Pool D Argentina ... 33 Georgia ... 3:  Argentine hooker Mario Ledesma, standing on the sideline, turned to a team-mate and wiped imaginary perspiration from his brow. It was a gesture to acknowledge a try from wing Federico Martin Aramburu six minutes into injury time at the end of this World Cup encounter in Lyon.

It was Argentina's fourth, thereby securing a bonus point that for most of last night's game they didn't look like managing. Georgia were magnificent in terms of character and commitment but ultimately it was their naivety that cost them, and possibly by extension Ireland, dearly.

The Lelos, as Georgia are affectionately known, could have done Eddie O'Sullivan's charges a massive favour but instead it will reinforce that unless Ireland play intelligent rugby at the weekend, the Georgians may reprise last night's grit in front of 40,000 new fans.

One legacy of Argentina's victory over France in the opening match of the tournament manifested itself in Lyon last night. Those entering the Stade Gerland were offered a choice of mini-flags of the two competing countries: there was a 10-to-one take-up in favour of the Georgians.

It seems that the French don't forget or forgive.

The wonderful acoustics of the stadium amplified the chants of "Allez les Rouges" that bounced around the venue periodically.

Every Georgian tackle was cheered lustily. Argentinian errors, of which there were many in the opening 40 minutes, were greeted by howls of derision.

What Georgia demonstrated initially was the value of exploiting, not the immediate fringes of rucks, but rather four or five metres away, making it easier to avoid massed defence. It allowed them one-on-one collisions and the chance to gain momentum, something they accomplished with a simple yet clever gambit.

Argentina were guilty of crass carelessness prior to the interval, spurning several try-scoring opportunities because the player in possession invariably made a poor decision, usually dwelling too long on the ball and running laterally, thereby reducing the space farther out.

They were also suckered into a war of attrition up front that suited the Georgians, whose physicality and aggression in contact disrupted the Argentinian eight's ambitions to maul the ball productively.

Argentina would have been bettered served tying in defenders and then swiftly moving the ball wide, where their superior skills would have been more effective.

Their discomfort was apparent from the opening kick-off, which Felipe Contepomi knocked on inside his own 22, and while the Georgians rumbled toward the line, they were stopped short but enjoyed the luxury of a penalty as their opponents were guilty of driving in from the side.

Outhalf Merab Kvirikashvili capitalised on the straightforward opportunity from 15 metres, giving his team a lead that would last some 11 minutes until Contepomi, the Argentina captain, equalised with a similar strike. The Georgian scrumhalf, Irakli Abuseridze, was the culprit, deliberately slapping the ball away at a ruck.

While Argentina fretted and fumbled away possession and territory, the Georgians demonstrated great heart and none more so than their number eight Besso Udesiani and the entire front row as they carried ball powerfully, maintaining their simple but effective gameplan.

Kvirikashvili was wide with a long-range penalty and Georgia should have been counting the cost almost immediately, but Ledesma dropped the ball when a try seemed likely.

Contepomi kicked a second penalty to send his side in 6-3 at the interval, the Georgians leaving the field to rapturous applause.

A great turnover inside their own 22 saw the Georgian left wing Besiki Khamashuridze race 45 metres but the pace of the game was beginning to tell on the minnows. They were struggling to realign defensively, several players breathing hard.

Argentinian coach Marcelo Loffreda dispatched reinforcements from the bench and this coupled with a more intelligent appraisal of the opposition and their limitations allowed the Pumas to gradually open a gap on the scoreboard.

Right wing Lucas Borges scored a brace of tries, the second of which was a brilliant individual finish as he squeezed in at the corner.

Contepomi converted the first and also added a penalty to nudge Argentina out to a 21-3 lead, but still the Georgians displayed great character, epitomised by right wing Irakli Machkhaneli, who put in several thunderous tackles, ran strongly and saved a certain try in the dying minutes.

The Argentina secondrow Patricio Albacete scored his side's third try in the 73rd minute, and despite heroic resistance the all-important bonus point and fourth try arrived six minutes into injury time through left wing Aramburu.

Replacement Federico Todeschini converted with the final kick of the match.

Georgia deserved better but as last night's game in Lyon demonstrated, bravery and effort don't necessarily bring tangible reward.

Scoring sequence:2 mins: Kvirikashvili pen, 0-3; 12: Contepomi pen, 3-3; 37: Contepomi pen, 6-3 (half-time 6-3); 51: Borges try, Contepomi con, 13-3; 57: Contepomi pen, 16-3; 61: Borges try, 21-3; 73: P Albacete try, 26-3; 79: Aramburu try, Todeschini con, 33-3.

ARGENTINA:I Corleto; L Borges, G Tiesi, F Contepomi (capt), FM Aramburu; JM Hernandez, N Fernandez Miranda; M Ayerza, M Ledesma, S Bonorino; R Alvarez Kairelis, P Albacete; M Durand, J Fernandez Lobbe, J Leguizamon. Replacements: E Lozada for Alvarez Kairelis (44-45 mins); F Miras for Tiesi (45 mins); O Hasan for Bonorino (47 mins); M Schusterman for Leguizamon (66 mins); E Lozada for Kairelis, A Basualdo for Ledesma (both 70 mins); H Senillosa for Borges (71 mins); F Todeschini for Contepomi (80 mins).

GEORGIA:P Jimsheladze; I Machkhaneli, M Urjukashvili, I Giorgadze, B Khamashuridze; M Kvirikashvili, I Abuseridze; D Khinchagashvili, A Giorgadze, D Zirakashvili; I Zedginidze, M Gorgodze; G Chkhaidze, G Labadze, B Udesiani. Replacements: A Kopaliani for Zirakashvili (half-time); Z Maisuradze for Chkhaidze (54 mins); G Shkinin for Jimsheladze (63 mins); G Shvelidze for Kinchagashvili (68 mins); B Samkharadze for Abuseridze (69 mins); V Didebulidze for Udesiani (70 mins); R Gigauri for Urjukashvili (80 mins).

Referee:N Owens (Wales).