Montoya bags hat-trick as Pumas tame Tonga

HIGASHIOSAKA: Argentina hooker Julian Montoya scored a rapid first-half hat-trick as the Pumas beat Tonga 28-12 to revive their bid for a quarter-final place.

Montoya’s treble at the Hanazono Stadium equalled Argentina’s record for the most tries in a single World Cup match set by centre Martin Gaitan, now a member of their coaching staff, in a 67-14 rout of Namibia at Gosford, Australia in 2003.

It also meant that, with six in total at the global showpiece, Montoya has scored more World Cup tries than any other hooker.

Argentina had a four-try bonus-point as early as the 26th minute and the Pumas led 28-7 at half-time.

In a ‘group of death’ also featuring in-form England — their next opponents in Tokyo on Oct 5 — Argentina badly needed a bonus-point victory from this match to maintain their hopes of reaching the knockout phase following an agonising opening 2321 loss to France.

“I thought we were very good in the first half and not in the second half,” said coach Mario Ledesma. “We have a very big week to prepare a final against the English next week so there is a lot of work to do.”

Tonga are winless at this World Cup ahead of their Oct 6 match against France, a team they famously beat at the 2011 edition.

“We didn’t get off to a good start. We gave away a couple of easy tries so that hurt us in the end,” grumbled coach Toutai Kefu.

Meanwhile in Toyota City, South Africa’s electric wing Makazole Mapimpi scored two tries as they eased to a nine-try 57-3 win over neighbours Namibia, but it was a far from polished performance in their Group B clash at the City of Toyota Stadium yesterday.

Billed the ‘African Derby’, there was only ever going to be one winner despite what Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus termed his ‘fringe’ selection, and minnows Namibia simply could not cope with the physicality of the South Africans.

Hooker Bongi Mbonambi (two), loose-forwards Francois Louw, Schalk Brits and Siya Kolisi, fullback Warrick Gelant and centre Lukhanyo Am also crossed for tries, but there was a lack of cohesion and, at times, quality to the Bok play that will be a worry for Erasmus.

They are next in action on Friday against Italy in a crucial match in Fukuroi City that should decide second place in the group, while Namibia face the even more daunting prospect of meeting New Zealand in Tokyo on Oct 6.