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Argentina move into top gear as they hammer Namibia in last group game

Argentina's PJ van Lill dives to score a try against Namibia
Argentina's PJ van Lill dives to score a try against Namibia
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Nine Argentina players scored tries as the Pumas geared up for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a 64-19 demolition of Namibia in their final Pool C game on Sunday.

Juan Martin Hernandez, one of the standouts of the side that reached the 2007 semi-finals and handed a rare outing in the number 10 shirt, set the ball rolling with the opening score.

Matias Moroni, with his first international try, Horacio Agulla, Facundo Isa and Lucas Noguera crossed before the break.

Matias Alemanno, Leonardo Senatore, Julian Montoya and  Tomas Cubelli joined the fun in the second half as Argentina steamrolled their way to victory.

Namibia's scores came from Johan Tromp, JC Greyling and Eugene Jantjies.

The Pumas, runners-up in their pool behind New Zealand, will face either Ireland and France in the last eight in Cardiff next weekend.

There was no Diego Maradona for inspiration this week, but Argentina didn’t need the country’s most famous sportsman at the Leicester City Stadium.

Maradona (pictured), who danced in the changing room following last week's defeat of Tonga, says he will return if the Pumas make the semi-finals.

Namibia exited by making another impression following their first World Cup point last Wednesday in Exeter, a losing bonus against Georgia.

They scored three tries as Johan Tromp capitalised on poor Pumas handling while down to 14 men.

JC Greyling punished another Argentina mistake early in the second half and Eugene Jantjies scored the game's final try right at the death.

It was not an entirely convincing performance by Argentina, but it did not need to be and head coach Daniel Hourcade will likely revert to his first-choice XV for the last-eight clash against either France or Ireland.

Greyling was sin-binned for a high tackle on Hernandez, allowing Iglesias to kick the Pumas ten points ahead.

It appeared Argentina had relaxed too much when a series of handling mistakes allowed Tromp to hack through and collect his own kick before scoring.

Moroni claimed a deserved score when he came in off his wing and brushed aside four would-be tacklers to saunter in under the posts.

Agulla, now of Bath, scored on the overlap but only after Iglesias appeared to obstruct a defender. The Television Match Official sided with the Pumas.

Another former Tiger, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, embarked on a crowd-pleasing 70-metre run which began when he took a mark in his own 22 and ended when he knocked the ball on.

The Pumas pack hunted the next score themselves, with Isa scoring after a catch-and-drive from a line-out. Some fisticuffs ensued but the try stood.

Argentina next fumbled the ball within sight of the line but it went backwards and Noguera picked up to score.
Namibia scored first in the second half as Greyling pounced on a loose pass in midfield, but Argentina's forwards showed their power once more and Alemanno crossed.

Tromp was stopped short as Namibia sought a third try and Argentina replacement Marcelo Bosch was sin-binned for a late tip-tackle on Theuns Kotze in the build-up.

Namibia were exerting pressure, but also tiring, and the Pumas pounced on the counter.

Replacement Senatore scored after a fine Agulla run through a fragmented Namibian defence and Montoya crashed through a gaping hole for the eighth try.

Argentina were enjoying themselves and Cubelli ran in another try but Namibia had the final say when Jantjies scored.

Retiring prop Johnny Redelinghuys took the conversion but missed.

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