Rugby World Cup: Argentina v Georgia

1. Pool C FT: Argentina 54-9 Georgia
2. Lavanini, Cubelli, Imhoff 2, Cordero 2, Landajo tries
3. Three Kvirikashvili penalties for Georgia
4. Argentina score three tries with Gorgodze in sin-bin
5. England play Wales on Saturday at 20:00 BST

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That's enough from us for today, the director is fading to black. 

You've probably not heard, but England take on Wales in a match which has been described as the biggest Pool match in Rugby World Cup history. It'll be a quite affair, only about 80,000 fans with big expectations and even bigger hopes. 

Join us for live coverage of that match from about 18:00 BST. But South Africa take on Samoa before England's rumble with Wales, while the day starts with Canada taking on Italy. Exciting stuff ahead. Until tomorrow...

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It's a good day to be an Argentine rugby fan. The Pumas have now won all four of their meetings with Georgia, including their three World Cup clashes, and this victory was their biggest against Georgia - and their fourth biggest against any team at a Rugby World Cup.

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Three tries in five second-half minutes were the undoing of the Georgians who, before the sin-binning of Mamuka Gorgodze, were in contention. 

You can read the match report by clicking here. 

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Viktor Kolelishvili will need to rest his bones this evening after making 14 tackles in that match, the most of any player. 

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Argentina 54-9 Georgia

BBC Sport

Seven tries from Argentina and it could have been more. The Pumas leap from fourth to second in the table and order has been restored in Pool C, with New Zealand top. 

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BBC Sport

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Argentina were oozing confidence in the second half, running from deep a la the French side of the 80s. 

Santiago Cordero

Argentina 54-9 Georgia

The players meet at the centre of the pitch, exchanging handshakes and pleasantries. Argentina's fans continue to sing at full voice, creating a din at Kingsholm. 

The Pumas shaded possession and territory (54% and 56% respectively) but there was only one team in it once Mamuka Gorgodze was sent to the sin-bin in the second half. 

Reuters

Argentina 54-9 Georgia

JP Doyle puts the Georgians out of their misery. The Lelos battled to the end, showed plenty of spirit, but many a team would struggle against the likes of Santiago Cordero and Juan Imhoff.

Argentina 54-9 Georgia

One minute remaining. Argentina fans stamping their feet, chanting and hollering... 

Santiago stars

Santiago Cordero has been the star man for Argentina today. He leads their stats for metres, defenders beaten and clean breaks... He's also scored two tries. 

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Try - Imhoff

Argentina oozing confidence. Juan Imhoff scoring his second try of the match, but Marcelo Bosch misses the conversion. 

Reuters

Converted try - Cordero; Bosch con

Martin Landajo opts for the quick penalty and sets Santiago Cordero loose. Clinical from the winger, evading one tackle before cantering towards the tryline at full speed. And a super-duper touchline conversion from Marcelo Bosch. 

Reuters

Converted try - Landajo; Bosch conv

A fourth international try for Martin Landajo. Argentina's forwards setting it up nicely, replacement scrum-half Landajo opts to go it alone and he has the strength to dive over from 2m out. It's Marcelo Bosch who takes the conversion and he bisects the posts. 

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Attempting to tackle the problem

As a sign of Argentina's dominance, the top five tackle-makers in the game are all Georgian...

BBC Sport

Argentina 35-9 Georgia

Georgia with a put-in at the scrum.. their fans urging their men on through song... but JP Doyle spots that a Georgian back-rower has kicked the ball away in the turning scrum. An opportunity missed for the Georgians. They were underneath the posts. They could have gone either side had they secured possession. 

Argentina 35-9 Georgia

Replacement Ramiro Herrera  caught offside. Tiredness can't be blamed for that. A chance for Georgia to boot to touch and earn some free yards.

Forward the Lelos drive... Argentina offside once more... Georgia under the posts! But the ball was knocked on. Back to the earlier offside we go. 

