The Associated Press GLOUCESTER, England (AP) — Argentina blew Georgia away in the second half in an emphatic 54-9 Rugby World Cup win to stay on course for second spot in Pool C on Friday.
Left winger Juan Imhoff and right winger Santiago Cordero scored two clinical tries each as Argentina scored seven — six after the interval.
But it was No. 8 Mamuka Gorgodze’s careless sin-bin early in the second half that tipped the scales.
When he was punished for slowing down the ball at the ruck, it was 14-9.
When he came back on, it was 35-9, as quick-fire scores from scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli, Imhoff, and Cordero prompted some wild flag-waving from their fans.
“One player down, and the captain at that, all he represents for the team,” Argentina captain Daniel Hourcade said through an interpreter. “This was very hard for Georgia and we took advantage of that. But when he came back we had the confidence to impose our game.”
The other Pumas tries came from replacement flyhalf Martin Landajo, and lock Tomas Lavanini, who got his early in a close-fought first half.
After his side upset Tonga 17-10, Georgia coach Milton Haig stepped up the mind games, saying “all the pressure’s on Argentina” after the Pumas lost their opener 26-16 to New Zealand.
He should have known better, seeing as Japan’s Eddie Jones said the same before facing Scotland, and his side was blown away 45-10 — with all five Scottish tries coming after the break.
“We were in the game in the first half and they scored three tries and that was probably the game right there and then. But I’m pretty proud of how we played,” Haig said. Speech
