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Live Commentary: Argentina 45-16 Tonga - as it happened

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Argentina 45-16 Tonga - as it happened
© Getty Images

Argentina secured a bonus point as they claimed a 45-16 win over Tonga in their Pool C match at the Rugby World Cup.

Juan Imhoff and Joaquin Tuculet crossed the line in the first half, while Nicolas Sanchez, Julian Montoya and Santiago Cordero all scoring after the break.

Tonga closed the gap to four points early in the second half, but were unable to stay with the Pumas as the match progressed.

Read how all the action unfolded below.

4.26pmSo, that's all from this match, but stick around as we'll have live coverage of Ireland's match against Italy in the next few minutes. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.

4.24pmArgentina finish strongly to secure their second win of the tournament. Joaquin Tuculet and Juan Imhoff's tries in the first half were brilliant, but it was the reliable kicking of Nicolas Sanchez taking the game away from Tonga in the second half.

80+1 minFULL TIME: Argentina 45-16 Tonga

80+1 minCordero has been superb all afternoon, and finally gets a try on the board as he receives a pass from Sanchez, leaving the winger to sprint across for a fifth try for the Pumas.

80+1 minCONVERSION! Argentina 45-16 Tonga (Nicolas Sanchez)

80+1 minTRY! Argentina 43-16 Tonga (Santiago Cordero)

80 minMontoya has really made an impact since coming on as the replacement hooker, and he's on the move again, slipping through the middle to give Argentina a chance to add another try in the final seconds.

79 minArgentina have a lineout inside the Tonga 22, which Montoya launches to Iglesias, but he kicks it forward without checking if anyone is there to receive it, gifting possession back to Tonga.

78 minVainikolo is pressing down the left for Tonga, but he accidentally collides with his captain, allowing Argentina to get the ball back.

75 minAlthough the match is probably gone for Tonga now, the Pacific Island nation still think they can get another try on the board, with Mafi and Taumalolo piling forward, but the ball is knocked on.

73 minCONVERSION! Argentina 38-16 Tonga (Nicolas Sanchez)

72 minIt's an amazing physical effort from Julian Montoya to secure the bonus point for Argentina. The replacement slips down the left to get a pass from Landajo, before leaping for the corner, just managing to ground the ball a fraction before his knee is forced into touch.

72 minTRY! Argentina 36-16 Tonga (Julian Montoya)

71 minMafi's error could really cost his side as Argentina are quickly able to press back down the other end, knowing that a fourth try will give them a bonus point. From the lineout, Leguizamon tries to dive over in the corner, but he was forced into touch short.

69 minTonga soon regroup and are coming forward against, with Vainikolo passing into to Lokotui, but Steve Mafi can't keep hold of the ball.

67 minTonga know that they need to take some risks to get back into this match with less than 15 minutes still to play. They're trying a string of offloads to keep the ball moving and manage to get a lineout near the Argentina try line, but Sanchez, who has put in an influential performance for Argentina this afternoon, is there to kick it clear.

64 minIt's a deserving score from the fly-half as Sanchez tackles Fonua, forcing the ball loose, and quickly gets it back before running over for Argentina's third try of the match. The run appears to have taken it out of him though, as he misses with the conversion.

64 minTRY! Argentina 31-16 Tonga (Nicolas Sanchez)

63 minTonga continue to have the stronger scrum, resulting in Opeta Fonua trying to break free for the Pacific Island side, but Argentina force the turnover inside the Tonga 22.

61 minNO TRY! Tomas Lavanini crosses the line after a spell of sustained pressure from Argnetina, but Telus Veainu uses all of his strength to hold him up, and a quick replay from the TMO confirms that the ball never touched the ground.

59 minMartin Landajo suddenly breaks free for Argentina, using his impressive pace to move the ball into the Tonga 22 before passing across to Cordero, but the winger is quickly stopped.

58 minTelusa Veainu makes a superb catch in the air, but he's got Imhoff in close company, and is quickly forced into touch. It wouldn't have counted anyway though, as the winger was ahead of the ball, so Argentina boot it back into Tonga territory. There's a sense that the next try in this match could be crucial, and both teams are clearly desperate to make sure they're the ones to score it.

