Argentina 41 - 13 France: French mauled by wounded Pumas

SCOTLAND's Test series win in Argentina this month was put into startling perspective at the weekend when the Pumas bounced back to post a record-breaking 41-13 hiding of Six Nations champion France.

Captain Felipe Contepomi tallied a career-best 31 points in brilliant fashion, scoring two of the Pumas' four tries, converting three, and nailing all five penalty attempts.

Argentina achieved their highest score and biggest margin against France.

After the visitors tied the score on penalties at 6-6 after 17 minutes, Contepomi's third penalty in the 26th following turnover ball put Argentina in front for good.

A fourth penalty made it 12-6, then from the restart, livewire No8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe began and finished an attack from his own half.

Within eight minutes of the second-half, Contepomi crossed for his first try. Minutes later, France finally responded with a Julien Malzieu try, but scores from Martin Rodriguez and Contepomi sealed the record win and their captain's record points tally .

Scorers: Argentina: Tries: Fernandez Lobbe, Contepomi 2, Amorosino. Cons: Contepomi 3. Pens: Contepomi 5. France: Tries: Malzieu. Cons: Parra. Pens: Porical, Parra.

Argentina: Rodriguez, Amorosino, Tiesi, Fernandez (Agulla 77), Carballo, Contepomi, Vergallo, Roncero (Ayerza 62), Ledesma (Creevy 65), Scelzo (Figallo 56), Carizza, Albacete, Fessia, Campos (Leguizamon 55), Fernandez Lobbe. Replacements: Galarza, Figuerola.

France: Porical, Clerc, Fritz, Mazars (Poitrenaud 50), Malzieu, Trinh-Duc, Parra (Yachvili 61), Barcella, Szarzewski (Guirado 61), Mas (Poux 72), Pape, Nallet (Pierre 50), Dusautoir, Picamoles, Bonnaire (Lamboley 50). Replacements: Rougerie.