The Pumas have firmly captured the public’s imagination in this year’s World Cup, here’s how they did it…
New Zealand 26-16 Argentina
Sunday, September 20 – Pool C Round 1
In front of a Rugby World Cup-record crowd of 89,019 at Wembley, Argentina battled hard against the finalists, but New Zealand eventually came out on top in one of the most entertaining games of the tournament.
After three Dan Carter penalties inside 20 minutes, it was 20-year-old Lock Guido Petti who scored the first try of the evening on 21 minutes, Nicolas Sanchez converting before adding two further penalties, but Carter cut the deficit on the stroke of half time.
Sanchez was again on target shortly after the restart, but successive tries from Aaron Smith and Sam Cane, both converted by Carter, finally bulled the All Blacks clear.
Argentina 54-9 Georgia
Friday, September 25, Pool C Round 2
Five days later, Argentina banished the disappointment of their opening-round defeat with a rout of Georgia.
Merab Kvirikashvili kicked all of Georgia’s points in the first half, hammering over three penalties in a competitive first period, but Argentina pulled clear in a clinical second half which saw them score six tries.
After Nicolas Sanchez had kicked an early drop goal, Tomás Lavanini crashed over for the first half’s only try, with Sanchez adding two further penalties before the break.
Juan Imhoff got over twice in the second period, with Santiago Cordero also bagging a brace alongside scores from Tomás Cubelli and Martín Landajo. Sanchez added three conversions with two coming from Marcelo Bosch.
Argentina 45-16 Tonga
Sunday, October 4, Pool C Round 3
Tonga scored 13 of their points in the first period, Kurt Morath scoring a try and a goal, Soane Tonga’uiha with the other try ahead of a 42nd-minute penalty goal from Morath.
Argentina’s superior quality shone through in the end, with tries from Joaquín Tuculet and Juan Imhoff in the first half, before Julián Montoya and Santiago Cordero touched down after the restart. Sanchez was also in impeccable form from the tee, kicking four penalties and four conversions.
Argentina 64-19 Namibia
Sunday, October 11, Pool C Round 4
With qualification secured for the Pumas, a celebration of rugby was in store at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium and the two sides didn’t disappoint with 83 points scored.
Juan Martín Hernández scored early on before Johan Tromp responded for Namibia, but Argentina clicked through the gears in an impressive first period, scoring four further first-half tries through Matías Moroni, Horacio Agulla, Facundo Isa and Lucas Noguera Paz.
JC Greyling hit back for Phil Davies’ men, but four more tries followed for Martín Landajo and co. as the men in blue and white ripped clear. Matías Alemanno, Leonardo Senatore, Julián Montoya and Tomás Cubelli all chipped in with the five-pointers to help rack up their biggest score of the tournament.
Argentina 43-20 Ireland
Sunday, October 18, Quarter-Final
One of the most eye-catching games of this year’s World Cup saw Nicolas Sanchez kick nine successful kicks in a comprehensive win for his side.
Juan Imhoff scored either side of half time after Matis Maroni has opened the scoring, with Joaquín Tuculet’s try late onadding extra gloss to the scoreline.
Argentina 15-29 Australia
Saturday, October 24, semi-final
Nicolas Sanchez scored all of his side’s points but an Adam Ashley-Cooper hat-trick denied the Pumas a place in the final.
Sanchez kicked three first-half penalties before adding two more after the break, but Ashley-Cooper’s treble, alongside a try for Rob Simmons and four goals from Bernard Foley saw the Wallabies over the line.