Slick Argentina demolish Namibia in nine-try masterclass

Argentina produced a nine-try masterclass of attacking rugby to crush Namibia 64-19 in the final Pool C encounter at the King Power Stadium.

The Pumas had already booked their quarter-final slot as group runners-up to New Zealand and made ten changes to the side to field one of their youngest ever teams.

But Namibia had no answer to their attacking flair, Argentina running in six first-half tries and three more in the second to complete the rout.

Namibia responded with three tries of their own and had the last laugh as Eugene Jantjies want over with the final play of the game. The match ended in lighthearted fashion as prop Johnny Redelinghuys, making his 50th and final appearance for Namibia, missed the conversion.

But Argentina were a class apart on the day and neither Ireland nor France will relish a quarter-final against the Pumas on this showing.

[MATCHCAST: Full scoring summary and live commentary]

Argentina’s ball handling was a delight to watch. Yes, it was only Namibia but the Pumas pride themselves on attacking flair, reminiscent of France of the 80s and 90s. Will be a handful for anyone in the quarters.

7’ – ARGENTINA 7-0 NAMIBIA – TRY! Moroni breaks clear down the left and slips it inside to Hernandez who strolls in under the posts. Iglesias adds the extras.

10’ – SIN BIN: Greyling takes ten minutes out for a shoulder charge on Hernandez.

13’ – ARGENTINA 10-7 NAMIBIA – TRY! Johan Tromp hacks ahead after a spilled Argentina ball and is in. Kotze converts.

19’ – ARGENTINA 17-7 NAMIBIA – TRY! More poor Namibia tackling and Moroni is in for his first try for Argentina, right through the middle. Iglesias does the rest.

25’ – ARGENTINA 24-7 NAMIBIA – TRY! Agulla is in for his sixth try for Argentina and Iglesias converts.

36’ – ARGENTINA 29-7 NAMIBIA – TRY! Isa bundles over after a maul takes Argentina up to the line.

40’ – ARGENTINA 36-7 NAMIBIA – TRY! Another right on the brink of half time as Paz picks up the loose ball and dives over.

46’ – ARGENTINA 36-14 NAMIBIA – TRY! Greyling latches onto a loose Argentina pass and races in under the posts.

48’ – ARGENTINA 43-14 NAMIBIA – TRY! Argentina tap and go from the penalty and Alemanno blasts through the defence to score. Socino adds the extras.

54’ – YELLOW CARD BOSCH : He’s binned for a dangerous looking spear tackle on Kotze. Could be cited for that one.

64’ – ARGENTINA 50-14 NAMIBIA – TRY! Another moment of brilliance as Leonardo Senatore finishes off a sweeping move started by Amorosino. Socino converts.

68’ – ARGENTINA 57-14 NAMIBIA – TRY! The Namibia defence is sucked in and Montoya goes over easily for Argentina’s eighth try of the game. Socino converts again.

74’ – ARGENTINA 64-14 NAMIBIA – TRY! And it’s Tomas Cubelli with try number nine.

80’ – ARGENTINA 64-19 NAMIBIA – TRY! Namibia rip the ball in the maul ball and Eugene Jantes ends the campaign with a smile by going over in the corner.

Argentina: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Matias Moroni, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Juan Pablo Socino, Horacio Agulla, Juan Martin Hernandez, Martin Landajo, Lucas Noguera, Julian Montoya, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Guido Petti Pagadizabal, Matias Alemanno, Pablo Matera, Javier Ortega Desio, Facundo Isa. Replacements: Juan Imhoff for Gonzalez Iglesias (65), Marcelo Bosch for Hernandez (51), Tomas Cubelli for Landajo (53), Agustin Creevy for Montoya (70), Ramiro Herrera for Orlandi (53), Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe for Alemanno (60).

Namibia: Chrysander Botha, Johan Tromp, JC Greyling, Johan Deysel, Conrad Marais, Theuns Kotze, Damian Stevens, Jaco Engels, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Aranos Coetzee, Janco Venter, Tjiuee Uanivi, Rohan Kitshoff, Wian Conradie, Danie Dames. Replacements: Russell van Wyk for Botha (57), Eugene Jantjies for Stevens (65), Johannes Redelinghuys for Engels (52), Louis van der Westhuizen for van Jaarsveld (52), AJ de Klerk for Coetzee (48), Renaldo Bothma for Venter (6), Thinus du Plessis for Dames (58).