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Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Rugby World Cup clash between Argentina and Tonga!
Follow our reporter at the ground, Martyn Thomas (@MCThomasSport), who'll be providing us with his first hand insights straight from Leicester via Twitter.
Last minute team news: Argentina have been forced into a a late change as Isa comes in for Leguizamon
Argentina: Tuculet, Cordero, Moroni, De La Fuente, Imhoff, Sanchez, Landajo; Ayerza, Creevy (captain), Herrera, Petti, Lavanini, Matera, Fernandez Lobbe, Senatore
Replacements: Julian Montoya, Lucas Noguera, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Matias Alemanno, Isa, Tomas Cubelli, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Horacio Agulla
Tonga: Lilo, Veainu, Piutau, Piukala, Vainikolo, Morath, Takulua; Tonga'uiha, Taione, Aulika, Lokotui, Tuineau, Kalamafoni, Latu (captain), Ma'afu
Replacements: Aleki Lutui, Sona Taumalolo, Sila Puafisi, Sitiveni Mafi, Opeti Fonua, Samisoni Fisilau, Latiume Fosita, David Halaifonua
You can read ESPN's preview HERE.
Also see...
- What happened in Argentina's last match against Georgia
- Revist: When Georgia named an unchanged XV for the first time in their RWC history
- Preview the day's second game between Ireland and Italy
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| 1 |
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And we're off. Argentina kick is comfortably collected by Tonga inside their 22. Tonga have been penalised as they advance into Argentinian territory for a high tackle on Tuculet. He kicks back downfield for the lineout.
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| 2 |
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Argentina's lineout goes astray and Tonga collect, pumping the ball down their line right on the far side before Imhoff's deemed in touch on the wing. Another Argentina lineout.
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| 3 |
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Argentina pushing into the Tongan 22 on the far side, but a wayward pass pushes them back and they have to rebuild...
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| 4 |
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First scrum of the afternoon as Argentina are penalised for the knock on. Tonga's Takulua to feed...
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| 5 |
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Tight scrum that as neither side looked like budging, but Tonga did well to hook the ball back. Takulua offloads to his left and the Islanders are building nicely here. They're now inside the Pumas 22.
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| 6 |
0 - 5 |
Some more nice phases as they find Lilo and Veainu together on the left. Working it well, they're now within 2 metres of the try.
They have it! TONGA TRY
They retrieve the ball well from the ruck and Kurt Morath drives home the first try on the right flank. He only had to slide 2 metres, Argentina - in particular tackler Lavanini - couldn't withhold.
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| 7 |
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| 8 |
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And the kick hits the post! Not the best.
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| 9 |
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We've got another Tonga try now for the knock on, just along half way. Who'll emerge victorious last time after last times stalemate?
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| 10 |
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Tonga have the penalty as the Leicester Tigers Ayerza faults in the scrum. The Islanders have opted for the lineout further along the line.
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| 11 |
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Very nearly a second try for Tonga. Takulua picks the ball up and barges through the Argentinian line but he can't make it that extra few steps to the try line. Scrappy build up and an even scrappier end as the No.9 fumbles it before being brought down, too.
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| 13 |
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| 14 |
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Argentina's time for a bit of attacking pressure now as de la Feunte's little grubber down the left flank can't be retrieved as he's brought down.
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| 16 |
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Tonga having a lot of joy down the left flank and unsurprisingly star man Veainu is heavily involved. Argentina struggling to take control of the ball, but Tonga aren't imposing their abilities in their opponents 22 in must be said. The South American's doing well at keeping them out of that particular area despite surrendering the ball in midfield easily.
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| 17 |
3 - 5 |
Argentina penalty and Sanchez converts!
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| 18 |
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Well, well, well... Argentina have finally woken up! Potential try here....
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| 19 |
8 - 5 |
ARGENTINA TRY!
Some solid work from Fernandez Lobbe down the left flank before Tuculet's brute strength holds off the trailing Tongan tackles. He had to stretch for it though. If the line was the another metre out he probably wouldn't have made it.
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| 20 |
10 - 5 |
Sanchez - conversion
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| 21 |
15 - 5 |
ANOTHER ARGENTINA TRY!
What a try that is - potentially the try of the tournament so far!
