A new chapter in one of Global Rugby’s great rivalries is set to begin. Argentina play host to France in a two match series, the first of which will be played in Mendoza on Saturday. It falls 75 years after intentional competition between Argentina and France began in 1949.
Argentina enter the match with Felipe Contepomi now in charge; the World Cup 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 Puma is now Head Coach. He earned 87 caps as a player. His opposite, Fabien Galthié, earned 64 caps for France and played at Rugby World Cups 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003.
High expectation surrounded Galthié’s Bleus at Rugby World Cup 2023. France opened the tournament against New Zealand and won. Les Bleus got past Uruguay, Namibia and Italy but were eliminated by South Africa in the Quarter Finals.
Argentina’s World Cup pathway started poorly against England but picked-up with good wins over Samoa, Chile, Japan and a Quarter Final win over Wales. The tournament ended with Argentina fourth, a return considered successful when compared to Australia, France, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
The tour represents the start of the new World Cup cycle for Argentina while France started earlier with the 2024 Six Nations. The line-ups named by Contepomi and Galthié do not represented this. On the one hand, Contepomi has opted for continuity. On the other hand, Galthié’s team is utterly different to that from February and March. The World Cup and the late end to the Top 14 season are leading factors.
