Argentina send Irish home with win

PARIS, France -- Argentina continued their outstanding World Cup form with an emphatic 30-15 victory over Ireland at the Parc des Princes on Sunday which sealed top spot in Pool D.

Ireland, who went into the tournament with high hopes, are going home and the pressure is also building on coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

The Pumas win also leaves hosts France in second place in the pool and left with the daunting task of playing favorites New Zealand in the quarterfinals.

Argentina will now face Scotland in Paris and look set to reach the semifinals of rugby union's global event for the first time.

Ireland, who needed a four-try victory to make the quarterfinals were given hope as the tireless Brian O'Driscoll and Geordan Murphy crossed but Argentina refused to buckle and were the stronger team at the end.

First-half tries from Lucas Borges and Horacio Agulla did the main damage on the scoreboard.

Felipe Contepomi booted 11 points while Juan Martin Hernandez weighed in with three drop goals in a peerless display at fly-half.

The Pumas survived an early Irish onslaught to be 18-10 ahead at the interval and stretched further clear with another Contepomi three points.

A 47th minute try from Murphy offered a lifeline, the Leicester full-back going over in the corner in a rare glimpse of Irish back play.

Two Contemponi penalties and anoother Hernandez drop goal snuffed out the Irish challenge and Argentina go forward with a perfect record in the pool play.

Earlier, France beat Georgia 64-7 in their final pool game, but were left to rue their shock defeat to Argentina in the opening match of the tournament.

In Sunday's late match, South Africa ran in nine tries to dispatch the United States 64-15 to round off their perfect winning record in Pool A which they topped from England. E-mail to a friend