Cordero picks the ball up deep in his 22 on the right and runs to the half way. His quick foot work allows him to leave the Islanders in his dust navigating through the pitch with ease. He eventually offloads to his left before picking it up again and continuing his sprint towards the try line. Great individual effort.
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| 22 |
17 - 5 |
Sanchez - conversion
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| 23 |
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| 24 |
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Some stoppage here for a knock on Tonga's No.5. He looks okay though and we await the restart via the scrum.
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| 25 |
20 - 5 |
Wow, the power from Argentina's scrum there. For the first time in the game the Tongan pack have been shown up and Argentina have the penalty as well as the Islanders crumbled. Sanchez to kick.
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| 26 |
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| 28 |
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Not a lot going on here. Both sides and the referee milling about with the scrum and have been for a couple of minutes, Argentina to feed...
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| 29 |
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Argentina penalty as Tonga penalised for not driving straight. They take it quickly and pump it along the right in an attempt to get our of their own half.
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| 30 |
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Another scrum, Tonga this time, along their left flank just a bit short of the Pumas 22.
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| 31 |
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Argentina concede the penalty for collapsing and Tonga have the kick which Morath wants to kick. Sharp-ish angle.
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| 32 |
20 - 8 |
Good kick. Splits the posts in two and they're just 12 points from their opponents score.
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| 33 |
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Tonga finally starting to find their momentum again as they put together some nice passes. Slowly but surely making their way towards the try line. Some gaps forming in the Pumas line too as Ma'afu breaks through before being outrun and pinned back.
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| 34 |
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Tonga surrender the possession and Argentina counter attack really well down the left flank, but you can't help but feel that's another try gone begging. No.11 and 15 combine well for the Pumas, but the former chips forwards and tries to chase it down, and it bounces out. He didn't need to do that as the pair outnumbered the Tongan last line of defence.
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| 37 |
20 - 13 |
WHAT A TRY! TONGA!
We're off to the TMO but that was a great move...
Piutau works well down the right before he offloads to Veainu alongside. The Tongan No.14 displays some tremendous footwork to navigate past a couple of Argentinian tacklers before the final one catches him right near the try line. However, the New Zealand-born winger just about offloads to his left before being smashed into touch and Tonga'uiha runs home the try for his country. Great stuff.
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| 38 |
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| 39 |
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Dodgy kick. Tonga can't add the extras.
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| 40+1 |
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HALF TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Martyn Thomas had this to say:
"Argentina's fans turned up at the Leicester City Stadium expecting to ease past Tonga. Unfortunately it appeared the starting XV did too at times during a first half in which the Pumas did just enough to build a seven-point lead. Following an emotional prelude to the game in which the Argentina faithful belted out their national anthem and included two Tongan Sipi Taus - one from the players on the pitch and another from the watching Defence Force team in the stands - the Pacific Islanders started extremely quickly. Their passion almost boiled over, but sensible refereeing from Jaco Peyper helped settle their nerves before they scored an early try. Argentina woke up in the 18th minute and four minutes later they had scored two tries, 17 points and had taken a stranglehold on the game. A penalty was added but Tonga stormed back with Soane Tonga'uiha finishing off an outstanding move to make it 20-13 at the break."
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| 40 |
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We're back under way!
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| 41 |
20 - 16 |
Tonga have the first penalty of the half after the Pumas are penalised for not releasing in the ruck. Morath comfortably converts.
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| 43 |
23 - 16 |
Now we've got an Argentina penalty and Sanchez has the chance to void Morath's three from a few moments ago...
And he does just that. 3-3 for the second half.
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| 45 |
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Morath kicks for the restart, Veainu collects in the air but knocks on. Arg scrum now.
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| 46 |
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Tonga penalty again which Morath will kick. Herrera collapsed in the scrum awarding the chance for the three to the Islanders.
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| 47 |
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Oooo, he puts it wide. Need to be making them.
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| 48 |
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Tonga pushing well with real urgency now. They're in the Argentinian 22 and Lilo joining in down the left. Metres away from the try line.
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| 49 |
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They reverse it and pump the ball back down to the right in seek of that breakthrough. Still can't find it however. All Tonga so far, though.
