Rugby World Cup: Argentina win books clash with All Blacks

Argentina need a point from today's clash against Georgia to reach the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. Photo / Getty Images

Argentina qualified for the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup following their 25-7 win over Georgia in Palmerston North today but it is hard to see them advancing past the next stage.

The Pumas looked more than scratchy during their victory against a Georgian side who have shown in patches throughout the tournament that they are on the verge of becoming competitive with the bigger nations.

Argentina needed only a bonus point from the encounter to edge ahead of Scotland in Pool B and ruin the Scots' hopes of another appearance in the knockout stages.

With their bumbling and ineffective back play they didn't produce anything that would have All Blacks fans nervous ahead of next weekend's final-eight clash.

Argentina may have scaled the dizzy heights of third-place at the 2007 tournament but they aren't the side they were back then.

Even a Dan Carter-less All Blacks should barely raise a sweat when they brush the South Americans aside in Auckland.

Veteran second-five Felipe Contepomi had an off-day with the boot for Argentina, as he kicked four from seven.

After a scoreless opening 30 minutes, Argentina broke the deadlock when young winger Juan Jose Imhoff twinkled past a couple of defenders to dot down in the left-hand corner of Arena Manawatu.

Another big Palmerston North crowd was on hand to enjoy their second and final taste of the World Cup and Georgia played in both of the fixtures there, which is noticeable for the stockcar racing track that surrounds the field.

Georgia sent the crowd wild when they took the lead late in the first half after first-five Lasha Khmaladze followed through on a grubber kick and dotted down for five points.

Fullback Malkhaz Urjukashvili added the conversion and the Georgians enjoyed their half-time break with a two-point advantage.

Contepomi managed to bang over a couple of penalties in the second spell but it was his try in the 68th minute that ensured the side wouldn't be overhauled.

Georgia provided plenty of fight, as has been a theme from the minnow teams during the World Cup, and their loose forwards, including openside flanker Viktor Kolelishvili and No 8 Mamuka Gorgodze were busy throughout the match.

The pair combined for more than 20 tackles and ensured their backs had a near-equal amount of territory and possession to work with.

It was their backs though that couldn't produce enough spark and if they were to unearth a couple of line-breaking midfielders the side would be more competitive in the future.

With the result safe Argentina's Agustin Gosio added a try just before the final whistle to blow the scoreline out further.

Argentina 25 (Juan Jose Imhoff, Felipe Contepomi, Agustn Gosio tries; Contepomi 2 pens, 2 con) Georgia 7 (Lasha Khmaladze try; Malkhaz Urjukashvili con) HT: 5-7