That is pretty much that from me but I will leave you with an email from Des Maxwell. Cheerio!
With all due respect to Alex Thomson and his (obviously drunk) colleagues, how can anyone deny the magnificence of the Italian national anthem? (This coming from an Irishman, only too willing to admit that the Irish dirge is beyond dreadful..)
Summary
Well, for Argentina that ended up a thoroughly productive late afternoon in Gloucestershire. Save for a 10-minute period in the first half when Georgia were in the ascendancy Argentina were largely equal up front and very polished out back. It remains to be seen what happened to Hernandez but in Imhoff and Cortero they have so speedy wings, full of confidence. Isa too, had a storming game at No8 and Lavanini is a classy second row. They showed against the All Blacks and they backed it up here. The quarter-finals, and maybe beyond, looks a certainty.
For Georgia meanwhile, it was not a good day. At half-time, just five points down, they would have scented another possible upset but their reliance on their captain Gorgodze was all too evident when he went to the sin-bin and Argentina ran in three quick-fire tries. They ran out of steam, despite a six-day turnaround between this and their Tonga game – perhaps that just took too much out of them.
Full-time! Argentina 54-9 Georgia
80 mins: One final scrum, can Georgia claim one last mini-victory? Yes they can, that’s a penalty to Georgia. A quick touch is found and we will have a lineout on halfway. Credit to Georgia, they are giving this a go – many in their position would have booted the ball out but still they come … although they’re not really getting anywhere. It’s been turned over but Cordero’s kick ahead is too long … and that is that after Doyle decrees that Cordero, claiming the foul, threw himself to the ground.
Updated
79 mins: Imhoff, to Isa and Argentina are getting closer, until Bosch knocks on. That may be that, Georgia will certainly hope so.
78 mins: Argentina feel like they have one more in them and here goes Cordero again. Into some traffic though and so los Pumas work it to the right.
77 mins: Bosch misses one, tugging to the left, but Georgia don’t care. They could do with the final whistle.
Try! Argentina 54-9 Georgia (Imhoff)
75 mins: That could have been another for Argentina but Landajo fumbles and we’re back with Amorosino in the Argentina half. A fly-hack lands in Imhoff’s hands. Bosch can’t get there but the ball is recycled and Imhoff goes over for his second. This is getting ugly for Georgia.
Updated
Conversion! Argentina 49-9 Georgia (Bosch)
74 mins: The Saracen is making it look easy. From wide on the right, Bosch whips out the nine iron and caresses that one over. Argentina cruising now.
Try! Argentina 47-9 Georgia (Cordero)
72 mins: Argentina are closing in on their biggest ever win against Georgia and that is a fantastic finish from Cordero. Yes Georgia are out on their feet but the stepping and the speed from Cordero was superb. There aren’t many wing pairings better than Cordero and Imhoff.
Updated
Converted try! Argentina 42-9 Georgia (Landajo + Bosch)
71 mins: Argentina deep in Georgian territory now, despite the best efforts of Giorgadze to keep the kick in. They are just a few metres short now. The ball comes left, Bosch almost sneaks through but Landajo does this time. Try number five. Classic scrum-half sniping. Bosch boots the conversion straight between the uprights.
Updated
68 mins: This time it’s Argentina awarded the penalty. And the forwards are pleased with themselves about that. The Georgian scrum has been on top but chalk that one up for los Pumas.
67 mins: So close! Sharikadze gathers the chip but his offload to Pruidze does not go to hand. Still, Doyle was playing the advantage and Georgia go for the scrum.
65 mins: What a kick from Malaguradze, no margin for error but Georgia are just a metre or two from the Argentina line. The lineout is won, Georgia go for the drive …
64 mins: It is all Argentina here and Sanchez is bringing out all the tricks, a crossfield chip is slightly over-hit though and so Georgia re up to half-way and awarded a penalty with Herrera offside.
63 mins: Almost try number five. Landajo scampers towards the posts and got his hands free but Sanchez just wasn’t quite up with him and the ball hits the deck.
Updated
62 mins: Georgia’s replacement scrum-half takes a quick penalty but can’t make any inroads into the Argentina defence, and Doyle awards los Pumas a penalty. This has been an impressive performance from Argentina, a first-half mini-wobble aside.
