Argentina 43-8 Romania, Rugby World Cup
Argentina hit Romania for six
ESPNscrum Staff
September 17, 2011
Date/Time: Sep 17, 2011, 15:30 local, 03:30 GMT
Venue: Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
Argentina 43 - 8 Romania
Attendance: 12605  Half-time: 26 - 8
Tries: Fernandez, Fessia, Figallo, Gonzalez Amorosino, Imhoff, Leguizamon
Cons: Rodriguez Gurruchage 5
Pens: Rodriguez Gurruchage
Tries: Cazan
Pens: Dimofte
Argentina's Juan Manuel Leguizamon exploits a gap, Argentina v Romania, Rugby World Cup, Rugby Park, Invercargill, New Zealand, September 17, 2011
Argentina's Juan Manuel Leguizamon exploits a gap in the Romania defence
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Argentina got their Rugby World Cup campaign back on track with a comprehensive 43-8 victory over Romania in their clash at Rugby Park in Invercargill.

The Pumas ran in six tries with fly-half Santiago Fernandez, flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon, prop Juan Figallo, fullback Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino and replacements Juan Imhoff and Genaro Fessia all crossing to ensure a return to winning ways following their opening defeat to England last weekend. Winger Ionel Cazan grabbed a first half try for Romania after fly-half Ionut Dimofte had notched a penalty but that was all they could muster against a dominant Argentina side.

Although the match had been billed as a battle between two powerful packs, the Pumas confounded expectations and thrillingly chose to run the ball at almost every opportunity. Fernandez, starting at fly-half instead of injured captain Felipe Contepomi, sliced through some slack defending in the fifth minute for a try near the posts which Martin Rodriguez converted. And just four minutes later flanker Leguizamon collected a pass on the 22 before powering over the line.

Romania were awarded a penalty near the Argentinian line after 13 minutes but opted for a kick at goal, Tiberius Ionut Dimofte successfully landing the penalty. But prop Figallo registered Argentina's third try on 20 minutes after a quick tapped penalty by scrum-half Nicolas Vergallo.

Man of the match Amorosino then showcased his evasive running skills to touch down under the posts before Romania proved they could run the ball as well, setting up winger Cazan to score in the corner on 32 minutes.

As Argentina continued to pile on the pressure in the second half, prop Mihaita Alexandru Lazar was sin-binned for stifling another attack, but that simply delayed the inevitable.

Imhoff scored under the posts just seconds before Lazar's return and Argentina rounded off an entertaining performance in style, going the length of the field for Fessia to score after Romania had spilled the ball near the Pumas' line.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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