Rugby World Cup 2019: Argentina secure 2023 berth with consolation victory against United States

Argentina 47-17 United States: The Pumas raced to a dominant win to finish their campaign on a high

Wednesday 09 October 2019 08:16 BST

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England through to Rugby World Cup quarter-finals

Argentina secured the consolation of qualification for the 2023 World Cup as they wrapped up their 2019 campaign with a 47-17 win against the United States.

Defeat to England last time out ended the Pumas' hopes of reaching the knockout stages, having made it to the semi-finals four years ago.

But they made sure of third place in Pool C with a comfortable victory over the US in their final match of the tournament in Kumagaya on Wednesday.

It took Mario Ledesma's much-changed Argentina side until the 19th minute to break the deadlock, with Nicolas Sanchez, who contributed 15 points in total, touching down in the corner despite a last-ditch tackle from Mike Te'o.

Joaquin Tuculet got on the end of a chip to stretch the advantage and crossed again six minutes from the break, but Blaine Scully raced on to an AJ MacGinty grubber kick to reduce the deficit in the closing stages of the half.

Rugby World Cup team of round three

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1/16Rugby World Cup team of round three

Rugby World Cup team of round three

Team of round three

From Scotland's demolition of Samoa to France's narrow escape against Tonga, who makes the team of round three?

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Rugby World Cup team of round three

1. James Slipper (Australia)

Ninety-three Tests had come and gone for the Wallabies loosehead, but it was 94th-time lucky for the Queensland-born prop as he finally scored his first international try in Australia’s 45-10 victory over Uruguay.

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Rugby World Cup team of round three

2. Mbongeni Mbonambi (South Africa)

Mbonambi was excellent at the lineout, finding his jumper on every occasion, but it was his work around the pitch that really stood out in the win over Italy as he bagged himself a try in the process.

PA

Rugby World Cup team of round three

3. Angus Ta’avao (New Zealand)

The rookie All Blacks prop was thrust into the contest against Namibia early when his team were struggling to break down the African side following Nepo Laulala’s yellow card, but not only did he settle straight into the match, he immediately bagged himself a try that convinced Steve Hansen to leave him on for the rest of the match.

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Rugby World Cup team of round three

4. Wimpie van der Walt (Japan)

The uniquely-named lock led Japan’s defensive charge against Samoa and was dominant in the aerial battle with a 100 per cent lineout effort alongside James Moore, which was made all the more impressive as he didn’t start either of their opening matches.

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Rugby World Cup team of round three

5. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)

Captained New Zealand in the absence of Kieran Read and led by example. Whitelock bagged a try himself, didn’t panic when New Zealand were clawed back in the first half and contributed well with the ball in hand. His aggression in kicking for the corner early on paid off with a 71-point return.

EPA

Rugby World Cup team of round three

6. Rhys Ruddock (Ireland)

Ireland may have been criticised for a drab performance in their victory over Russia, but Ruddock proved the silver lining with a man-of-the-match display that could thrust him into the side for the big contests.

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Rugby World Cup team of round three

7. Sam Underhill (England)

Another flanker named man of the match, Underhill was England’s defensive heartbeat against Argentina, but also an emphatic carrier who helped set up George Ford’s bonus point-clinching try.

PA

Rugby World Cup team of round three

8. Kazuki Himeno (Japan)

The Japanese No 8 was one of their top performers against Samoa, carrying well and showing a deft touch with his ability to offload from the tackle. Earmarked as a real star of Japanese rugby, he looks to have real captaincy potential.

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Rugby World Cup team of round three

9. Frank Lomani (Fiji)

A livewire showing as the beating heart of a Flying Fijian side back at full strength and firing on all cylinders. Scored a try himself and delivered the quick ball that the Pacific Islanders crave to play their unique brand of rugby.

AP

Rugby World Cup team of round three

10. Jordie Barrett (New Zealand)

Stepped out of the shadow of older brother Beauden to play a starring role in the demolition of Namibia. Scored a try himself but it was the in which he created Anton Lienert-Brown’s score that really stood out, combining power, vision, passing ability and athletic determination to send the centre over.

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Rugby World Cup team of round three

11. Semi Radradra (Fiji)

The star of the side this week. When Radradra is playing his best rugby he is simply unstoppable, and so he proved last week. The Bordeaux back scored twice against Georgia and led pretty much every attacking stats list as the European side failed to shackle is delightful talent.

AP

Rugby World Cup team of round three

12. Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand)

His form is keeping Sonny Bill Williams out of the Test side when New Zealand play their crunch fixtures, but on the weekend’s evidence it was easy to see why. Two tries, the first an eye-catching mazy run from halfway, secures him the No 12 shirt this week, and probably for the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.

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Rugby World Cup team of round three

13. Timothy Lafaele (Japan)

Kicked off the performance against Samoa with their first try, starring with teammate Kotaro Matsushima to tear the Pacific Islanders apart early on and pave the way to their bonus-point victory.

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Rugby World Cup team of round three

14. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)

How do you stop him? The answer is yet to be found, with Kolbe’s low centre of gravity, stunning footwork and Habana-like pace leaving team after team in knots – this time Italy – with two tries to kick-start his tally at this World Cup.

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Rugby World Cup team of round three

15. Elliot Daly (England)

Possibly his best performance for England in the No 15 shirt to date, Daly linked up superbly with Jonny May – who is hard done by not to make the side this week – and Anthony Watson in what was a scintillating first half for the English back three.

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The Pumas found their rhythm early in the second period, with Juan Cruz Mallia crossing twice in the opening seven minutes and Jeronimo De La Fuente finishing off an excellent move as the South Americans opened up a 40-5 lead.

Paul Lasike barged his way through the Argentine defence just short of the hour mark to take the US into double figures and, after Gonzalo Bertranou had chalked up Argentina's seventh try, Scully went over for his second to round off the scoring.

The US face Tonga in Higashiosaka on Sunday in a clash between Pool C's two eliminated sides.

PA

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