60 mins: Argentina look for another length of the field score and Imhoff almost gets clear but Pruidze collares him and we’re back on half-way. Gorgodze wins the lineout.
59 mins: We haven’t had a scrum for a while but we’ve got one now. Argentina will put it through Landajo, now on for Cubelli …
58 mins: Malaguradze with a delightful looking grubber but it just bounces the wrong way and just evades Giorgadze, into touch and Argentina are off the hook. Back comes Gorgodze to vent some fury.
Updated
57 mins: Turnover and Argentina have it but Bosch passes straight to the replacement Datunashvili. Georgia on the 22 and pressing.
56 mins: Mchedlidze is wriggling and Georgia make it to the 22 with an 11th phase but Argentina squeeze them into touch boot the ball back into the Georgia have. Time to start again.
55 mins: Tkhilaishvili has a strong carry and offloads and Georgia are string some phases together now. There’s a lovely inside pass from Kolelishvili and they’re up to the 10m line.
Converted try! Argentina 35-9 Georgia (Cordero + Sanchez)
53 mins: Classic score from Argentina and that’s the bonus point. A clean lineout then Isa with the pop-pass to the onrushing Cordero who has the gas to finish. That’s three quickfire tries, all brought about by Gorgodze’s yellow card.
Updated
52 mins: Georgia are shell-shocked but they have a lineout on halfway and have made a couple of replacements. Kvirikashvili buys his side a breather by booting the ball into the Shed.
Converted try! Argentina 28-9 Georgia (Imhoff + Sanchez)
50 mins: I’m not sure we’ve seen a better try than that. Lavanini, some player, makes the outside break and has the presence of mind to find De la Fuente on his outside who in turn finds the hitherto anonymous Imhoff who speeds into the left-hand corner. Sanchez sends the conversion over for good measure.
Updated
Conversion! Argentina 21-9 Georgia (Sanchez)
48 mins: Sanchez nails the conversion this time. It’s looking ominous for Georgia now …
Try! Argentina 19-9 Georgia (Cubelli)
47 mins: No try. Argentina were pretty convinced that Lavanini was over for his second try of the game but we’ll have a five-metre scrum. Isa picks up at the base and pops to Cubelli who coasts over. Textbook.
Updated
46 mins: Just five metres short now. The forwards try first but there’s no way through. Los Pumas go left, then back to the right and it’s another penalty. Cubelli is just inches short, it looked like he knocked it on but Doyle didn’t see it. They look like they’re over though, but of course we’re going to the TMO.
Updated
45 mins: Imhoff darts over half way. This sustained pressure from Argentina and it pays off. Sanchez breaks clear, looks inside to Bosch who is stopped just short. Illegally rules Doyle though and Gorgodze is binned for going off his feet. Argentina kick to touch …
43 mins: Lobzhanidze finds touch with the box-kick but here come Argentina again. Up to the 22 now and some space for Creevy – but the hooker offloads to no one.
42 mins: Good touch from Sanchez, who will want to keep his side camped in Georgia’s half. Yet more silky hands from the backs as Argentina effortlessly go from left to right but Cordero is bundled into touch.
Updated
Peep!
41 mins: Players are out for the second half and we’re back up and running. Malaguradze kicks of a huge half for Georgia. Argentina going through the phases again before a monstrous hit from Gorgodze stops them in their tracks. Doyle not happy though. It was too high he says.
Pundits have been waxing lyrical about Lobbe at half-time, rightly so, but no word on why Hernandez was hooked there. Will keep you posted should they get on the case.
Alex Thomson has an email …
r.e. your pre-match comment about anthems:
to get us in the mood for the World Cup, my colleagues and I listened to and ranked all 20 anthems out of 10 with an elaborate ranking system (well, we all voted out of 10 and took the average). Here are the results if you are interested:
No surprises with the top 3, but a shout-out to Japan and Uruguay, which were surprisingly good.