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| 50 |
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Tonga's penalty again after an offside tackle from Argentina. Morath misses again - one from three this half for the fly-half.
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| 51 |
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Argentina's penalty now, straight in front from about 40 metres out. Sanchez to kick...
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| 52 |
26 - 16 |
Sanchez - penalty goal
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| 53 |
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ANOTHER penalty for Argentina. Sanchez to kick again from a very similar position. 42 metres out.
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| 54 |
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Well, that was off. Really wide. Can't add the three.
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| 56 |
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Absolutely fantastic take from Veainu. Big cross field kick from Morath and the winger collects in the air beating his opposite number in the Pumas 22, However, he's dragged into touch and Argentina take the lineout comfortably and work their way out again.
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| 58 |
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Tonga - on the attack - are penalised in Argentina's 22 for tackling off their feet. Argentina to kick and release the mounting pressure from the Islanders.
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| 60 |
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Argentina on the attack now and they're building nicely themselves now... Can they make it? They're within 5 metres.
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| 61 |
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ARGENTINA TRY...?
Off to the TMO!
Tonga throws the bodies at the incoming Isa but it's Veainu who saves his team from a try just under his own posts after worming his way in between the ball and ground. The ref's awarded a five metre scrum and we await the feed.
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| 62 |
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Another scrappy scrum but Tonga spoil all the fun for Argentina as they're awarded the scrum again themselves as the Pumas fail to use it.
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| 63 |
31 - 16 |
ARGENTINA TRY!
Sanchez scores for the Pumas. Tonga's really bad offload hits the deck and they're punished for it. Just as Tonga look like escaping their 22 after there hard work in the scrum they're undone by an easily preventable mistake. Easy try in the end as the Pumas fly-half runs through with particular ease as no defending Tongan hands manage to successfully grab hold of the rapid No.10.
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| 64 |
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| 66 |
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Tonga are on the instant return as they look for some much needed points. Morath tries the cross field kick again but unlike the previous time, Veainu can't collect.
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| 67 |
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Tonga's lineout on the near side proves fruitful and the men in red progressively makes there way closer to the five point line. They're two metres out here...
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| 68 |
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Nope, nothing made of it. Argentina clear well. Tonga to press again but they're having to rebuild from the back.
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| 71 |
36 - 16 |
Tonga have the lineout 5 metres from their 22. They need to win it and clear quickly...
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| 72 |
38 - 16 |
POTENTIAL ARGENTINA TRY!
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| 73 |
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ARGENTINA TRY!
They have it! The TMO is needed but Montoya's try stands. They needed to go upstairs to check he wasn't in touch or that he had dropped the ball on the right flank - admittedly it was very close - but they're awarded the try. Argentina clear victors here and Morath's misses looking even more costly now as they trail by 22.
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| 74 |
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We do have the Tongan penalty though as Argentina are penalised for not moving away. Tonga going for the try though and kick for the lineout.
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| 75 |
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...but they can't make it count and Argentina soon have possession back.
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| 76 |
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Tongan scrum just inside the Pumas 22.
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| 77 |
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Tonga emerge well from the scrum but are then penalised on the floor just moments later for not releasing. Argentina's penalty, taken quickly.
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| 78 |
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| 79 |
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Game fizzling out now. Ball's stuck in the midfield. Doesn't look like Tonga are likely to add to their point score.
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| 80 |
45 - 16 |
ARGENTINA TRY!
Oh wait, Tonga crumble before our eyes and are split open again by the Pumas. The men in blue and white bring the curtain down on an entertaining game with another try, courtesy of man of the match Sanchez. He then duly converts. Superb performance from him.
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| 80+1 |
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FULL TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Martyn Thomas had this to say:
"was only really in the last 10 minutes that Diego Maradona, Argentina's chief cheerleader for the day, could allow himself to celebrate and hug random strangers. Up until then it had been more of a slog for the Pumas in the Leicester sunshine than they or their supporters had imagined. This was not the perfect performance from Argentina but they got the bonus point and, ahead of their final clash with Namibia, have secured their passage to the last eight. With Maradona in attendance it was fitting too that the man wearing the No.10 shirt for the South Americans picked up Man of the Match honours. Sanchez was exemplary, finishing the game with 25 points and proving that he is integral to this Pumas side. "
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