France exacted revenge for last week and recorded a comprehensive 49-10 victory over Argentina in their Test at Estadio José Fierro on Saturday.
In contrast to their clash in Cordoba, les Bleus looked a different side as their six changes paid off as Benjamin Fall and Maxime Mermoz shone.
First-half tries in Tucumán came from Fall, Yoann Huget and also Maxime Machenaud as it seemed Philippe Saint-Andre's rallying call had worked.
A slip into their infuriating style of looking for the drop-goal was looking like taking the gloss off what was a decent showing from the French. But they thankfully reverted back to what had worked earlier as Mermoz swapped from being provider to scorer with a long-range breakout from his own 22 before Huget grabbed his brace. Clermont's Alexandre Lapandry barged over for their last try.
The third-string Pumas, who are resting over 20 first-team players ahead of their big 2012 Rugby Championship debut, did get over the whitewash in the closing stages when Tomas De la Vega capitalised on weak fringe defence to allow Felipe Contepomi the final scoring act before he heads back to club duty.
France's victory ended a run of four straight internationals without a win.
Argentina coach Santiago Phelan meanwhile will now look ahead to the Pumas' Rugby Championship opener against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town on August 18.
Man-of-the-match: Yoann Huget and Benjamin Fall impressed on the wings but for his creativity, Maxime Mermoz take this. A classy showing and he was deserving of his try.
Moment-of-the-match: As soon as Maxime Mermoz broke the line on twelve minutes before drawing the last man to set up Benjamin Fall, one just got the feeling Argentina were not going to be as sturdy as last week. So it proved as the half-time scoreline of 30-3 said it all.
Villain-of-the-match: Few handbags here and there but nothing major.
The scorers:
For Argentina:
Try: De la Vega
Con: Contepomi
Pen: Contepomi
For France:
Tries: Fall, Huget 2, Machenaud, Mermoz, Lapandry
Con: Michalak 5
Pen: Michalak 3
Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Facundo Barrea, 13 Agustin Gosio, 12 Felipe Contepomi (c), 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomas Leonardi, 6 Tomas De la Vega, 5 Esteban Lozada, 4 Julio Farias Cabello, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Andres Bordoy, 1 Eusebio Guinazu.
Replacements: 16 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Santiago Guzman, 19 Benjamin Macome, 20 Rodrigo Baez, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Gabriel Ascarate.
France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Benjamin Fall, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Yoann Huget, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Alexandre Lapandry, 5 Yoan Maestri, 4 Pascal Pape (c), 3 David Attoub, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Vincent Debaty.
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Thomas Domingo, 18 Christopher Samson, 19 Wenceslas Lauret, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Francois Trinh Duc, 22 Wesley Fofana.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
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