Wales 8.5
France 8
Italy 7
Japan 7
Samoa 7
Uruguay 7
Scotland 6.5
Georgia 6
South Africa 6
Australia 6
New Zealand 6
USA 6
Ireland 5.5
Romania 5
Argentina 4.5
England 4
Canada 4
Tonga 4
Fiji 3
Namibia 2
Well then. Argentina will be happy to get in at the break with their FIVE-point lead still in tact. Georgia grew into the half, Kvirikashvili’s boot proving increasingly influential, but Argentina remain the most dangerous with ball in hand. Georgia have the edge at the scrum however and there are some colossal defensive hits going in.
Half-time
Argentina 14-9 Georgia: A lucky escape for Sanchez there. He can expect a rollicking from Daniel Hourcade at the interval
40 mins: That’s an awful restart from Sanchez though, completely lateral and Georgia have it again on Argentina’s 22. Doyle is playing advantage but Georgia try and give it some width through Mchedlidze. Kacharava wasn’t held and he breaks on tackle before running into heavy traffic. Georgia’s tails are up though but Kolelishvili takes a forward pass on the left wing and that is half-time.
Updated
39 mins: Malaguradze takes the drop goal and he’s pulled it wide.
38 mins: Anyway, back to the scrum and we’re on the edge of Argentina’s 22. Lobzhanidze puts in, Gorgodze picks it up, the Georgia forwards are banging into Argentina’s defence and making no progress at all so …
36 mins: Hernandez with a thumping kick, returned by Kvirikashvili. Hernandez has another go, with one of the outside of the boot, but it goes dead. De la Fuente comes on for Hernandez. Bizarre …
Updated
Penalty! Argentina 14-9 Georgia (Sanchez)
35 mins: I spoke too soon. Doyle was playing advantage for a late tackle on Sanchez who will go for the sticks. Meanwhile, Imhoff who has barely touched the ball is down receiving treatment.
34 mins: Georgia’s lineout is clean, Lobzhanidze’s box-kick is better but Tuculet takes it and Sanchez bursts through the middle. He can’t find any support but Argentina go again down the right and Bosch comes close – oh dear, knock on. Another scrum …
33 mins: Another kick-off from Hernandez with huge hang time and it looks like Sanchez manages to charge down Lobzhanidze’s box-kick. The fly-half was offside though and Georgia are up to halfway.
Penalty! Argentina 11-9 (Kvirikashvili)
32 mins: Kvirikashvili goes for goal from wide on the left and again he bisects the posts. Georgia have been on top since Lavanini’s try and they’re within two.
31 mins: Gorgodze takes it right at the back and Georgia have so territory now. Kolelishvili nearly bursts clear down the left, Cordero, with the tackle but Georgia have the penalty after Lobbe fails to roll away.
29 mins: Try-scorer Lavanini is penalised at the lineout for taking the man in the air, Kvirikashvili finds safe touch from the penalty and it’s a Georgia lineout on Argentina’s 22.
28 mins: Argentina work it across from left to right, Hernandez again looking silky with ball in hand but Cordero fumbles into touch.
27 mins: Sharikadze with the turnover there, then a bit of putting boot to ball from both sides and eventually Mchedlidze calls for the mark and we’re at halfway with an Argentina lineout. Fairly stop-start stuff this but Georgia are coming back into it.
Updated
26 mins: Malaguradze, launches it right-footed into touch, and that’s clean ball, allowing Sharikadze a bullock up the middle but it’s spilled by Mikautadze.
25 mins: A quick break for one or two players to receive some treatment but we’re back underway with a scrum - Cubelli puts in but Georgia win the penalty. Their pack is certainly in the ascendancy at the moment.
24 mins: Argentina’s tighthead Chaparro pops up in the outside-centre channel, he doesn’t have the pace to beat Mchedlidze on the outside, but Argentina still have it on the edge of Georgia’s 22.
23 mins: Kvirikashvili’s up and under is well taken by Tuculet but the ball is tipped free. Again Georgia go through the phases but can’t make many inroads into through the Argentina defence – and it’s been turned over.
Penalty! Argentina 11-6 (Sanchez)
22 mins: And Sanchez comfortably restores Argentina’s five-point lead. Lavanini’s try remains the difference.
Updated
21 mins: Here come Argentina again though. A huge hanging kick from Hernandez sees the ball spilled and to compound matters for Georgia, Tkhilaishvili goes to high on Cubelli.
