| Time |
Score |
|
| |
|
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Argentina's Rugby World Cup Pool C clash with Georgia at Kingsholm. Los Pumas impressed in defeat to New Zealand last weekend and will be looking to end a week that included a nine-week ban for lock Mariano Galarza with their first win of the tournament. Georgia have already tasted victory in Gloucester though and will be looking to secure another upset.
Both teams look fired up for this one as they emerge into the Kingsholm tunnel. It should be a fierce battle.
|
| 1 |
|
Two incredibly stirring national anthems done and we're under way at Kingsholm. Juan Martin Hernandez boots the kick off deep into Georgian territory, and the young scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze returns the ball for an Argentine line-out. Los Pumas win a scrum on the Georgian 10-metre line, but it has to be reset.
|
| 2 |
|
Georgia eventually win the penalty and Merab Kvirikashvili kicks it towards the corner. However, Argentina win a free kick from the throw.
|
| 3 |
|
An early run for Facundo Isa and as the tackler fails to roll away Argentina win the penalty, which is kicked towards the corner by Hernandez.
|
| 4 |
|
Referee JP Doyle stops play briefly due to communication problems, before Argentina look to use their attacking line-out.
|
| 5 |
3 - 0 |
Drop-goal for Argentina! Nicolas Sanchez dribbles one over the posts from 22 yards. Incredibly that's the first of the tournament.
|
| 6 |
|
Santiago Cordero comes infield off the right wing to break through a gap but Georgia shepherd Argentina out into touch on halfway.
|
| 7 |
|
Argentina are clicking through the gears at the moment as Marcelo Bosch kicks in behind Kvirikashvili, but the Georgian fullback deals with it well.
|
| 9 |
8 - 0 |
Try for Argentina! Los Pumas crank up the pressure, and with a penalty advantage Sanchez spots an overlap on the right wing. Tomas Lavanini is the beneficiary, crashing over from close range.
|
| 10 |
|
Sanchez drills the conversion attempt but it fades wide of the near post.
|
| 12 |
|
Georgia have a scrum on halfway but the Pumas turn the screw. First time it's reset, second though is a penalty to the Lelos.
|
| 13 |
|
Now Georgia have an attacking line-out of their own. What can they do with it?
|
| 14 |
|
Nothing. Matias Alemanno slaps the ball back onto the Argentine side and the Pumas win the penalty. Hernandez shows his quality to boot his side out of danger.
|
| 15 |
|
Hernandez chips forward into space, Kvirikashvili mops up but Doyle spots an infringement and the TMO confirms Alemanno obstructed the fullback. Penalty to Georgia, and a chance to register.
|
| 16 |
8 - 3 |
Kvirikashvili drills the ball through the uprights and Georgia are within five points.
|
| 17 |
|
Georgia starting to go through the phases and they win a penalty for a chop tackle, and Kvirikashvili has another shot at goal.
|
| 19 |
8 - 6 |
It's further out and on an angle but the result is the same! Georgia within two points.
|
| 20 |
11 - 6 |
Penalty to Argentina as Giorgi Tkhilaishvili guilty of a high tackle on Tomas Cubelli. Sanchez duly restores Argentina's five-point lead.
|
| 21 |
|
An aerial battle is ended as Giorgi Aptsiauri tidies up and takes Georgia into the opposing half.
|
| 22 |
|
|
| 23 |
|
Argentina deal with the pressure though and look to launch an attack of their own. Despite threatening the Georgian 22, they are unable to find a way through some resolute defence.
|
| 24 |
|
Argentina have a scrum on the Georgian 22 but concede another penalty at the set piece.
|
| 25 |
|
Georgia concede a careless turnover as they look to move into the Argentine half, but a scrappy passage of play continues as Los Pumas gift the ball straight back.
|
| 27 |
|
Cordero guilty of a knock-on as Argentina look to spread the play. The game is a bit stop-start at the moment, needs to rediscover its rhythm.
