Argentina scored four tries in the first 30 minutes to overwhelm Romania 43-8 yesterday, showing plenty of the attacking flair they lacked in their opening loss to England.
In the last of three World Cup matches played at Rugby Park Stadium, New Zealand’s southernmost city turned on its best spring weather — sunny, but cool — and its most vocal crowd highlighted by singing, chanting South Americans enjoying the Pumas’ win.
Argentina dominated the setpiece and breakdown despite losing to England 13-9 last weekend. The Pumas pack dominated Romania, but this time the backline unleashed some potent attack to lead 26-8 by halftime.
Photo: AFP
It was Argentina’s eighth win in a row in Tests against Romania.
Santiago Fernandez, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Figallo and Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino scored the first-half tries, converting a glut of possession into points. In the second half, replacements Juan Jose Imhoff and Genaro Fessia added Argentina’s fifth and sixth tries.
Center Martin Rodriguez kicked five conversions and a penalty for 13 points. Winger Iionel Cazan scored the lone try for Romania, while Tiberius Dimofte kicked a penalty.
Romania, who lost 34-24 to Scotland in their first Pool B match, should have known they were in for a rough afternoon when Legiuzamon ran straight over Florin Surugui, knocking the Romanian scrumhalf onto his back, as he barged over in the eighth minute for the Pumas’ second try.
It wasn’t pretty for the rest of the half, either, with Romania forced to make 62 tackles against Argentina’s 20.
And Romania missed 13 tackles along the way trying to stop the relentlessly running Pumas, much to the delight of the Argentina fans in the crowd, some wearing large puma heads and blue-dyed wigs.
Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma set a record for World Cup matches for the team, playing his 15th. The 38-year-old Ledesma previously shared the record with Agustin Pichot and injured Argentina captain Felipe Contepomi.
Forwards Cristian Petre and Ovidiu Tonita played their 10th Rugby World Cup matches, joining only three other Romania players to reach double figures. Romania coach Romeo Gontineac holds the record with 14.
The crowd of 12,605 was treated to some rather unique pregame entertainment. The New Zealand Army Band played among their repertoire YMCA, when six members of the band laid their instruments down on the pitch and led the crowd in dancing the disco favorite.
SOUTH AFRICA V FIJI
REUTERS, WELLINGTON
South Africa sent out a message they would not give up their hold on the Webb Ellis trophy easily with a clinical 49-3 victory over Fiji in their rugby World Cup Pool D match yesterday.
Flyhalf Morne Styen scored a try and slotted five conversions and two penalties for the world champions, who tallied six tries in total to grab a bonus point.
Gurthro Steenkamp, Jaque Fourie, Frans Steyn, Tendai Mtwarira and man of the match Danie Rossouw also crossed for the Springboks, while Frans Steyn added a mammoth 58m penalty in the first half.
Fiji inside center Seremai Bai scored a first half penalty, while left-winger Naipolioni Nalaga had two tries disallowed — the first for a forward pass and the second when he dropped the ball over the line.
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