WHILE Scotland and England maintained the Five Nations challenge for the World Cup with comfortable wins on Wednesday, Argentina spoiled Europe’s day with a shock win to oust Ireland in the quarter-final qualifying matches. Wing Diego Albanese scored the only try of an error-filled match as Argentina beat Ireland 28-24 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in four attempts.
Flyhalf Gonzalo Quesada kicked the other 23 points for Argentina while all Ireland’s points came from his opposite number David Humphreys. Argentina have now won three matches in a row after having won only one in three previous World Cups. They go on to meet France in Dublin on Sunday.
England and Scotland both face daunting challenges from the southern hemisphere in quarter-finals at the weekend. England emerged battered and bruised from their 45-24 defeat of Fiji at Twickenham and have injury problems ahead of their quarter-final against holders South Africa in Paris on Sunday. Five Nations champions Scotland were more impressive in their 35-20 win over Samoa to line up a quarter-final against favourites New Zealand, with the benefit of playing at their home ground of Murrayfield, also on Sunday. Wales play Australia in the other last eight match on Saturday in Cardiff.