Where to see France-Argentina and five things to know about the first test match of the Blues

Where to follow the Blues match

The kickoff of the first test match of the XV of France against Argentina will be given at 9 p.m. at the Stade de France.

A meeting broadcast live on France 2, commented by Matthieu Lartot and Dimitri Yachvili.

The match can also be followed on lefigaro.fr/sports with the spirited Quentin Gesp.

This meeting will be refereed by New Zealander Ben O'Keeffe.

Read also Rugby: at what time and on which channels are the international weekend tests scheduled?

Dupont, a captain in figures

In the absence of Charles Ollivon, injured, it is Antoine Dupont (24 years old, 32 caps) who was appointed captain of the Blues, preferred by the staff to Gaël Fickou, Anthony Jelonch, Grégory Alldritt or Julien Marchand.

Fabien Galthié justified his choice by highlighting the qualities of

of Toulouse.

At the Stade de France, Antoine Dupont will become the 96th captain of the XV of France.

It will also be the 18th time that a scrum-half wears the French captain's armband, the last three having been Baptiste Couilloud, Baptiste Serin and Morgan Parra.

Coach Fabien Galthié - also number 9 - had also assumed this function from 1999 and until the 2003 World Cup.

The last victory of the Pumas in France

The last victory of the Argentines in France is not so far away. It dates from November 2014. At the time, Philippe Saint-André's team lost 13-18 at the Stade de France, after chasing the score the whole match. A big quack for the Blues who had ended their autumn tour on this setback after beating Fiji (40-15) and Australia (29-26). Always so combative, the teammates of Nicolas Sanchez (author of three drops and two penalties) had also shone by the quality of their offensive play. The Blues had to wait until the 37th minute to score their first points, a penalty from Camille Lopez who had missed two before. At the very end of the match, the back Scott Spedding had the match point, he had collapsed in the Argentine in-goal,but three Pumas had prevented him from scoring. Frustrating, a term that often came up to talk about the matches of the XV of France ...

To read alsoXV of France: Jalibert and Ntamack associated against Argentina, Villière and Haouas holders

Two neo-capes facing the Argentines?

When the group of 42 players called up to prepare for this autumn tour was announced, there were nine of them without any selection: Thibaud Flament (Toulouse), Florian Verhaghe (Montpellier), Thierry Paiva (UBB), Wilfrid Hounkpatin (Castres), Romain Buros (UBB), Maxime Lucu (UBB), Matthis Lebel (Toulouse), Donovan Taofifenua (Racing 92) and Florent Vanverberghe (Castres).

Only Thibaud Flament and Florian Verhaghe had never been summoned to Marcoussis, the others having been called before without honoring their first cape.

This Saturday, Toulouse second-row Thibaud Flament, holder alongside Paul Willemse, will honor his first international selection.

He could be imitated by the Girondin scrum half Maxime Lucu, if he enters during the game.

Argentina, bête noire of the Blues?

French and Argentineans have faced each other 52 times since 1949. Before Saturday's match, France won 37 times, Argentina 14 and the two teams drew once (17-17, in 1977 to l 'Estadio Ferro Carril Oeste of Buenos Aires).

The biggest French victory dates back to June 23, 2012 in Tucuman (10-49, +39).

The biggest victory for the Pumas over the Blues had taken place two years earlier, on June 26, 2010, in Buenos Aires (41-13, +28).

Note that the Argentines have won 10 of the 18 confrontations since the early 2000s. The Blues have nevertheless won their last three matches against the Gauchos.

Read also Rugby: Argentina with 11 Top 14 players to face the Blues

First Southern Nation Reception

Due to the health crisis, Fabien Galthié's Blues had to wait before rubbing shoulders with the nations of the southern hemisphere.

Last summer, with a heavily reworked team deprived of its executives, the French signed a convincing tour of the Wallabies: two short setbacks and a first success on the island-continent since 1990. This Saturday, France will play his first home game against a southern nation, Argentina.

And, after having faced Georgia, will stand the ogre All Black, the world reference that the Blues have not beaten on their land since ... 2000 and a 43-31 success at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.