David Skrela booted all of France's points as the home side secured a gritty yet welcome 12-6 rugby union Test victory over bogey team Argentina in Marseille.

The Toulouse fly-half kicked a drop goal and three penalties while Argentina - who had beaten the hosts in six of their last seven matches including twice at the World Cup last year - relied on two penalties from captain Felipe Contepomi.

Man of the match Louis Picamoles admitted it had been hard graft but said a win was a win whatever the spectacle.

"Playing Argentina is always a tough call and one knows that one will have to work hard for the victory but we got the result tonight," said Picamoles.

"Obviously, one wants to win impressively but for us this was a good result.

"We will still have to work on things next week so we can improve against the Pacific Islands."

France opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Skrela with a dropped goal from 20 metres - just minutes after the Argentinians had missed a penalty through Contepomi.

The Argentinians struggled for fluency in the first-half, Contepomi's rare miss compounded by Juan Martin Hernandez drilling a clearing kick straight into touch with the player known as the "Magic Man" left shake of his head.

However, they did draw level in the 28th minute when French No.8 Louis Picamoles was penalised by referee Jonathan Kaplan and Contepomi this time took his opportunity.

Skrela, though, restored the hosts three-point lead a minute later with a finely-taken penalty and extended it in the 33rd minute with a superb one from long distance.

Contepomi had rediscovered his kicking touch and landed a stunning penalty from wide out on the left four minutes from the half-time whistle to keep the Pumas well in contact.

The second-half yielded little for the first 15 minutes or so save that rather surprisingly captain Lionel Nallet was replaced by France's iconic figure from the 2007 World Cup Sebastien Chabal - shortly before centre Benoit Baby missed a kickable penalty.

Chabal was relieved to at last have recorded a victory over the Pumas.

"It was complicated but we got there in the end against a tough side," said Chabal.

"Victory is important but we can play better. However, we will take pleasure out of it."

Both sides battered away at each other for the rest of the half but found little leeway in breaking through either team's defences save for a final minute penalty from Skrela.

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