Argentina 35-9 Georgia

Mamuka Gorgodze is back on the field but, you sense, Georgia's chances of winning this match has long since whistled into the Gloucester wind. The underdogs penalised at the breakdown again - the eight penalty they've shipped - holding on in the tackle and that sets up the Argentines for a line-out in the Georgian half from which they can attack. 

Argentina 35-9 Georgia

Argentina playing with freedom, they now have the confidence to attack from deep... Juan Imhoff attempts to outsprint his opposite number, but is dragged into touch by the scruff of his neck. 

Argentina 35-9 Georgia

Three tries in quick succession has Georgia on the ropes, they're bruised and stunned, but aren't prepared to fall onto the canvas. In the Gloucester sunshine they attack.. Murazi Giorgadze chases a kick through, but he agonisingly runs out of turf. 

Argentina 35-9 Georgia

Converted try - Cordero; Sanchez con

Matias Alemanno rises high in the line-out, setting up a peachy platform for his backline... Santiago Cordero looking for work, stepping in from the wing, and under the posts he goes, a swanky side-step capping a delightful move. Nicolas Sanchez with the conversion? You bet. 

Reuters

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Argentina take control

With Georgia a man down, Argentina are asserting their control on this game. The stats back up their dominance. As does the score, of course, two tries in his absence... Oh, but hang on, something's about to happen... ! 

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Converted try - Imhoff; Sanchez con

Ruthless. Argentina attack from 60m out, spin it from right to left and it's Juan Imhoff who applies the brutal blow - a sprint down the wing and over the whitewash. Nicholas Sanchez successful with the tricky conversion. 

Reuters

Reuters

Try - Cubelli

The Argentine pack protect the ball before number eight Facundo Isa releases Tomas Cubelli down the blind side.. the scrum-half 5m from the line... a hand into Vasil Lobzhanidze's chest... there's no stopping him. Over he goes, and Nicholas Sanchez converts. 

Reuters

No try

"The footage is inconclusive," says the TMO. Boos and hisses reverberate around Kingsholm. The Pumas must pack down for a scrum, but they have the put-in. 

Try review

Tomas Cubelli attempts to wriggle under Georgian boddies, but falls short... Tomas Lavanini surges forward - but did he ground the ball? "I think it was a try, but I'm not sure," the referee tells his assistant. TMO time. 

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Sin-bin - Mamuka Gorgodze

The big number eight was warned. And he's shown a yellow for trying to slow the ball down at the ruck, it stopped Argentina from releasing the ball quickly for what would have been an inevitable score. A delightful weaving run by Nicolas Sanchez set up that move into Georgia's 22, by the way. 

Argentina 14-9 Georgia

Argentina playing on the front foot... but they need more composure in their offloading and handling when homing in on the tryline. Trying to be too clever in outwitting the Georgian defence.

Kick-off

We're off again, just about enough time to boil an egg, runny in the middle, not hard boiled. Referee JP Doyle is starting to lose his patience. "Next high tackle someone's off to the bin," he tells number eight Mamuka Gorgodze. A warning. 

Reuters

Argentina 14-9 Georgia

BBC Sport

Argentina 14-9 Georgia

Georgia had to make more tackles than Argentina in that half - but there wasn't much in it with the Lelos making 54 to Argentina's 43. Flanker Viktor Kolelishvili is the top tackler with eight. 

Pumas paying penalty

Argentina's ascendancy in the first half was halted by the regularity they gave penalties away - eight in 40 minutes - that allowed Georgia to regroup and regain field position.

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Argentina 14-9 Georgia

Exactly...

Georgia even things up

Midway through the half it was almost one-way traffic in favour of the Pumas, but the half-time story illustrates how Georgia gained a foothold as the game progressed. Argentina know they are in an arm wrestle - which is probably exactly what they expected.

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A kicking masterclass

Half-time

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Georgia thudding into the opposition without a care for their wellbeing, but that's rugby players for you. Vasil Lobzhanidze opts for the quick tap-penalty and was that the right decision because a pass goes forward and Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, on the wing once more, is called back just when decibels were rising inside Kingsholm. That's it for this half. 

