Argentina got their 2015 Rugby World Cup tournament back on track in style with a resounding 54-9 victory over Georgia.
Nicolas Sanchez kicked off the romp with his drop kick which was followed Tomas Lavanini’s try before Merab Kvirikashvili’s penalty brought Georgia back into it. Sanchez and Kvirikashvili scored another penalty each before Sanchez completed a hat-trick of kicks to put them ahead going into half-time.
Argentina dominated from there with tries from Tomas Cubelli, Sanchez, Marcelo Bosch and Juan Imhoff to give them a resounding victory.
Sanchez gives early lead
The Argentines were looking a for an instant reply after their narrow 26-16 defeat to New Zealand last Sunday and got off to a flying start with a Sanchez opening the game in five minutes when he decided to attempt the drop kick. It looked clumsy at first from the wide position as it was wobbling but it managed to go over to be the first successful drop goal of the tournament.
It got better from there as they got their first try of the match nine minutes in, the Argentines take advantage of the penalty decision and spin the ball wide and the looping pass from Sanchez is latched upon Lavanini who used his presence to get over the line. Sanchez missed the conversion but a healthy was already coming to fruition.
Georgia’s comeback
Despite their poor start, Georgia managed to stage a mini comeback when Kvirikashvili converted the penalty after Sanchez was penalised for obstruction and it was a simple three points to hit through the posts.
He was at it again two minutes later when the referee blew up when it took four Argentines to stop Mamuka Gorgodze and once again Kvrikashvili converted to bring the scores even closer.
Close quarters
Both Sanchez and Kvrikashvili were at it again to keep the scores neck and neck, Sanchez stepped up once again just after the 20 minute mark after Gorgodze grabbed Cubelli around the throat and it was straight forward to complete his hat-trick of kicks.
However Georgia came back fighting once again when Argentina failed to roll away and anything that Sanchez can do Kvirikashvili can do better when he completed his hat-trick of kicks.
Sanchez had the final say of the half when he completed his fourth kick after the referee brought it back for an earlier infringement with his kick taking the Argentines into the break with a five point lead.
Argentina begin to dominate
The Argentines came flying out of the traps in the second period and put daylight between them when they converted their second try of the match, it was simple move when Facundo Isa released Cubelli who passed it off into the chest Vasil Lobzhanidze who can’t be stopped and Sanchez was there again to score the conversion.
They managed it again three minutes later with Imhoff receiving the ball after a slick move who sprinted down the wing to provide the brutal blow and despite the tricky conversion, Sanchez managed to kick it home.
Absolute whitewash
It didn’t get any better from there for Georgia as Cordero did brilliantly to side step his opponent from the wing to dive under the posts and it seemed inevitable that Sanchez would convert the subsequent kick.
With little under 11 minutes to go, Argentina got yet another try and it was a fourth try for Martin Landajo who showed some excellent individual skill to dive over the line from 2m out and it was Bosch this time to convert the kick.
Argentina round it off
Entering the final ten minutes, Argentina rounded off the match with a further two tries, Landajo showed great initiative to set Cordro loose who did brilliantly to evade one tackle before cantering towards the try line and Bosch did brilliantly to convert the kick.
The final try of the match came from Imhoff as he scored his second try of the match with five minutes left to play of the match but Bosch missed the conversion but the damage was already done.