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WELLINGTON, 25 Sept. - A pressure-packed arm wrestle in atrocious conditions ended in high drama with Argentina defeating Scotland 13-12 in their Pool B match.
They clinched the winning try through substitute Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino with six minutes to play and then held out a resolute Scotland in a nail-biting finish.
The match began at a ferocious pace as these teams were meeting in a virtual Pool B knockout clash - the loser was going to find it very difficult to get through to the quarter-finals.
Scotland showed their intention to run the ball early and play an up-tempo game but it was 20 minutes before Argentine captain Felipe Contepomi opened the scoring with a penalty straight in front.
Scotland continued to run at the Pumas with wing Max Evans making some good breaks but Argentina's scrambling defence held them out and good work at the breakdown brought turnovers.
Territory see-sawed until Scottish pressure forced Argentina into defending on their own goal line. A lineout won against the throw brought another attack from the Scots which was again battered away by scrambling defence.
But the Scots refused to slow their tempo and a scrum penalty won right on the 22 gave full back Chris Paterson a kick that he landed for Scotland's first points.
Argentina was struggling against the hammering from the Scots and several injuries, most notably to number 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and tighthead prop Juan Figallo who had to be replaced, wasn't helping.
A long-range penalty attempt by Scotland fly half Ruaridh Jackson from just inside halfway just snuck over to give Scotland a 6-3 lead at the break.
Los Pumas tried to level things up quickly at the start of the second half with a drop goal attempt from full back Martin Rodriguez but he fell well short, his second missed attempt for the match.
Evans continued to trouble Argentina who remained under pressure and were still troubled by injury worries with the game going on around players being treated on the ground.
The rain had become heavier making ball handling a lottery and the surface slippery. Mistakes were coming on both sides as the pressure mounted with Scotland still running at the Pumas, whose scrambling defence at times was extraordinary.
Both sides pushed forward but a charge down by Scotland's Graeme Morrison led to an incursion that put Paterson close enough for a drop goal attempt after 57 minutes but it went left.
The restart gave the Pumas a chance with an offside penalty 40 metres out, missed left by Contepomi.
Both teams kicked in an attempt to gain territory until Paterson spilled a high ball that led to a penalty from a scrum for Argentina that Contepomi put through from 30 metres to level the scores.
A mistake from the restart and more Scottish pressure got them within drop goal distance and fly half Jackson was this time on target as the Scots dragged back the advantage.
Yet another restart and the pressure this time coming from the Pumas leading to another penalty from about 30 metres but Contepomi's shot bounced off the post.
Dan Parks came on to replace Paterson and his first touch was a kick that put them just five metres from the Argentine line. From the lineout Parks put over a drop goal that left Argentina needing a converted try to win it.
Up stepped Amorosino, who had just come off the bench. He received the ball between halfway and the 22 and sliced through four defenders down the right to go all the way. Contepomi converted to give Argentina a one-point lead with six minutes left.
Despite several scares, including a missed drop goal by Parks, Argentina held on to win.
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