So how will the Georgians unlock the Pumas defense?
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Especially as New Zealand has not been at its best so far, scraping past Argentina 26-16 and falling somewhat below expectations in Thursday’s 58-14 defeat of Namibia, a win padded out with two late tries.
The Pumas sent out a warning to possible quarter-final opponents Ireland as they coasted to a 54-9 Pool C victory in Gloucester as Georgia came back down to earth with a bump after beating Tonga last weekend.
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.
“If we get caught up in that, we could go home or have a bad time”.
Argentina vs Georgia is scheduled for a 4.45 pm local time (9.15 pm IST, 11.45 am ET) start.
“Cordero, Cordero”, shouted the fans after his second try following a breakaway down the right wing and jinking run from the halfway line that left defenders flat-footed.
Argentina have also been making inroads in the expanded Rugby Championship between World Cups, which as Haig pointed out has given the Pumas massive gains over the past three years.
Kvirikashvili then dispatched the simplest of conversions to give Georgia a 10-3 lead. Juan Imhoff scored two tries and looked potent with ball in hand.
With eight minutes remaining, Tonga had an extra man with which to secure a tie with a converted try.
Back in April, Cordero, two-try scorer when Argentina’s second string Pampas XV beat Fiji Warriors to win a second successive Pacific Rugby Cup final in Australia, told Reuters that he was not sure what career decision to make. The result may not have changed, but the margin in the end should not have been this lopsided.
Villain of the match: Nothing nasty to report.
Argentina captain Austin Creevy said “it will be a big battle in the scrum and the mauls”. Favouritism perhaps in the selection process?
For that to happen he will first have to tame Georgia’s Mamuka “Gorgodzilla” Gorgodze, who he plays alongside at French club Toulon. “As a foreigner you’ve got no understanding of it really, and what it does to a whole country, that this game’s coming up”.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera, 18 Ramiro Herrera, 19 Javier Ortega Desio, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
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Georgia: M Kvirikashvili (M Giorgadze 53); T Mchedlidze (G Pruidze 58), D Kacharava, M Sharikadze, G Aptsiauri; L Malaguradze, V Lobzhanidze (G Begadze 57); M Nariashvili (K Asieshvili 51), J Bregvadze (S Mamukashvili 48), D Zirakashvili (L Chilachava 51), G Nemsadze, K Mikautadze (L Datunashvili 48), G Tkhilaishvili, V Kolelishvili (S Sutiashvili 57), M Gorgodze (capt).
