SAINT-ETIENNE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Fullback Emiliano Boffelli scored 16 points in a man-of-the-match performance as Argentina got their World Cup campaign back on track with a hard fought 19-10 victory over a committed Samoa on Friday.
That set up a frenetic finale but Nicolas Sanchez, coming off the bench to win his 99th cap for Argentina, lashed over a final penalty from just inside the Samoa half to make the game safe and deny Samoa a losing bonus point.
"It's pretty tough to win a test match, especially against a team of the calibre of Argentina with 40% possession," said Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua.
England lead Pool D with nine points from two games, four points ahead of Samoa, who beat Chile 43-10 in their opener, and third-placed Japan with Argentina in fourth place on four points.
Argentina laid siege to the Samoan try line at the start of the second half and finally came away with some points when Boffelli kicked his third penalty in the 53rd minute.
Persons:
ETIENNE, Emiliano Boffelli, Boffelli, Michael Cheika, Christian, Sama Malolo, Nicolas Sanchez, Seilala Mapusua, Duncan Paia'aua, Alai D'Angelo Leuila, Manu, Nick Mulvenney, Pritha Sarkar
Organizations:
Pumas, Wallabies, Samoa, Chile, England, Thomson
Locations:
Argentina, Samoa, Argentine, England, Japan, Saint Etienne