56 minMISSED PENALTY! Nicolas Sanchez is human after all as the fly-half slips while running up to take the penalty, slicing it well right of the posts. It's his first miss today, and he frowns at the playing surface while looking to see what caused him to lose his footing.

55 minAfter surviving a fairly dominant start to the second half from Tonga, Argentina are starting to see more of the ball against, with De La Fuente and Cordero both looking for a way through to the Tonga 22, but Taione holds on for too long after making the tackle, so it's another penalty for Argentina.

53 minWhile Morath is struggling with the kicking game, Nicolas Sanchez boots the ball over with ease from just inside Tonga territory, threading the ball straight through the middle of the posts to put Argentina 10 points up.

53 minPENALTY! Argentina 26-16 Tonga (Nicolas Sanchez)

51 minMISSED PENALTY! Kurt Morath's hit and miss kicking continues as he shanks the ball wide from a very kickable position. With these two sides clearly well-matched, the misses are really hurting his side now.

50 minTomas Lavanini has caught Piukala is the face without using his arms in the tackle - a penalty which has seen referees reaching for the yellow card in other matches in this tournament, but the referee at this game decides just a penalty will suffice today. Piukala is having to go off as a result of the hit though.

49 minTonga'uiha and Lilo apply the pressure inside the Argentina 22 as the Pacific Island side pile forward again. The TMO thinks he's spotted some foul play in the build up though, and intervenes.

47 minMISSED PENALTY! As a result of the scrum problems, Morath lines up the posts yet again, but this time he curls it too much to the left, leaving Tonga to miss out on the three points. With the missed conversions in the first half and now a missed penalty, Tonga's deficit matches the points missed by Morath this afternoon.

46 minIt takes Argentina just moments to force a penalty down the other end, leaving the ever-reliable Sanchez to boot the ball through again. Argentina's scrum is still causing problems though as they are penalised for collapsing yet again, with Herrera's bind slipping under pressure from Tonga'uiha.

44 minPENALTY! Argentina 23-16 Tonga (Nicolas Sanchez)

43 minMorath may have missed both conversions in the first half, but his penalties have been superb so far, as the fly-half makes another excellent curled effort to leave Tonga just four points adrift.

43 minPENALTY! Argentina 20-16 Tonga (Kurt Morath)

42 minTakulua is keen to get forward almost directly from the restart as the scrum-half getst he ball from Tonga'uiha, but Argentina captain Creevy gives away a penalty while trying to stop the scrum-half's run.

41 minRESTART! Tonga get the match back underway in Leicester.

3.29pmThe players are starting to head back out for the second half.

3.25pmDespite the scoreline, it was Tonga he had the majority of the possession in the opening 40 minutes, with 61% of the ball, as well as 62% of the territory. Argentina have made more metres on the attack though, with an impressive 311 in the first half, as well as seven clean breaks. The Pumas have also forced more turnovers, with six to Tonga's four.

3.22pmTonga certainly made a bright start to the match, dominating possession in the opening 10 minutes to leave Kurt Morath scoring the opening try of the match. The fly-half has been excellent in open play, but has missed a couple of conversions.
© Getty Images

3.19pmIt's hard to tell which side will be happiest at the break. Argentina have the lead after a phenomenal five-minute spell midway through the break, but Tonga have showed physical and mental toughness to get back into the contest, leaving them just a converted try back at the interval.

40+1 minHALF TIME: Argentina 20-13 Tonga

40+1 minArgentina try to get back down the other end just before the break, but there's an offside, which should be the last action of an action-packed opening 40 minutes.

38 minTonga have been pressing for the last few minutes, and they've got themselves right back in this match just before half time. Veainu thinks that he can squeeze over in the corner, but he's about to be forced into touch. There's just enough time for him to offload though, and Soane Tonga'uiha is in the right place at the right time to receive the pass and carry it over from a couple of metres out. Morath's conversion goes well wide though.