Penalty! Argentina 8-6 (Kvirikashvili)
20 mins: He’s a long way out, it isn’t straight and it’s almost on half way, but Kvirikashvili is going for the posts again. And it’s over, excellent kick from the left-footer
18 mins: Georgia gather the restart and decide to keep it in hand. Sharikadze makes a half-break and Georgia are over half-way. And the have a penalty after Leguizamon’s failure to use the hands in the tackle.
Penalty! Argentina 8-3 (Kvirikashvili)
17 mins: Argentina’s Alemanno looks like he’s in trouble here. He’s pinged for obstruction inside his own half, putting the shoulder on Kvirikashvili, so Georgia will a first shot at goal … and the full-back slots it.
Updated
16 mins: Argentina do look good when they put the ball through hands but Hernandez spots some space in behind, kicks into it and the chase is on … hang on, Doyle has spotted something and we’re going upstairs.
15 mins: Nope. Stole by Argentina who are then awarded a penalty for the Georgian lock Nemsadze coming in at the side. That’s a let off for Argentina who clear their lines with one of Hernandez’s delightful banana kicks.
Updated
14 mins: JP Doyle isn’t happy with the early scrummages so we’ll try again here. Georgia awarded the penalty – Ayerza pinged for not staying straight – so Kvirikashvili finds an excellent touch deep in Argentina’s 22. Expect a catch and drive.
12 mins: Georgia restart and there’s an almighty scrap for the ball on the floor. Gorgodze is in the thick of it and helps hold up the maul that soon forms so Georgia will have the put in. Meanwhile, in anthem news …
@gerard_meagher On ranking the anthems, Uruguay's (including tears and hugs at the end) has been my favourite so far https://t.co/2coB7aymju
— Alan Smith (@alansmith90) September 25, 2015
Updated
11 mins: That was a sharp move from Argentina who have begun the brighter by far. Conversion Sanchez is shocking though …
Try! Argentina 8-0 Georgia (Lavanini)
9 mins: Argentina going through the phases and creep into Georgia’s 22. So lovely interplay involving Sanchez almost creates the gap but after moving across to the other side it’s Lavanini who plunges over on the overlap.
Updated
8 mins: Argentina work the ball through their backs and Bosch produces a smart kick behind the Georgian defence. Los Lelos clear their lines so we’ll have another Argentina lineout in front of the Shed.
7 mins: Argentina have it again and a lovely break from Cordero down the middle and offloading to Tuculet but los Pumas run out of room. Georgia lineout.
Drop goal! Argentina 3-0 Georgia (Sanchez)
6 mins: No progress but Cubelli looks inside and finds Sanchez who scores the a terribly scrappy drop goal – the first of the tournament!
Updated
5 mins: A brief stoppage in play – Doyle’s radio is being interfered with but Argentina take the lineout five metres from the Georgian line and try to get the rolling maul going …
4 mins: A first carry for Argentina’s No8 Isa and it brings a penalty near half way after Georgia are pinged for not rolling away. Good touch found by Hernandez.
Updated
3 mins: First blood Georgia – Argentina’s tighthead Chaparro pinged and Malaguradze kicks the penalty deep into enemy territory but Georgia make a hash of the lineout. Scrappy start.
2 mins: Argentina’s Cubelli puts in, but we’ll go again. TMO has had a word with Doyle about Georgia’s scrummaging …
Updated
Peep!
1min: JP Doyle blows his whistle and we’re up and running. Argentina’s Sanchez hangs one high and Kolelishvili takes it before Lobzhanidze finds touch with the box kick. Creevy’s lineout is not taken cleanly so we’ll have our first scrum …
Updated
Georgia’s trumps it though. The equivalent of an eight-point victory. Penalty with about five to go putting them out of sight.
Anthem alert!
I haven’t pitched the idea of ranking all 20 anthems to my editor yet, that’s for next week, but a couple of solid ones here. Creevy looks downright mean during Argentina’s …
Updated
The atmosphere is building at Kingsholm. Dare I say that the crowd is … buoyant?
