KEY POINTS:
LYON - Winger Lucas Borges scored two tries in quick succession early in the second half to spur Argentina to a 33-3 victory over Georgia in a hard-fought rugby World Cup pool D match this morning.
The Pumas, whose third try came from lock Patricio Albacete, grabbed the bonus point in the final minute with a fourth touch down by wing Federico Martin Aramburu.
Centre Felipe Contepomi, captaining the side in the absence of the injured Agustin Pichot, kicked three penalties and the conversion of the first try and first five-eighth Juan Martin Hernandez ended the match by converting the last try.
Argentina were unable to breach the tough Georgian defence until the second half, though, after a battle of attrition between two tough packs.
Borges went over for the first on the right seven minutes into the second half when he was sent through by a pass from flanker Juan Fernandez Lobbe.
Six minutes later the right wing dived to touch down in the corner by the flag from a pass by Hernandez, who having kept Georgia back with his touch finders in the first half concentrated on getting his line running in the second.
Hernandez also set up Albacete in the right corner with eight minutes to go, the giant lock handing off Georgia replacement Avtandil Kopaliani as he barged through.
Martin Aramburu also scored on the right, taking the falling Hernandez's pass to skip between two defenders.
The first half battle was waged between strong Georgian forwards and a pack with a majority of players who had suffered the toll of a similar confrontation in Argentina's upset victory over hosts France only five days earlier.
The score at halftime was only 6-3 to the Pumas from two penalties by Contepomi to one by Georgia first five-eighths Merab Kvirikashvili, who later was very close with a drop goal attempt.
Kvirikashvili put his side ahead in the second minute after the Georgians charged upfield from their kickoff when Contepomi dropped the ball and were awarded an offside in a ruck.
Most of the half was played in Georgian territory but the Pumas were unable to breach the red-shirted wall of defence.
Argentina tried to play the ball out to the wings and also ran at the Georgians through the middle, notably from a grubber kick by Hernandez, but the rival backs were as strong as their fowards at repelling the attacks.
Contepomi, who levelled the score in the 12th minute, put Argentina ahead five minutes before the interval with his second penalty.
- REUTERS
