ibanez accused Argentina of playing dirty in Friday's bad-tempered World Cup third-place playoff won 34-10 by the Pumas.
"There were attitudes from them on the pitch that had nothing to do with what you would expect from rugby players," an angry Ibanez told reporters.
"I'd like to thank them for teaching me just about every insult in Spanish," added the 34-year-old, who lost his cool and was sin-binned late in the first half.
The Wasps hooker, in possibly his last international, was then substituted and did not return to the Parc des Princes pitch.
"I was so worked up maybe it was better that way," said Ibanez.
Argentina, who also beat France in the opening game of the tournament, ran in five tries to end their campaign in style.
Ibanez blamed the Pumas for persistently infringing in the rucks and provoking scuffles.
"There were some deplorable outbursts which had nothing to do with rugby," he said before blaming referee Paul Honiss, who gave two yellow cards to Argentina players, for being too lenient.
"There are people whose job it is to control what happens around the rucks. When you have players who keep lying over the ball and stop you from releasing it, something must be done."
The hosts knew the Argentines well as most of them play for top French clubs and also because the two national sides have met regularly over the years.
"We made them welcome and there you go," said Ibanez, a veteran of three World Cups who will continue playing at least at club level.
"They're a formidable side with an exceptional generation of players but things happened in that match I will never forget."
- REUTERS