Argentina 14-9 Georgia

Lasha Malaguradze with a drop-goal attempt for Georgia, but he spoons it wide of the uprights. Georgia knocking on Argentina's door, though, threatening to burst through even if they're not allowed access. The underdogs recycling and going through the phases, playing on the fringes of the 22. 

Argentina 14-9 Georgia

Under five minutes of the half remaining and although Argentina have dominated, threatening with the ball in hand, they're not yet firing on full clanders. 

Star man Juan Martin Hernandez comes off too for the Pumas and he needs ice on an iffy groin. 

Penalty - Sanchez

Nicolas Sanchez spots a gap and weaves through it... he's gained 20m for his team... Argentina on a roll, into the 22, but they botch it, running out of turf and into touch. But referee JP Doyle calls up an earlier infringement, which means the Pumas do come away with some points after all. 

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Not all forward grunt

We expected a close-quarter battle and while it has hardly been Baa Baas fare, the ball has been thrown around more than we might have dared hope for. But Georgia need to be cautious, because if they continue to turn over their ball so regularly, Argentina will surely capitalise.

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Penalty - Merab Kvirikashvili

Toot! JP Doyle spots that Argentina have failed to roll away... coach Milton Haig immediately on his walkie-talking, animatedly issuing orders.

Put a blindfold on Merab Kvirikashvili because the full-back isn't going to miss from the tee. 

Reuters

Argentina 11-6 Georgia

A Georgian fan screams "Lelos! Lelos" from his seat, one of many adding his voice to this wonderful atmosphere. Georgia have crept into the Argentine half and are making inroads. Wide they go... Viktor Kolelishvili snorting down the wing, the flanker keeps the ball alive before he runs into touch... Georgia fans on their feet... 

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Argentina 11-6 Georgia

Argentina fail to make the most of turnover ball and during a messy period the ball is launched skywards on a few occasions until Merab Kvirikashvili calls for the mark and boots the ball to touch. 

Argentina 11-6 Georgia

Again, Argentina give away a penalty at the scrum - not binding correctly apparently - so Georgia have an opportunity to earn themselves some acres with a touchfinder into the Pumas half. 

Argentina 11-6 Georgia

Argentina advancing once more... the backline looks threatening whenever the Pumas add width to their play...But they run into a wall of Georgian defenders again and again.. and Marcelo Bosch fumbles in the tackle. Georgia live on. 

Early Pumas dominance

Looking at these stats after 15 minutes, Georgia must surely be delighted to have scored six points against the Argentines. 

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Penalty - Sanchez

Just as Georgia had dragged Argentina to within touching distance, Mamuka Gorgodze grabs Tomas Cubelli around the neck to leave Nicolas Sanchez with a straight-forward penalty kick. 

Penalty - Merab Kvirikashvili

Someone's flicked a switch and the Georgians are now firing. The forwards rumbling... Four Argentines needed to stop Mamuka Gorgodze's bulldozing run. JP Doyle blows his whistle, Argentina living dangerously in the tackle, and Merab Kvirikashvili maintains his 100% record. 

Penalty - Merab Kvirikashvili

JP Doyle toots his whistle as Nicolas Sanchez is penalised for obstruction. That gives Merab Kvirikashvili an opportunity to aim at the posts and he does so with aplomb. 

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Isa's capital gains

Facundo Isa has made an immediate impression on his first start in this World Cup, the number eight carrying powerfully on both occasions Argentina have returned from the Georgian half with points.

His first burst of 21m led to the Sanchez drop-goal and a second carry of 11 m set up the try for Lavanini. 

Argentina 8-0 Georgia

For all their strength in the scrum, the Georgians have struggled in the line-out. They lose their own ball when in Argentina's 22 and they must do better than that if they are to put the South Americans under pressure. The Georgians have yet to threaten. 

