2019 Rugby World Cup: Argentina beat USA 47-17

Argentina wing Matias Moroni. Photo / Photosport

Argentina reaffirmed its supremacy in the Americas when it completed its campaign by beating the United States 47-17 in Kumagaya.

The first team to finish its pool matches, the Pumas fell short of a fourth consecutive quarterfinal berth but will head home with a consolation automatic qualification for the 2023 tournament in France by finishing third in Pool A in Japan.

They hadn't met the United States in 16 years, when the Pumas won 42-8 in Buenos Aires, and eclipsed that record scoring seven tries to three.

Both packs cancelled each other out in Kumagaya, but the Pumas backs were too slick, especially centers Jeronimo de la Fuente and Juan Cruz Mallia.

On a perfect stage — sunny, warm conditions in a stadium filled out with cheering, flag-waving kids from local schools — both teams seemed to agree the day was too good to waste and decided to entertain.

There were few set-pieces and turnovers were simply resets to run the ball at each other over and over. It made for helter-skelter fun.

As it happened: