Pumas pull away from Tonga
Three late tries turned what had been quite a competitive game in the first hour into a fairly comfortable win for the South American side.
Tries by Joaquin Tuculet, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Julian Montoya and Santiago Cordero – often with brilliant darting runs – sealed the result.
The Pumas are now second in Pool C, four points behind leaders and reigning world champions New Zealand, who have already qualified.
Only an unlikely Tonga four-try win over the All Blacks next weekend can stop Argentina going into the last eight.
Kurt Morath's sixth-minute try put Tonga ahead with a move he started and ended.
But his conversion attempt came off the posts at the start of a frustrating afternoon of kicking.
Tonga were soon behind and chasing the game.
The more accurate Sanchez kicked a penalty after 19 minutes and Tuculet got Argentina's first try soon after, exposing the Pacific islanders' defensive frailty.
Cordero picked up the ball in his own half for a powerful run and the ball reached Imhoff, who dummied one Tongan and darted between the posts.
Sanchez and Morath got more penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
But Tonga threatened a fightback when Telusa Veainu staged his own breakthrough on the wing and got the ball to Soane Tonga'uiha for their second try.
Morath pulled the conversion wide to the annoyance of coach Manakaetau 'Otai.
Just after the hour, Sanchez got the ball 15 metres out, handed-off one opponent and burst through for Argentina's third try.
Montoya touched down in the corner to get the key bonus point and Cordero secured the fifth try in stoppage time with Tonga already condemned to defeat.
Sanchez's 25 points took him to 51 from three games, ahead of Japan's Ayumu Goromaru as the tournament's leading scorer.
Argentina, who beat South Africa in August as they claimed a new world-class scalp, need only avoid defeat against Namibia on October 11 to make sure of their quarterfinal place.
Man of the match: There were a few brave performances from the Tongans, but the man who ran the show was Pumas flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez.
Moment of the match: Sanchez surged through a gap to score a try in the second half which effectively ended Tonga's hopes of causing an upset.
Villain of the match: There were none.
The scorers:
For Argentina:
Tries: Tuculet, Imhoff, Sanchez, Montoya, Cordero
Cons: Sanchez 3
Pens: Sanchez 4
For Tonga:
Tries: Morath, Tonga'uiha
Pens: Morath 2
Teams:
Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jerónimo De La Fuente, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Horacio Agulla.
Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Sione Piukala, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Nili Latu (captain), 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Joseph Tuineau, 4 Tukulua Lokotui, 3 Halani 'Aulika, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Aleki Lutui, 17 Sona Taumalolo, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Sitiveni Mafi, 20 Opeti Fonua, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Latiume Fosita, 23 David Halaifonua.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
