Rugby World Cup 2015: Winners and Losers from Argentina vs. Georgia
Argentina bounced back in emphatic fashion to put Georgia to the sword in their second Pool C encounter of the Rugby World Cup 2015.
The Pumas needed to win after defeat to the All Blacks, and they were only marginally in command at half-time, leading 14-9.
But they cashed in ruthlessly in the second half when the Lelos went down to 14 men for 10 minutes, unleashing their jet-heeled wings to devastating effect.
A 54-9 rout ensued, showing Argentina's potential quarter-final opponents just how dangerous they are as they focus on surpassing the semi-final feats of the class of 2007.
Georgia produced none of the stoicism that saw them home against Tonga in their first game, and they will need to steel their resolve with the All Blacks still to contend with.
Here are the winners and losers from a raucous spectacle at Kingsholm, England.
Winner: Santiago Cordero
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Santiago Cordero helped himself to a brace of textbook tries for a wing, and both demonstrated the old-fashioned wide man's invaluable trait: raw pace.
A long lineout throw created his first as he darted off his flank to accept a pass from Juan Manuel Leguizamon at the tail. Cordero then scorched through a gap from halfway and added a neat swerve around the last defender.
He bettered it with his second. He spun out of a tackle in his own half before evading another chasing Georgian, backing his speed and outstripping his opposite man in fine style.
Cordero is only 21 years old and may well have flown under the radar coming into this tournament.
The game's more studious observers will have caught sight of him previously, however, when he showed exactly what he can do in the 2013 Junior World Championship. Check out this highlight reel.
He has five tries in Tests in 2015 as well, per OptaJonny.
With Namibia and Tonga left to play and Argentina's back division looking slick, what price is the young man to be the tournament's top try scorer?
Loser: Mamuka Gorgodze
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When Georgia skipper Mamuka Gorgodze was sent to the sin bin in the second half, the score was 14-9 to Argentina.
When he came back, it was 35-9.
If his importance to this Georgian side wasn't apparent enough after their 17-10 win over Tonga on Saturday, his absence for 10 minutes at Kingsholm made it even more obvious.
The Toulon back-rower is the driving force behind his team, and without him, they simply ran up the white flag.
It was painful to watch if you were a neutral. If you were the man himself, perched on the naughty step, imagine how it must have felt.
Winner: Decision to Use Kingsholm as a Venue
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There are far bigger grounds, but Gloucester's home has so far proved itself the best venue of the tournament.
London's Twickenham, Wembley and Olympic Stadium might be vast, modern monoliths seating tens of thousands, but the Kingsholm atmosphere is making those larger stadia feel like cathedrals by comparison.
It seemed the perfect fit today for the fanatical supporters who follow Los Pumas, who filled the stands tight to the playing surface and chanted and roared their players on, creating a little corner of the River Plate down on the River Severn.
Credit to the organisers for adding the venue to the list. It's a shame that other rugby grounds like Welford Road and Franklin's Gardens didn't get a look-in.
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Loser: Mariano Galarza
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Having copped a nine-week suspension for contact with the eye (or eye area) of New Zealand's Brodie Retallick, Pumas lock Mariano Galarza is out of the tournament.
As if that wasn't a big enough blow for the trainee doctor, he then had to watch on as his team-mates put on a scintillating display on the very ground he plays his club rugby.
How he must have wished he could have been a part of this performance.
Argentina are appealing the decision, per the Express, so it remains to be seen if the second row's tournament can be salvaged.
Winner: Merab Kvirikashvili
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Georgia may have been soundly beaten, but goal-kicker Merab Kvirikashvili at least joined one of the tournament's most select clubs.
The 31-year-old is just one of nine players to have notched a penalty in 10 different Rugby World Cup games, as noted in this tweet from Rugby World Cup.
And Georgia's target of two wins from their World Cup adventure is still alive despite the defeat. They will now target Namibia to reach their goal.
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