By Siegfried Mortkowitz Sep 23, 2007, 2:51 GMT
Paris - South Africa made sure of topping Pool A on Saturday, while the Pumas virtually booked their place in the quarter-finals after their convincing record-breaking 63-3 win against Namibia in Pool D of the Rugby World Cup.
England, meanwhile, had fly half Jonny Wilkenson to thank for their 44-22 victory against Samoa, that kept alive their chances of qualifying alongside South Africa from Pool A.
For the Pumas it was a night to remember in Marseille, as they ran in nine tries and virtually ensured themselves of a place in the quarter-finals and scoring their biggest-ever Rugby World Cup win.
Ireland need to beat the South Americans by more than seven points and score at least four tries in the process in their last match, which seems like a pretty tall order for a team that has managed just seven tries in the three games they have played against France, Georgia and Namibia.
Argentina though started slowly and Namibia took a shock lead with a Morne Schreuder penalty in the seventh minute.
Loosehead prop Rodrigo Roncero finally scored the first try of the match for the Pumas in the 26th minute and from then, the scoring came easier, with further tries by Manuel Contepomi, Juan Manuel Leguizamon (two), Gonzalo Tiesi, Ignacio Corleto, Federico Todeschini and a penalty try.
The final try was scored by Felipe Contepomi, who also added four conversions and two penalties for a personal tally of 19 points.
In the earlier game in Lens, South Africa were made to fight all the way before eventually overcoming Tonga 30-25.
The result sees South Africa assured of top spot in Pool A with 14 points from three matches. They will play the United States on September 28 in their final pool match while Tonga and England, both on nine points, face each other two days later in Paris to see who fills the second qualification spot.
England got off to the perfect start against Samoa in Nantes, with captain Martin Corry scoring a try after just two minutes with Wilkinson, returning from injury, adding the conversion.
A Wilkinson drop goal three minutes later extended England's lead to 10 points before two quick Loki Crichton penalty kicks made the score 10-6.
Two more Wilkinson penalties followed before Paul Sackey got on the end of a Wilkinson grubber kick to score England's second try, with the successful conversion attempt making the score 23-6.
Crichton slotted home another two penalties before halftime to leave Samoa trailing 23-12 at the break.
Both sides exchanged penalties before scrumhalf Junior Polu beat Mathew Tait to touch down for Samoa with Crichton converting to cut the deficit to just four points.
But that was as close as Samoa got with a drop goal and penalty from Wilkinson followed up by a second try for Corry and a late try from Sackey securing the bonus point and a 44-22 win for England.
The Springboks were eager to make sure of winning their group to avoid a potential semi-final date with tournament favourites New Zealand.
On a high after trouncing Samoa and England in their opening two World Cup matches, South Africa found themselves behind to a resilient Tonga side early in the second half before eventually securing their place in the last eight.
Tonga, who also went into the game full of confidence after victories over the United States and Samoa, took an early 3-0 lead at the Stade Felix Bollaert thanks to a penalty from Pierre Hola after South Africa were caught offside.
But Ruan Pienaar took full advantage of a lack of concentration by the Tongans on 17 minutes, tapping a quick penalty and beating hooker Aleki Lutui to cross the line for the Springboks first try, which Andre Pretorius converted to make it 7-3.
Tonga took a surprise lead three minutes into the second half when prop Kisi Pulu powered over the line, assisted by Finau Maka, and Hola converted to make it 10-7.
The inconsistent Pretorius missed another penalty kick before Boks coach Jake White made five substitutions, bringing on John Smit, BJ Botha, Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana and Francois Steyn to try turn the tide of the game.
The injured Danie Rossouw was also stretchered off in a neck brace and replaced by Juan Smith before South Africa got another penalty after Tonga were caught offside.
Steyn took over the kicking responsibilities, landing his first effort to level the scores.
Smith crashed over the line to put the Boks in front on 58 minutes with replacement Percy Montgomery, surpassing Joost van der Westhuizen by winning a record 90th cap, converting to make it 17-10.
Another try by Bobby Skinstad three minutes later extended South Africa's lead, which also led to the sin-binning of Francois Steyn and Joseph Vaka.
South Africa secured the bonus point, and with it first place in Pool A, on 64 minutes with their best try of the match, breaking from their own 22 before Pienaar scored in the right corner.
But Tonga weren't finished yet and with South Africa's Bryan Habana sent to the bin for playing the ball on the ground, Sukanaivalu Huganga jumped high to claim and touch down a cross-field kick from Pierra Hola to narrow the deficit to 12 points.
Tonga reduced South Africa's lead to just five points when flanker Viliami Vaki touched down and Hola duly converted.
Montgomery landed a penalty for South Africa before Hola guaranteed a bonus point for Tonga with a penalty of his own three minutes from time.
Your Talkback on this Story