Argentina 63-3 Namibia: Argentina made it three wins from three in overpowering Namibia 63-3 to gain a classy bonus-point win at the Stade Velodrome tonight and regain control of Pool D ahead of hosts France.
Argentina racked up nine tries against a flagging Namibia,
flyhalf Felipe Contepomi scoring the crucial fourth and weighing in
with 14 points from the boot and number eight Juan Manuel
Leguizamon helping himself to a brace.
The win left Argentina top of Pool D on 14 points, four ahead
of hosts France, who they beat 17-12 in the opening match of the
tournament, and five ahead of Ireland.
The Pumas need only earn a defensive bonus point in their
final game against Ireland to guarantee top spot and avoid a
quarter-final against the All Blacks.
The Marseille crowd were clearly hoping Argentina would slip
up and give France a chance of snatching first place, a huge roar
going up when flyhalf Morne Schreuder put Namibia in front with a
penalty in the seventh minute.
But their spirits were dampened when opposite number
Contepomi levelled the scores with another kick three minutes
later.
Contepomi settled an edgy Argentina when he kicked another
penalty to make it 6-3 after the video referee denied his brother
Manuel a try and the Pumas upped the pressure from the restart.
They got straight back in the Namibian 22 and laid siege to the
line with prop Rodrigo Roncero eventually piling his way over from
close range on 25 minutes.
With a try under their belt, the Pumas stepped up a gear and
crossed the line again 10 minutes later, number eight Leguizamon
striding across the line from five metres out after a sharp pick-up
off the back of a scrum.
Namibia barely had time to dust themselves down before Manuel
Contepomi scored his side's third try, diving over in the corner to
put the finishing touch to a sweeping passing move that helped the
Pumas to a 25-3 lead at the break.
Felipe grabbed the vital fourth try to earned his side the
bonus point when he sent the Namibian defence with a show of the
ball and then sped through the gap to score under the posts.
Leguizamon hammered home the advantage seven minutes later,
scoring his second when he sliced through the ragged Namibian
defence and the flood gates began to open with Argentina crossing
the line three more times in the next 10 minutes.
Centre Gonzalo Tiesi slid across the line after scrumhalf
Agustin Pichot had taken a quick tap penalty and fullback Ignacio
Corleto steamed over wide on the right after some quick recycling
at the ruck.
The half century was brought up when Namibia conceded a
penalty try just after the hour and replacement flyhalf Federico
Todeschini proved his fitness when he came on and scored the ninth
and final try.