|
| 28 |
|
Georgia have an attacking line-out, which they win. However, Lobzhanidze is unceremoniously stopped in his tracks as he looks to put pace in the move.
|
| 29 |
|
But Georgia keep play alive and are within striking distance before they win a penalty.
|
| 31 |
11 - 9 |
Kvirikashvili strikes the ball extremely cleanly to reduce the deficit to just two points.
|
| 32 |
|
Another high and hanging kick off from Hernandez. Lobzhanidze's clearance is charged down by Sanchez, but the No.10 was offside and Georgia use the penalty to clear their lines.
|
| 33 |
|
Cordero does well to field Lobzhanidze's hanging kick, and then Sanchez spots a gap. He hares down the field but has no support and although Argentina recycle possession they are unable to make much use of it.
|
| 34 |
14 - 9 |
They have won a penalty though, giving Sanchez a simple chance to restore the five-point gap.
|
| 36 |
|
Hernandez has trotted off to the bemusement of most as Georgia attempt to make use of a scrum deep in Argentine territory.
|
| 37 |
|
Hernandez is icing his groin as he makes himself comfortable on the bench. Perhaps he picked up a slight knock. Meanwhile, Georgia look to bulldoze their way into the Argentine 22.
|
| 38 |
14 - 9 |
Kvirikashvili eventually attempts a long-range drop-goal that he drags wide.
A strangely lazy restart gives Georgia the initiative back though and the Lelos are on the attack once more.
|
| 39 |
|
Georgia a man down as Kvirikashvili receives treatment but they are threatening the 22.
|
| 40 |
|
Vito Kolelishvili thinks he has the try line in his sights but the pass to him was forward and that's half-time. It's been an entertaining game so far, and one that Georgia are definitely still in.
|
| |
|
Rob Bartlett in Gloucester: Kingsholm is a fantastic rugby stadium - the perfect venue for a World Cup clash between the powerhouses of Argentina and Georgia. The noise reverberated through the concrete as Tomas Lavanini bundled over an early try for the Pumas - even the players sat in the stands broke into song. For much of the first half it felt more like Glastonbury than Gloucester, as veteran Merab Kvirikashvili, playing in his fourth World Cup, got in on the act with three perfect penalties. His second, from three yards inside halfway, even drew applause from the sky blue sea of supporters in The Shed. The biggest shame? Knowing this contest will only go on for another 40 minutes.
|
| 40 |
|
Kvirikashvili gets the second half under way, with Argentina taking possession up to halfway before winning a penalty. Georgia warned about the amount of high tackles. "One more and they're in the bin" Doyle says.
|
| 41 |
|
Argentina look to inject some pace from the line-out but Cordero is bundled into touch.
|
| 42 |
|
Better from Argentina but just as captain Augustin Creevy sneaks through a gap, he offloads to no-one and Georgia clear.
|
| 43 |
|
Wonderful break from Sanchez, who feeds Bosch but the Saracens man is stopped just short of the line. Argentina win the penalty.
|
| 44 |
|
Good as his word, Doyle sends Mamuka Gorgodze to the bin for slowing the ball down.
|
| 45 |
|
Los Pumas look to use their man advantage and power into the Georgian defence. Lavanini gets over the line again but after consulting the TMO, it's a five-metre scrum.
|
| 46 |
19 - 9 |
Try for Argentina! It proves to be a mere postponement as Cubelli wheels round the back of the scrum and gleefully races over the whitewash.
|
| 47 |
21 - 9 |
Sanchez takes his time before dissecting the posts with the conversion to give Argentina an 11-point lead.
|
| 48 |
26 - 9 |
Try for Argentina! Gaps are starting to appear now as the 14 men tire, and Juan Imhoff suddenly finds himself in acres of space to sprint down the left wing and score.
|
| 50 |
28 - 9 |
A slightly more difficult conversion for Sanchez, but it goes over all the same.
|
| 51 |
|
|
| 52 |
33 - 9 |
Try for Argentina! And what a try it is. Cordero sprints through an ocean in the Georgian defence off a pre-planned line-out move. All of a sudden from merely thinking about securing the win, Argentina now have the bonus point.
