Argentina beat Ireland and top Pool D
30-Sep-2007
A well played, strategic match by the Pumas gave them a 30-15 win over Ireland and secured their position in the quarterfinals as the top team of Pool D.
Ireland knew they faced an uphill battle, needing to score at least four tries while also preventing Argentina from picking up a bonus point. They started the match off with some fierce attacking and opted to kick for touch during penalties rather than kicking for goal. But Argentina maintained a disciplined game and made life difficult for the Irish by sending the ball deep into Irish territory whenever they could, and by kicking drop-goals and penalties to keep the pressure on their opposition.
Argentina's Lucas Borges scored the first try in the 17th minute but Ireland narrowed the gap to 2 points moments later with a penalty kick by Ronan O'Gara. Looking to keep a lead, Juan Martín Hernández replied with a drop-goal a minute later to put the Pumas up 8-3. Ireland thought they were in with a chance towards the end of the first half as captain Brian O'Driscoll scored a try to put the men in green into the lead for the first time in the match, but their lead was short-lived as Hernández struck back with another drop-goal which was followed up with a try ba Horacio Agulla just before halftime.
Ireland went into the second half under immense pressure, still needing at least three tries in order to make the quarterfinals and a try by Geordan Murphy in the 47th minute looked to lift the team's spirits as they felt their hopes were still alive. But the Argentinians kept their cool and avoided giving Ireland any good chances by sending the ball into Irish territory and capitalising on Ireland's mistakes with accurate penalty shots. Hernández kicked another drop-goal in the final minute to put the icing on the cake for Argentina with a definitive 30-15 win.
The Pumas have finished the group games at the top of Pool D, thus avoiding a quarterfinal playoff against the All Blacks. They will meet Scotland in Saint-Denis on October 7 with their sites now firmly set on the semifinals or beyond.
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