ARGENTINA booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 25-7 win over plucky Georgia yesterday but will need to make big improvements if they are to upset favourites New Zealand in the quarter-finals next Sunday.
Only needing a bonus point to progress to the knockout stages, Argentina cemented second spot in Pool B behind England with the victory but they struggled to quell their lower-ranked opponents in Palmerston North.
After a scoreless first 30 minutes Argentina winger Juan Jose Imhoff broke the deadlock when he crossed after the South Americans recycled quickly through a number of phases and stretched the Georgian defence to breaking point on their right flank.
But the Georgians struck back within five minutes to take a 7-5 lead into half-time after outhalf Lasha Khmaladze won the race to Lekso Gugava’s chip kick.
Argentinaregained the lead early in the second half after spending most of the first 10 minutes pounding the Georgian line, eventually earning a penalty close to the posts, before adding another penalty 10 minutes later.
Felipe Contepomi stretched the lead further in the 68th minute scoring on the left after a massive overlap. Replacement Agustin Gosio added another try just before the final whistle.
