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MARSEILLE - Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda refused to take anything for granted after a 63-3 win over Namibia on Sunday (NZ time) left the Pumas on the verge of a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
"We've had three games, we've got good results in all three and we are top of the group," he told a news conference.
"But the Ireland game is going to be very difficult and we know how they play when things get serious. So we'll have to prepare for that game really well.
"Of course we have a lot of confidence and there is a chance we can win this pool, but don't forget Ireland are a tough team and can fight back."
The nine-try bonus-point win left the Pumas firmly in control of Pool D with 14 points, four ahead of hosts France, who they beat 17-12 in the opening match of the tournament, and five clear of Ireland.
They need only earn a defensive bonus point in their final game against the Irish to guarantee top spot and avoid a quarter-final against the All Blacks.
Despite his caution Loffreda said he was delighted that his side remains the only team in the tournament who have yet to concede a try.
"It is a real strength of the team that we work not only at being creative when we have the ball but also work when we don't have the ball," he said. "We are very happy with that.
"But we will have a new challenge next week and we can't afford to drop our guard for one moment especially in defence."
Captain Agustin Pichot said the emphatic win would not alter their plans for the final game against Ireland.
"We said all along that our objective was to win the four matches and that's what we want to do," said the halfback. "Our destiny is now in our own hands. Before people said we would not get through this group and now we are top."
Namibia coach Hakkies Husselman said the present Argentine side was much stronger than the one he had faced as a player in the 2003 World Cup and tipped them for a place in the semi-finals.
"This team is a much better coached side than that one," he said.
"The players are more evolved and more mature. They are better rugby players. They know when to do things and that is very important. That will take them far and maybe there's a semi-final for them."
Husselman added that his side's focus had always been on their final game against Georgia where they will have a chance of claiming their first ever World Cup win.
"It wasn't our best side out there tonight and we will be stronger against Georgia. We hoped to get something out of our first three tough matches, but the Georgia game was the one we have been targeting for our first win."
- REUTERS
