Pumas take giant step to quarters

[Jehna]

Pumas take giant step to quarters
From Luke Phillips in Marseille, France
September 23, 2007
ARGENTINA hammered Namibia 63-3 in Marseille today, claiming a vital bonus point to take pole position for a Rugby World Cup quarter-finals berth from Pool D.

The Pumas' place as either No.1 or No.2 in the pool will now be decided by the result of their final game against Ireland in Paris on September 30, with France expected to claim a bonus-point victory against Georgia on the same day.

The team that finishes second in the pool is drawn to play tournament favourite New Zealand in the quarter-finals in Cardiff, while the top team is likely to play either Scotland or Italy.

The Pumas, who had already beaten France 17-12 and Georgia 33-3, scored nine tries through Rodrigo Roncero, Juan Manuel Leguizamon (2), Manuel and Felipe Contempomi, Gonzalo Tiesi, Igancio Corleto and Federico Todeschini as well as a penalty try.

Felipe Contempomi also contributed 14 points with the boot before going off with 20 minutes to play.

Pumas captain Agustin Pichot said it had been mission accomplished.
"It was important to get the bonus point,'' said the veteran scrum-half, playing in his fourth World Cup. "We knew Namibia would give everything. However, next week is going to be tough against the Irish. Namibia was always going to give it their best and made us work hard, but we kept our composure.''

For Nambibia coach Hakkies Husselman, it was a step or two up the ladder too far for his mainly part-time side. "They played very professionally against us, but it was too far for us,'' said Husselman, who at 34 is the youngest coach at the World Cup. "The guys played very well, especially the forwards.''

Namibia's third-choice fly-half, Morne Schreuder, opened the scoring with a seventh-minute penalty, but his underpowered team was never in the reckoning to avoid extending its Rugby World Cup losing streak to 10 matches.

Contempomi hit back with two penalties of his own, making up for the early play of the Pumas' backs which was marred by a string of forward passes and knock-ons.

Argentina's well-drilled forward pack completely dominated Namibia in the set pieces, but the African minnows, led by irrepressible openside flanker Jacques Burger, were always eager at the breakdown, forcing a number of turnovers.

The Pumas finally scored a try in the 27th minute, through prop Roncero, bundled over after a powerful rolling maul. The forwards were again on hand to destroy the Namibian scrum from five metres, and No 8 Leguizamon had no problem crashing over.

Argentina scored a third try on the stroke of half-time in a rare successful flowing move, Tiesi's long pass finding Manuel Contempomi who did well to touch down in the corner despite a desperate tackle by the covering Heini Bock.

Felipe Contempomi hit the touchline conversion and opened the scoring early in the second- alf, sidestepping Schreuder and gliding in under the posts for a try he also converted.

Leguizamon then waltzed over for his second and Tiesi crossed for a well-deserved try with the Namibian defence caught napping.

Full back Corleto was next to touch down, swiftly followed by a penalty try awarded by Australian referee Stuart Dickinson after the underpressure Namibian scrum had collapsed once too often on its try line.

Replacement Todeschini - who was almost on the verge of being sent home earlier in the week because of a worry over an injury - also scored as the game wound down with a raft of replacements in the final 20 minutes quarter.

Agence France-Presse

[hopep]

Has any one else noted that Los Pumas are the only team in the tournament to have NO TRIES scored against them?
They deserve to win their pool. If they can take 4 tries against Ireland they will top the pool, then face Scotland followed by South Africa. I'm keepin my fingers crossed for them.

[GIGS20]

I think this will become the story of the cup Australia v Argentina in the final, stuff that right up the IRB and SANZAR for not finding a spot for them to play.