38 minTRY! Argentina 20-13 Tonga (Soane Tonga'uiha)

37 minTelusa Veainu sprints through the centre as Tonga get the ball back, just being caught by a crucial tackle from Petti. Takulua keeps the move alive though.

36 minArgentina force the turnover, allowing Imhoff and Tuculet to combine down the left on the counter. The duo have formed a productive partnership so far, but they can't quite get it right this time, with Imhoff's kick forward going into touch before Tuculet can scoop it up.

34 minTonga appear to be rediscovering the urgency that helped them score the opening try of the match after a rather difficult spell. Morath and Latu both get touches as they make their way into Argentina territory, but the Pumas are defending hard to try to maintain their lead.

32 minPENALTY! Argentina 20-8 Tonga (Kurt Morath)

31 minThe referee's patience wears thin as he tries to get the scrum set, eventually giving Tonga a penalty after Argentina collapse it. It looks like Morath is going for the posts, despite is being a tight angle for the fly-half.

29 minTonga get a lineout, with the ball going straight at the back to the scrum-half, but the referee isn't happy with Taione's throw, claiming the delivery wasn't straight, so Argentina have another scrum.

27 minNicolas Sanchez moves on to 13 succession penalties from 14 attempts at the Rugby World Cup as he boots the ball through the posts from out wide after Tonga are penalised for an infringement in the scrum.

27 minPENALTY! Argentina 20-5 Tonga (Nicolas Sanchez)

25 minArgentina are almost in for a third in quick succession as Marcos Ayerza piles forward, with Tuculet and Imhoff to his right in support. The prop tries to pass the ball over the top for the full-back, but the ball goes forward. Had that ball reached Tuculet, it would surely have been another try.

23 minCONVERSION! Argentina 17-5 Tonga (Nicolas Sanchez)

22 minWhat an amazing couple of minutes it's been for Argentina. No sooner has the game restarted that Juan Imhoff has got it on the left flank, and he cuts inside from in Argentina territory, running through the middle before weaving back out wide to dodge a couple of tackles, leaving him free to ground the ball with ease.

22 minTRY! Argentina 15-5 Tonga (Juan Imhoff)

21 minCONVERSION! Argentina 10-5 Tonga (Nicolas Sanchez)

20 minAfter a rather sluggish start, Argentina are on a roll now as Joaquin Tuculet charges over in the corner after a blistering run forward from Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe.

20 minTRY! Argentina 8-5 Tonga (Joaquin Tuculet)

18 minAlthough Imhoff couldn't keep hold of the ball to go for the try, there was a wayward tackle in the build up, so Sanchez gets his first shot at the posts, and the ever dependable fly-half boots it through.

18 minPENALTY! Argentina 3-5 Tonga (Nicolas Sanchez)

16 minMorath is proving to be a real handful in the early stages of this match. The fly-half passes the ball around with ease at the back again, setting Takulua up for a run forward. Argentina force the turnover though, leaving Tuculet to quickly get Argentina back in Tonga territory, but the full-back's pass to Imhoff goes into touch.

14 minArgentina can breath a sigh of relief as Halani 'Aulika is penalised in the scrum, allowing the Pumas to kick the ball away. Matias Moroni charges into Tonga territory, while Senatore also tries to get involved, but he's unable to chase down his own kick.

12 minMorath is looking dangerous again as he runs at the Argentina try line again, before passing out wide to Takulua, but the scrum-half spills the ball forward, giving the Pumas the scrum. They'll need to do better than in the last scrum though, as it's only a couple of metres from their try line.

10 minTonga have a scrum, but they manage to convert it into a penalty as Ramiro Herrera is penalised for collapsing the scrum. Argentina have had one of the strongest scrums coming into this match, but Tonga have clearly prepared well themselves. Morath kicks it to the 22 for a lineout.

7 minTonga get the reward for a well-executed move, with 'Aulika and Ma'afu both being held up short before Morath gets the ball out wide and slips past Imhoff to ground the ball to the right of the posts for his second international try. He can't add the conversion though, as the kick strikes the left upright.