Argentina 8-0 Georgia

Argentina's fans did not need encouragement to sing at the start of this match so now that their team have crossed the whitewash there's a right old carry on in the stands. 

For possession and territory, it's all Argentina. But the Pumas have twice been penalised at the scrum. 

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Try - Lavanini; missed con

Argentina retaining possession, making inroads and from the penalty advantage they spin it wide and it's a matter of who rather than if they will score. A looping pass from Nicolas Sanchez puts the Pumas on the prowl and lock Tomas Lavanini uses his 20 stone of muscle to cross the tryline. 

Sanchez wastes the chance to add two points. 

Reuters

Reuters

Reuters

Argentina 3-0 Georgia

Georgia being pinned into their own half by crafty Argentine kicking, Nicolas Sanchez orchestrating and forcing the men in red and black on their heels. 

Argentina with another line-out in opposition territory, another solid one, and the Pumas on the front foot... into Georgia's 22...

Get Involved

Owen McArdle: Nice to see JP Doyle getting to ref this one. One of the best. @jpref9

James Richard Nesbit: Can only see Argentina winning this game but Georgia will put up a good fight

Thomas Joseph: It would appear most of Buenos Aires has migrated to Gloucester short term for this match

Drop-goal - Sanchez

Where were we? Ah, yes, Argentina with a line-out 5m from the Georgian tryline... The referee tells the Pumas to use the ball quickly, so wide they go and Nicolas Sanchez opts for the dropper - a clumsy-looking one which wibble-wobbles over, just about. And that's the first successful drop goal at this World Cup. 

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Argentina 0-0 Georgia

 Argentine number eight Facundo Isa  gathers momentum in his own half and barges though into Georgian territory. Viktor Kolelishvili, though, gives away a penalty at the resultant breakdown - and Argentina are deep in the Georgian half of the pitch for the first. 

The referee having problems with his earpiece. JP Doyle concerned by the noise coming into his ears. Who knows... 

Argentina 0-0 Georgia

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This is a third meeting at a World Cup between these two sides, with the Pumas winning on all three occasions. 

A first look at the scrum. The front-row packing down with the crowd's din ringing in their ears. The Pumas failing to bind properly, which gifts Georgia a penalty and a kick to touch. 

Argentina 0-0 Georgia

"Nearly there," says referee JP Doyle before a short, sharp shrill of his whistle gets the match under way. Kingsholm at capacity. Argentina fans creating a sparkling atmosphere. 

The unwanted hat-trick

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Unsure in who's favour the pendulum will swing? Perhaps this stat will help: Argentina have lost their last two Rugby World Cup games, but have not been beaten three times in a row since suffering eight consecutive defeats between 1987 and 1999.

A seat with a view...

Can you hear the people sing?

Anthems

The teams are about the sing the national anthems, which is cue for some of the spectators to point their camera phones towards the field. 

Argentina fans outnumbering the Georgians... the fans off beat with the music but they soon catch up and cry "Argentina! Argentina!" even after the anthem has finished. 

Reuters

'Big battle in the scrum'

AFP

Hopefully we're all clear that this is going to be a bruising encounter...

The Bajada

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No team loves scrummaging more than Argentina and the front eight were effective during their defeat against New Zealand on Sunday. 

From an early age the Argentines are apparently schooled in the 'Bajada' - a scrummaging method cooked up in the sixties by Francisco Ocampo, so I've read. 

Former South Africa coach Jake White once explained: "They scrum along an imaginary arrow drawn pointing inwards from either side of the number eight which means all the power is directed towards the hooker."

Hopefully that's cleared things up. 

'It will be a battle'

AFP

Milton Haig, who seems to be a cross between former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti and ex-Sunderland manager Peter Reid, is a confident man after his team's surprise win over Tonga. 

"There's no pressure on Georgia, all the pressure is on Argentina," said the Georgia coach. 

"I've looked at the footage of New Zealand-Argentina quite a bit and it's purely because New Zealand were pretty lukewarm."

Football or rugby?

