Freddie Michalak chipped in with 24 points while Marcelo Bosch scored Argentina’s only try.

Saint-André, who took charge of France ahead of the RBS 6 Nations, has called on his players to not take next week’s clash with Samoa for granted after the Pacific Islanders downed Wales in Cardiff on Friday night.

He said: “Rugby is an alchemy, we need to remain humble because we saw the Welsh, who won the Grand Slam last spring and have now lost two in a row this autumn. And next Saturday the Samoans will arrive at the Stade de France.

“I’m pleased we managed to make it two wins in a row. I have to congratulate Pascal [Papé] and the players who didn’t panic despite a difficult start to the game.

“It was a strange match with two very different halves. In the first there was a lot of pace and intensity. Nicolas Mas asked me if there was any point having props with the first scrum coming in the 39th minute. After that there was more kicking, especially from Argentina.

“Vincent Clerc moved ahead of me in the all-time French try-scoring list. It’s good, I’m very pleased for him.”

Saint-André has called in four new faces for the clash with Samoa, uncapped pair Pierrick Gunther and Gael Fickou join the squad along with Benjamin Fall and Sebastien Vahaamahina. The squad will be reduced from 27 to 23 on Tuesday.