|
| 53 |
35 - 9 |
Sanchez adds the extras and Los Pumas now have 21 points since Gorgodze saw yellow.
|
| 55 |
|
Finally Georgia regroup but despite a period of possession they are unable to create any gaps.
|
| 56 |
|
Levan Datunashvili picks off a wayward pass but he does not have the gas to threaten the try line. Keeps possession well though.
|
| 57 |
|
Georgia continue into the Argentine half but the move ends as Lasha Malaguradze attempts a grubber in behind that dribbles into touch. They're back up to 15 now though.
|
| 58 |
|
Argentina spring from a defensive scrum but just as Imhoff looks like he's clear, Giorgi Pruidze drags him into touch.
|
| 60 |
|
Georgia showing bags of spirit to continue taking the game to Argentina even though it's long been a lost cause.
|
| 61 |
|
Pumas strike into the Georgian 22 from another good line-out move.
|
| 62 |
|
Cubelli makes a half break but his offload doesn't go to hand and the Lelos can clear.
|
| 64 |
|
Penalty to Georgia, which is booted right into the corner. Can the Lelos make anything of this platform?
|
| 65 |
|
Penalty to Georgia but almost so much more as Merab Sharikadze burst through but from yards out the move broke down. The Pumas were offside en masse though so the Lelos now have a five-metre scrum.
|
| 67 |
|
Penalty to Argentina. The counter shove from Los Pumas is frightening and Doyle has no option but to blow his whistle.
|
| 68 |
|
Penalty to Argentina and now it's Los Pumas' turn to kick their way into the opposing 22.
|
| 69 |
40 - 9 |
Try for Argentina! After Bosch is stopped just short, replacement scrum-half Martin Landajo spots a gap as the Georgian defence is distracted and dives over.
|
| 70 |
42 - 9 |
Bosch strokes over the conversion and Argentina are now 33 points to the good.
|
| 71 |
47 - 9 |
Try for Argentina! A penalty is tapped, Cordero spins out of a tackle and from halfway sprints over in the right corner. That was some finish, but this is getting cruel on the Lelos.
|
| 72 |
|
|
| 73 |
49 - 9 |
From tight on the right touchline Bosch drills a perfect kick through the uprights.
|
| 74 |
|
Georgia are really struggling to keep up with Argentina now, a lot of tired legs on display.
|
| 75 |
54 - 9 |
Try for Argentina! Imhoff becomes the second Puma to bag a brace. TV replays suggest the move should have been halted earlier for a foot in touch, but it seems the TMO has already clocked off for the day.
|
| 76 |
|
Bosch proves he's not perfect as he misses the conversion.
|
| 79 |
|
Scrum to Georgia who must just want the whistle to go. Penalty to the Lelos, which is booted up towards halfway.
|
| 80 |
|
Georgia mount one last attack but they are stuck in their own half.
|
| 80+1 |
|
But they keep going backwards, lose the ball and Cordero kicks the ball dead. The wing goes to the ground but Doyle is happy he dived and blows for full time. Argentina have secured their fourth biggest win, as Georgia paid for the 10-minute period they were down to 14 men, shipping 21 points during that spell.
|
| |
|
Rob Bartlett at Kingsholm: It took 50 minutes - and the sin-bin of influential Georgia captain Mamuka Gorgodze - but finally we got to see the real Argentina. Their second half performance at Kingsholm showed why the Pumas have made the quarterfinals on three occasions - and won the bronze medal in 2007. Gorgodze's lapse of discipline proved costly: it wasn't as if he wasn't warned, with referee JP Doyle having spoken to him literally seconds before. However, Daniel Hourcade's side needed no further invitation and ran riot to secure the bonus point victory. For Georgia, this was a step too far: with the All Blacks in Cardiff next up, they will likely face Namibia in their final pool match in search of that elusive second win. For Argentina, their World Cup party has just started.
|
