Japan 27-39 Argentina: Pumas set up Wales quarter-final with thrilling win

A hat-trick from Mateo Carreras carried Argentina into a World Cup quarter-final with Wales as they beat Japan in their winner-takes-all Pool D match.

Argentina, who will play Wales in Marseille on Saturday, finished second in the group behind England after a pulsating encounter in Nantes.

Newcastle Falcons wing Carreras scored two brilliantly taken tries but Japan fought back to stay in touch.

However, another superb finish from Carreras sealed victory for the Pumas.

Argentina, who lost to England in their opening match of the World Cup, have now won three games in a row heading into the knockout stages.

"We like to be a fighting team and we fight for everything, but the resilience of this team is what makes the difference here," Argentina captain Julian Montoya said.

Beaten captain Kazuki Himeno said he was "really proud of the boys" and the effort they put in.

"We are disappointed about the result," the Japan number eight added. "The fans' support is appreciated as it has been huge for us.

"We have tried to climb up the Mount Everest summit. However, the legacy and the culture of Japanese rugby will continue."

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Argentina fans were in good voice in the final match of Pool D in Nantes

Brave Blossoms and Pumas trade blows in thriller

In a game with so much on the line, Argentina struck inside the first two minutes as Japan came out the blocks sluggishly. Following a driving maul, a short pass to Santiago Chocobares allowed him to break the Brave Blossoms defence too easily to score his first international try.

That woke Japan up, and they responded well to the early setback. Naoto Saito's clever box kick over his own head could have been part of World Cup legend had it resulted in a try, but the scrum-half knocked on at a subsequent ruck as Argentina stood firm - for now.

The move from which Japan drew level was equally eye-catching. Second row Amato Fakatava was lurking out on the left wing, and when he chipped ahead his kick bounced perfectly for him to regather at pace and score a try any back in the world would be proud of.

Argentina were under the cosh, but the pressure eased when Japan's Pieter Labuschagne was sin-binned for a high tackle.

As the momentum swung this way and that, the Pumas scored on the counter after Marcos Kremer blocked a Rikiya Matsuda drop-goal attempt with his face. Full-back Juan Cruz Mallia brilliantly claimed a high kick and passed to Carreras, who shot over the line.

But with Boffelli struggling with his kicking in the first half, Japan were able to strike back and reduce the deficit to one point with a Saito try after Siosaia Fifita - the only change to the starting XV from the win over Samoa - broke clear.

Carreras quality wins the day

Carreras' sizzling left-foot step rendered the final Japan defender helpless after 46 minutes, as he crossed to once again extend the advantage.

But Japan refused to be beaten in a thrilling pool game which had all the atmosphere and intensity of a knock-out match, and which was out of keeping with many of the predictable encounters seen so far at this opening stage in France.

Lomano Lemeki's audacious drop-goal for Japan from near the halfway line, which reduced the advantage to two points, encapsulated the cavalier spirit and flair with which both sides played.

But Argentina ultimately had more to offer in attack, demonstrated by Mallia and Boffelli combining for the latter to cross in the right corner for the fourth South American try.

Japan again came back, their third try touched down in the corner by replacement Jone Naikabula - but Newcastle's Carreras would not be denied as he bounced off tacklers to secure his hat-trick, and Argentina's last-eight berth.

It brings to an end Japan coach Jamie Joseph's spell in charge, during which time he has led them to uncharted waters, including a knock-out place at the 2019 World Cup.

"As a coach you cannot ask for much more from the players, they gave everything," he said.

"All of my blokes are breaking down crying. There was some soft moments for us so that is the hurting part. But it will all go away with in time.

"I'm just the guy who gets them all together. In really tough and difficult circumstances, they've been able to get from the 2019 World Cup to a stage where they can be proud of in this World Cup."

Line-ups

Japan: Lemeki; Matsushima, Riley, Nakamura, Fifita; Matsuda, Saito; Inagaki, Horie, Koo, Cornelsen, Fakatava, Leitch, Labuschagne, Himeno.

Replacements: Valu for Koo (43 mins), Millar for Inagaki (48 mins), Sakate for Horie (48 mins), Dearns for Fakatava (51 mins), Naikabula for Matsushima (60 mins), Yamanaka for Nakamura (70 mins), Saumaki for Labuschagne (70 mins)

Argentina: Cruz Mallia; Boffelli, Cinti, Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Santiago Carreras, Bertranou; Gallo, Montoya (capt), Gomez Kodela, Petti, Lavanini, Matera, Kremer, Martin Gonzalez.

Replacements: Alemanno for Matera (24 mins), Bello for Gomez (43 mins), Rubiolo for Lavanini (48 mins), Sanchez for Santiago Carreras (59 mins), Bazan Velez for Bertranou (59 mins), Sclavi for Gallo (67 mins), Moroni for Cinti (70 mins), Creevy for Montoya (78 mins)

Match officials

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZ)

Touch judges: Paul Williams (NZ), James Doleman (NZ)

TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZ)