Argentina achieved their best-ever win over France, defeating the Six Nations grand slam champions 41-13 on Saturday.

The Pumas scored four tries to one, with fly-half Felipe Contepomi scoring two and adding three conversions and five penalties for a personal haul of 31 points.

It was a welcome return to winning ways for the South Americans, who lost both Test matches to Scotland at home earlier this month.

For France it brought the curtain down on a miserable mini summer tour, having been trounced 42-17 by world champions South Africa in Cape Town.

The previous worse result for the French against Argentina came in the third place play-off at the 2007 World Cup when they lost 34-10.

"It's desolation," said stunned France coach Marc Lievremont.

"I don't know how we could sink so badly in these few weeks, to suffer two points records in South Africa and now here in Argentina.

"I expected tough matches, but these defeats are ridiculous. It was a nightmare."

France skipper Thierry Dusautoir was equally despondent.

"When you concede 40 points in two successive Tests, there isn't a lot to say," he said.

"We can find 50 excuses, but today we came up against a team who were just much stronger than us. We were dominated in all areas and this was our level sadly today.

"For a team that has ambitions to be world champions next year, it's going to be difficult to pick ourselves up from this."

The French took the lead through a Jerome Porical penalty but two penalties from Contepomi gave the Pumas the lead, which they stretched to 19-6 at halftime.

France tried hard to get back into the game at the start of the second half with Julien Malzieu scoring a try after 49 minutes but that was as close as they got, as Argentina touched down for a third try through winger Rafael Carballo five minutes later.

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