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.

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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.

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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:

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