Rugby union has apparently overtaken football as the number one spectator sport in Georgia, according to former Georgia captain Irakli Abuseridze. 

“Football used to be number one but now we are getting better results, we are winning international titles such as the World Rugby U20 trophy, and because of that people in Georgia are now following rugby more than football,” he said.

“And the government is starting to invest and help us more financially, because they are seeing that rugby is a collective, community sport which is now in first place in terms of success among Georgian sports.”

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Georgia team news

BBC Sport

It's a case of stick with what you know for Georgia as they keep faith with the starting line-up which beat Tonga 17-10 in their opening match. If it works, don't tamper. 

Buenos Aires or Gloucester?

Pumas purring

"But, Dad, we've got Pumas on our head and pretend giant claws. Don't you think we might have overdone it?" 

"Just smile."

"But there's a man behind me looking at us strangely."

"Smile."

"But we look like something out of the Jungle Book."

BBC Sport

Galarza banned

Argentina will have to do without Mariano Galarza for the rest of this tournament after the lock was banned for nine weeks for making contact "with the eye or eye area" of New Zealand's Brodie Retallick.

The 28-year-old was found to have acted "contrary to good sportsmanship".

The suspension was initially for 13 weeks, but was reduced after the judicial officer considered Galarza's "excellent disciplinary record".

"Was it a nine-week ban? I don't think so," says Michael Lynagh on ITV4. 

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Argentina team news

BBC Sport

But back to this afternoon's match, there are a few changes to the Argentina team to tell you about as Daniel Hourcade has made three changes to his pack for this ding-dong. 

Lock Matias Alemanno, blind-side flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon and number eight Facundo Isa all start, with Guido Petti, Pablo Matera and Leonardo Senatore dropping out of the XV.

Matt Dawson's rugby show...

Scotland make 10 changes

Scotland are playing this weekend too and head coach Vern Cotter has made 10 changes to his side to face the United States at Elland Road on Sunday. 

Stuart Hogg, Mark Bennett, Finn Russell, Grant Gilchrist and John Hardie are the men to keep their places after their five-try win over Japan. 

Cotter refused to say whether any of the changes are down to injuries but admitted the tight four-day turnaround after their win over Japan is a "major challenge".  

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What England v Wales means to us

Why the fuss about a pool match? Our chief sports writer Tom Frodyce has explained why England versus Wales means so much. 

"It is the biggest match of the Rugby World Cup so far: two ancient enemies, two neighbours united by both border and historic rivalry, coming together in a group in which only the strongest can survive," writes Tom. 

To read more of Tom's article, which features Geraint Thomas  and former Wales forward Martyn Williams, click here

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What the papers say

For some reason, the back pages of Britain's national papers aren't dominated by headlines about this evening's match. Instead,  the focus is on Saturday's Pool A humdinger between England and Wales. 

"Burgess in jibe at rivals," says the Daily Telegraph as Sam Burgess adds fuel to the flames by mischievously asking who his opposite number Scott Williams was. 

Oh, Samuel, will you regret such taunts come tomorrow evening?

Daily Telegraph

Georgia team arrive

Georgia arrive at Kingsholm in a nice red bus. Blue skies too. The picture says it all, really. 

BBC coverage

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of this match, and the matches which will follow it this weekend, it's best to tell you that there'll be live score updates of this match on BBC Radio 5 live. 

And you can have the latest scores zapped to your phone via the BBC Sport App rugby alerts. Live moving pictures of actual rugby players has become a bit passe.  

BBC Sport

Strictly forwards only

Hello! Strictly Come Dancing might be on our television screens this evening, but today isn't about quick feet and sparkling smiles. Today is about Argentina versus Georgia, grizzly forwards smashing into each other until one side crumbles. 

Welcome to live coverage the Pool C encounter which could potentially be strictly for forwards only. 

Spin that glitter ball, sprinkle yourself in tinsel and rhinestones or anything twinkly. Got a feather boa? Wrap that around you too because it's that time of year again. 

BBC Sport