7 minTRY! Argentina 0-5 Tonga (Kurt Morath)

6 minVungakoto Lilo tries to get involved for the first time, surging down the left wing after Lokotui tossed the ball out wide to the full-back. He gets it back before setting Tonga'uiha up for a run, which moves Tonga inside the Argentina 22. This is a promising move from the Pacific Island side.

5 minRamiro Herrera tries to use his size to power through the middle for Argentina, but the tighthead prop drops the ball, giving Tonga the put in at the first scrum of the match.

4 minAfter surviving some early pressure from Tonga, Argentina try to get forward, with Moroni and Landajo moving the ball around quickly to move the Pumas into Tonga territory. Lokotui drags down Sanchez with another high tackle, resulting the referee warning both sides to watch their tackling, as there have been a few high ones already.

2 minTonga are taking the direct approach early on as they charge at the Argentina line, Takulua and Piukala moving the ball around in the middle, but a high tackle from Veainu gives the ball back to Argentina.

1 minKICKOFF! Argentina get the action underway.

2.31pmAs well as the anthems, Tonga also perform their war dance, the Sipi Tau, ahead of kickoff. The match will be underway in just a few moments time.

2.29pmThe anthems of both sides take place ahead of kickoff. Although to Tongan fans are in the minority, they certainly show their support, but it's the Argentinian anthem that really gets the crowd going.

2.26pmThe players make their way out in front of a packed King Power Stadium. Both sides have plenty of supporters at the home of Leicester City, but it looks like there's marginally more Argentina shirts in the stands.

2.24pmIf you have missed any of the action from earlier in the tournament, you can find all the latest news on our dedicated Rugby World Cup page, including plenty of reaction from England's early exit.

2.21pmTonga centre Siale Piutau said at his pre-match press conference: "We know our biggest key is communication. If you look at the wolves, their best form of communication is their howling. For us, it is going to come down to our communication, trusting each other and having that unity. That is how we are going to go out there. We are going to hunt in packs, whether it's our forward pack or our backline, we're going to work together to bring that win."

2.18pmArgentina's best finish at the world cup is third at the 2007 edition of the tournament. One man who does know about winning a world cup though is Diego Maradona, who won the FIFA world cup in 1986 with the Argentina national side. He's in Leicester to cheer the team on this afternoon:

2.16pmAhead of this match, Argentina captain Agustin Creevy told reporters: "We know that we do not want to enter into that order of game. If they don't have order, we don't want to enter that type of game. We'll try to make our own type of game, a simple game, having quick balls."

2.14pmHere's Tonga going through their warmups a little earlier:

2.12pmSo, with Pool D leaders New Zealand already through to the quarter-finals, there's only one more spot up for grabs for the other four teams in the pool. Tonga still have the play the All Blacks, so victory this afternoon is vital. Argentina are yet to face Namibia, the lowest-ranked side in the group, so a win this afternoon would more than likely be enough to see them through.

2.09pmThere are also plenty of changes for Argentina after the Pumas cruised to victory over Georgia in their last match. Among the seven changes, Guido Petti returns after shaking off a knock, while Tomas Lavanini and Leonardo Senatore, who were rested last time out, return.

2.06pmFor Tonga, there are six changes to the side that thrashed Namibia last time out, with captain Nili Latu returning in place of Jack Ram, while fly-half Kurt Morath is also back after being rested last time out. With an average age of 31 years and 38 days, it's the oldest starting lineup ever fielded at the Rugby World Cup.

2.03pmTONGA STARTING XV: Lilo, Veainu, Piutau, Piukala, Vainikolo, Morath, Takulua, Tonga'uiha, Taione, 'Aulike, Lokotui, Tu'inea, Kalamfoniu, Latu, Ma'afu

2.02pmARGENTINA STARTING XV: Tuculet, Cordero, Moroni, De La Fuente, Imhoff, Sanchez, Landajo, Ayerza, Creevy, Herrera, Petti, Lavanini, Metera, Lobbe, Senatore

2.01pmGood afternoon! Two sides that will be both be hoping to progress to the quarter-finals at the Rugby World Cup go head to head at the King Power Stadium in Leicester as Argentina take on Tonga. Let's start with a look at the lineups.
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