Argentina set up quarter-final against Wales after win over Japan

FULL STRETCH: Santiago Chocobares of Argentina dives to score a try against Japan. Pic: INPHO/Juan Gasparini

Rugby World Cup Pool D

Japan 27 Argentina 39

Argentina set up a World Cup quarter-final against Wales as Mateo Carreras' hat-trick helped them see off Japan 39-27 in their winner-takes-all Pool D clash.

With both sides knowing victory would see them take second place in the pool at the other's expense to join table-toppers England in the next round, Los Pumas sealed the spot after scoring five tries in Nantes, with Carreras the star man.

A fast start by Michael Cheika's side saw Santiago Chocobares burst through a crowd of players to cross in the second minute, with Emiliano Boffelli successfully converting.

Jamie Joseph's Japan hit back in the 16th minute when Amata Fakatava chipped over a defender, reclaimed the ball and touched down, and Rikiya Matsuda kicked the extras, before the Brave Blossoms were reduced to 14 men by a yellow card for Pieter Labuschagne.

Carerras then registered his first try to put Argentina back in front in the 28th minute and a subsequent penalty from Boffelli - who had missed one earlier, along with his second conversion attempt - made it 15-7.

Japan again rallied, with Naoto Saito crossing and Matsuda converting to leave a point in it heading into the interval.

Carreras registered his second try, converted by Boffelli, early in the second half, before a Matsuda penalty and Lomano Lemeki drop goal closed the gap to two points at 22-20.

Argentina then wrapped things up as Boffelli scored a try and converted, and Carreras subsequently completed his treble, with Nicolas Sanchez kicking that conversion and a further penalty with five minutes left.

They will now take on Wales in Marseille on Saturday.

Scorers for Japan: Tries - Fakatava, Saito, Naikabula. Cons - Matsuda 3. Pens - Matsuda. Drop Goals - Lemeki. 

Scorers for Argentina: Tries - Chocobares, M. Carreras 3, Boffelli. Cons - Boffelli 3, Sanchez. Pens - Boffelli, Sanchez.

Japan: Lemeki; Matsushima, Riley, Nakamura, Fifita; Matsuda, Saito; Inagaki, Horie, Gu; Cornelsen, Fakatava; Leitch, P. Labuschagne, Himeno.

Replacements: Ai Valu for Gu (43), Millar for Inagaki (48), Sakate for Horie (48), Dearns for Fakatava (51), Naikabula for Matsushima (60), Yamanaka for Nakamura (70), Saumaki for P. Labuschagne (70).

Argentina: Mallia, Boffelli, Cinti Luna, Chocobares, M. Carreras, S. Carreras, Bertranou, Gallo, Montoya, Gomez Kodela, Petti, Lavanini, Matera, Kremer, Gonzalez. 

Replacements: Bello for Gomez Kodela (43), Rubiolo for Lavanini (48), Sanchez for S. Carreras (59), Velez for Bertranou (59), Sclavi for Gallo (67), Moroni for Cinti Luna (70), Creevy for Montoya (78).

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand).