No handicap for Argentina in World Cup final bow

So here we are then. After 46 games, and it is back to square one. France take on Argentina for a second time this Rugby World Cup and despite everything that we have learnt in the past few weeks, the Pumas are once again massive underdogs. How can anyone have forgotten that just a few weeks ago, France lost 17-12 to the South Americans and have now won just two of their last seven encounters? How can it have been missed, once again, that almost half of Argentina's squad live and work in the host country and will almost consider this contest as a home game? How on earth are the Pumas as big as 7-2 with anyone? This will probably be the most fiercely contested third-place play-off that there has ever been in a Rugby World Cup. Usually, teams are still considering what might have been when they come into this particular match-up. Not this time. France have lost twice on home soil so far and will be desperate to give their fans a performance that they deserve. They have, after all, been wonderful. Argentina on the other hand are of the opinion that the higher they finish in this Rugby World Cup, the more likely they are to be accepted in to rugby's fraternity and be offered a place in one of the big yearly tournaments. It is something they are more than worthy of. France rugby coach Bernard Laporte has made sweeping changes to the XV that lost 14-9 to England in the World Cup semi-finals last week and although they were clearly wise to the tactic in the first match, the French will be on guard against fly half Juan Martin Hernandez attempting drop goals. It is, after all, the method of scoring that felled them in the semi-final. Argentina will continue their aerial bombardment of France's half of the pitch and will hope that the ball bounces right for them. I see there being just one reason why punters should give Argentina the swerve in the match betting. The fact that after all they have achieved, all those tears at national anthem time, all the smiles, all the passion and vigour they have put into this game, they are tired. Their inspirational skipper Agustin Pichot said as much after the quarter-final win against Scotland. He said after the 19-13 victory: " We are tired. We had two very difficult matches against France and Ireland". The side looked a bit flat after that success and it was disappointing that South Africa put four tries past them - more than the Pumas had conceded all tournament. Tack on to that the fact that the last three teams to contest the second semi-final have all lost this particular contest and Argentina may well have less in the tank than the hosts. Stick to the handicaps for safety. Verdict: 2pts Argentina +12 @ evens (Bet365)