Argentina fans in great voice here at Kingsholm #ARGvGEO #RWC2015 pic.twitter.com/4R1mSG8VDm
— Steven Impey (@steimpey) September 25, 2015
Areyouthe Pharma has some light half-time reading for us all to enjoy …
@gerard_meagher There's still no such thing as momentum in sport you know. Even if you call it 'buoyancy' (cf e.g. http://t.co/XNkWUXUK8u).
— Areyouthe Pharma (@Areyouthepharma) September 25, 2015
Kick-off is fast approaching so let’s pick out a few things to look out for:
- The packs are evenly matched so the back-row battle between Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Mamuka Gorgodze – Toulon team-mate’s – will be key.
- Vasil Lobzhanidze, the Georgian scrum-half, is just 18 but played well beyond his years against Tonga.
- Argentina’s No12 Juan Martin Hernandez and the contrast between his defence and attack.
- The state of Davit Zirakashvili’s ears – an unruly mess.
Should have thought of this before typing it all out …
#GEO have the upper hand in the experience stakes - #TheLelos have 632 test caps compared with #ARG's 522 #ARGvGEO pic.twitter.com/Tos5wt673m
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 25, 2015
Seismic Shock Saturday? That’s what six days previous is to be known as according to ITV’s Mark Durden-Smith. Two things … one, I can’t see it catching on and two, what does that make today? Front-row Friday?
Team news
As promised … Georgia, perhaps unsurprisingly considering their extra day’s rest and their performance last Saturday, are unchanged.
Argentina change three, all in the pack, with Guido Petti, who took a knock to the head after scoring Argentina’s try against New Zealand, replaced by Matias Alemanno, and Juan Manuel Leguizamon and Facundo Isa coming in for Pablo Matera.
Argentina: Joaquin Tuculet, Santiago Cordero, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Martin Hernandez, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli; Marcos Ayerza, Agustin Creevy (captain), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lavanini, Juan Miguel Leguizamon, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Facundo Isa.
Replacements: Julian Montoya, Lucas Noguera, Ramiro Herrera, Javier Ortega Desio, Pablo Matera, Martin Landajo, Jeronimo De La Fuente, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Georgia: Merab Kvirikashvili, Tamaz Mchedlidze, Davit Kacharava, Merab Sharikadze, Giorgi Aptsiauri, Lasha Malaguradze, Vasil Lobzhanidze; Mikheil Nariashvili, Jaba Bregvadze, Davit Zirakashvili, Giorgi Nemsadze, Konstantine Mikautadze, Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Viktor Kolelishvili, Mamuka Gorgodze (captain).
Replacements: Shalva Mamukashvili, Karlen Asieshvili, Levan Chilachava, Levan Datunashvili, Shalva Sutiashvili, Giorgi Begadze, Giorgi Pruidze, Muraz Giorgadze.
Preamble
Hello! Who likes a 15-a-side arm wrestle at Kingsholm? You do, that’s who. For the third World Cup in a row, these two sides meet in the pool stages. It is going to be bruising, physical, attritional … and history suggests it is going to be close. In Lyon in 2007, Argentina. buoyed by their opening shock win over France, cruised past Georgia 33-3. Four years later, this time buoyed by beating Scotland, los Pumas sailed home 25-7 but in their most recent meeting, in 2013, the gap closed again - Georgia going down 29-18.
And this time it is Georgia with the buoyancy. Their opening match of the tournament was the first major upset - overcoming Tonga 17-10 in Gloucester - but was shoved into the shadows a couple of hours later by Japan. Against Tonga Georgia barely had the ball, 28% of it, and their territory was even lower, but they love a tackle just as much as they love a scrum. They made no less than 201 of them - Mamuka Gorgodze accounting for 24 - and so victory today opens up the genuine possibility of a first ever quarter-final spot.
Argentina meanwhile, are not quite as buoyant but will be happy nonetheless with their first 50 minutes against New Zealand. Georgia’s coach, Milton Haig, one of seven Kiwi bosses at the tournament, has stoked the fires by saying it was just because the All Blacks were rusty. But Argentina were polished at Wembley and have clearly benefited for their four seasons in the Rugby Championship. They begin this one as favourites, hoping not to get dragged into a tussle up front, but Georgia will not go down fighting. We’ll have teams for you shortly but in the meantime, a little ditty for you …
Gerard will be here shortly...
