The Pumas tame Tonga to put the quarter-finals in sight

By Rex Gowar

LEICESTER, England (Reuters) – Flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez led Argentina to a five-try 45-16 victory over Tonga on Sunday, putting the Pumas firmly on course for a place in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup.

The bonus-point win at Leicester lifts the Pumas above second-placed Tonga in Group C, the Pacific islands are yet to play group leaders and defending champions New Zealand, while Argentina face lowly Namibia while who are trying to secure their place in the last eight.

Tongan center Siale Piutau said the Pacific Islanders’ “pack mentality” would dog the Cougars into submission and they certainly gave as good as they got in a loose first half, going 20- 13 at half time with two tries. one piece.

“It wasn’t the match I had dreamed of,” said Argentina captain Agustin Creevy. “We made mistakes in defence, in attack there were clear examples of tries we should have scored and we didn’t. Fortunately it happened in a game we won and we can correct them.”

In the end, playmaker Sanchez proved the difference, tormenting Tonga with boot and ball in hand, weighing in with 25 points from one try, four conversions and four penalties.

Tonga made for an exciting first Test meeting between the two sides and drew first blood with a Kurt Morath try, but Argentina hit back with two tries to take a lead they would never relinquish.

The first arrived when prop Ramiro Herrera broke free to feed defender Joaquin Tuculet for a try under the posts. Nippy Santiago Cordero then launched the restart deep to launch a evasive counter-attack to set up a try for winger Juan Imhoff.

Tongan tenacity was rewarded with a stunning try on the stroke of half-time; a good attacking move down the field that ends with wing Telusa Veainu offloading to throw Soane Tonga’uiha.

Their challenge faded in the second period and Morath’s two successful penalties were a poor return from six shots on goal.

Sanchez, meanwhile, continued to hit his stride and added his try before substitute striker Julian Montoya crossed in the corner to secure the bonus point and right-back Cordero wrapped up the match with his fifth try.

Tonga captain Nili Latu said they were disappointed with individual errors and criticized missed shots that could have kept Argentina under pressure.

“What let us down today was our lack of composure when they had the ball,” he said.

“At halftime, we wanted to take points. The momentum was on our side, but mistakes crept in. I missed four shots today.”

(Editing by David Goodman)