Ledesma jokes French players 'went off' with Argentine women

NOVEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Argentina coach Mario Ledesma said the Test match against France on Saturday had added spice because of close links between the two teams.

He even joked that "quite a few [French] players from the 1980s went off with our women".

France toured Argentina on three different occasions between 1985-1988.

"We're both Latin, we have family links. It [the fixture] has always had a special feel to it. Quite a few players from the 1980s went off with our women," he added with a smile.

Ledesma is one of many Argentinians to have played and coached French clubs having worked with the likes of Montpellier and Stade Francais as well as having worn the colours of Clermont, Castres and Narbonne.

The Pumas play France in Lille on Saturday with the two sides looking for confidence-boosting victories less than a year away from the Rugby World Cup where they will meet in their opening fixture of the tournament.

Ledesma praised Jacques Brunel's outfit despite a poor current record of only two wins in nine games this year.

"I understand the results haven't been impressive but they've been up there with the best," he said.

"They were on par with Ireland and England and almost beat a vastly-improved South Africa," Ledesma added.

Agence France-Presse