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Pumas warm up for Irish challenge

World Cup Pool A: Argentina 50 - Romania 3 Romania joined Canada as the second team to be eliminated from the World Cup when…

Thu Oct 23 2003 - 01:00

World Cup Pool A: Argentina 50 - Romania 3Romania joined Canada as the second team to be eliminated from the World Cup when they were hammered by Argentina in Sydney yesterday.

The Romanians - beaten 45-17 by Ireland in their opening World Cup game - showed some improvement from their humiliating 90-8 loss to Australia last weekend, but were still no match for a second-string Argentina.

The Pumas - who will play Ireland on Sunday - dominated every facet of the game, while their opponents were left to feed off scraps and had a penalty from outhalf Ionut Tofan to show for their night's work.

Argentina raced to a 24-0 lead with three first-half tries then added a further 26 points in the second period.

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Outside centre Martin Gaitan charged on to a flat pass from outhalf Juan Fernandez Miranda and sprinted 40 metres to score the opening try in the 11th minute.

Miranda also set up the second try, in the 29th minute, with a grubber-kick that bounced up for full back Juan Fernandez.

Manuel Contepomi scored the third try on the stroke of half-time and scrumhalf Nicolas Fernandez Miranda secured a bonus point for his team immediately after the restart.

Number eight Pablo Bouza helped himself to two pushover tries, while Hernandez also collected a second try when he dived over in the right corner.

Argentina's win lifted them to second in Pool A but needing to beat Ireland in Adelaide on Sunday to make the quarter-finals.

"I think it's strange that we finished in the top eight countries at the last World Cup and have to play our four games in 16 days while one of the other teams in our pool (Ireland) finished outside the top eight but play their games in 20 days," Loffredo said. "I'm not saying it's unfair but it is strange."

ARGENTINA: Hernandez; Piossek (Quesada 60), Gaitan, Contepomi, Senillosa; Juan Fernandez Miranda, Fernandez Miranda (Pichot 60); Roncero, Ledesma, Scelzo, Sporleder, Albacete, Phelan, Bouza, Durand.

ROMANIA: Brezoianu; Vioreanu (Ghoic 75), Maftei (Sauan), Gontineac, Teodorescu; Tofan, Sirbu (Andrei 40); Toderasc, Mavrodin, Florea (Popescu 40, Ion 55), Socol, Petre, Turori (Tatu), Chiriac, Tonita.

Referee: C White (England).