Argentina dispatch Georgia

Argentina recorded a comprehensive 45-29 victory over Georgia at Estádio 23 de Agosto on Saturday to end their recent winless run.

Argentine tries from Agustín Creevy, Joaquín Tuculet and a Ramiro Moyano hat-trick proved too much for Georgia who scored through Davit Kacharava, Shalva Mamukashvili and a penalty try.

Los Pumas had lost nine out of their last 10 games prior to this one and the result will give them and their supporters a much-needed morale boost.

The home side will be happy with the attacking threat they posed as well as their clinical finishing especially from Moyano who showed he is some talent.

However, they won't be happy with conceding four tries whereas the Georgians will be buoyed by their attacking threat.

Nicolás Sánchez slotted four penalties as Argentina raced into a 12-0 lead.  Merab Khirkasvili responded with one from Georgia.

Moyano was sin-binned for recklessly challenging Kvirikashvili in the air.  However, parity was restored when Giorgi Nemsadze was also yellow-carded for repeatedly infringing at the breakdown.

Then five minutes before half-time, Creevy got his side's first try of the match as he went over at the back of a strong Argentine driving maul.

Two minutes later, full-back Tuculet finished off a superb backline move in which the Argentines did well to draw in the Georgian defence before going out wide.

But Georgia had the last say in the first half after superb play by Lasha Khmaladze who turned provider for Kacharava to dot down on the stroke of half-time as Argentina took a 26-8 lead in to the interval.

Five minutes after the break, Moyano got on the scoresheet when he intercepted a Kvirikashvili pass.  It was not a good start to the second half for the away side.

Georgia were then awarded a penalty try after a massive scrum by the visitors overpowered the Argentine forwards but the home side responded as Moyano grabbed his brace.  Sánchez converted to restore the lead to 40-18 after 53 minutes.

Moyano then grabbed a hat-trick in a scintillating 11 minutes after half-time, ducking and weaving his way through four defenders and showing searing pace to run 40 metres before crossing the whitewash.  What a way to redeem himself after the yellow card.

Georgia refused to lie down and substitute Matiashvili got himself on the scoresheet before converting his own try.

Georgia showed they are proficient at set-piece, dominating the physical confrontation at the scrum and mauls.  And their fourth try came from a strong driving maul from which Mamukashvili crashed over.  Matiashvili converted as the match ended 45-29 to Argentina.

The scorers:

For Argentina:
Tries:  Creevy, Tuculet, Moyano 3
Cons:  Sánchez 4
Pens:  Sánchez 4
Yellow Card:  Moyano

For Georgia:
Tries:  Kacharava, Penalty Try, Matiashvili, Mamukashvili
Con:  Matiashvili
Pen:  Kvirikashvili
Yellow Card:  Nemsadze

Argentina:  15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Matías Moroni, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Rodrigo Báez, 6 Tomás Lezana, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Enrique Pieretto, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Replacements:  16 Julián Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera, 18 Ramiro Herrera, 19 Pablo Matera, 20 Benjamin Macome, 21 Gonzalo Bertanou, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Germán Schulz

Georgia:  15 Merab Kvirikashvili, 14 Tamaz Mchedlidze, 13 Davit Kacharava, 12 Merab Sharikadze, 11 Alexander Todua, 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Beka Bitsadze, 7 Viktor Kolelishvili, 6 Lasha Lomidze, 5 Konstantin Mikautadze, 4 Giorgi Nemsadze, 3 Soso Bekoshvili, 2 Jaba Bregvadze, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili
Replacements:  16 Shalva Mamukashvili, 17 Tornike Mataradze, 18 Anton Peikrishvili, 19 Giorgi Chkhaidze, 20 Otar Giorgadze, 21 Giorgi Begadze, 22 Lasha Malaguradze, 23 Soso Matiashvili

Referee:  Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant Referees:  John Lacey (Ireland), Egon Seconds (South Africa)
TMO:  Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)