The electric Mateo Carreras scored a hattrick of tries for Argentina as Los Pumas’ defeated a courageous Japan to set up a last eight encounter with Wales in Marseille, next Saturday. 

Played in Nantes, this match was phenomenal fun, littered with tries, eight in total and a constantly seesawing scoreboard.

Argentina always had more of a sense of control throughout, though, keeping the Brave Blossoms just about at bay to book in for a third knockout appearance on the Rugby World Cup stage.

Having lost their opener, abysmally, to fourteen-man England, huge credit should go to Los Pumas’ for powering back to record three crucial wins and finish as convincing runners-up in Pool D.

At stake was a quarterfinal clash with Wales was the prize on offer, an unforgiving tournament exit awaiting the losers, though, as the knockouts began prematurely to conclude Pool D’s standings.

Argentina were sharper to start and caught Japan’s defence dozing inside two minutes, gaping holes split open by a lung busting burst of acceleration by centre, Santiago Chocoberas who cantered in under the posts, Emiliano Boffelli’s conversion completing the brilliant beginning.

Bathed under the Nantes sunlight, the Stade de la Beaujoire crowd had a gripping encounter to enjoy early on, Japan wresting themselves back at a scrum to go on the offensive themselves.

Los Pumas’ set an almighty physicality and pace with their strong carrying, the men in navy flying into tackles and the breakdown with vigour.

Not that Jamie Joseph’s Japan were holding back either, scrum half Naito Saito almost creating their first score, a costly Michael Leitch fumble proving to scupper that move, though.

Soon enough however, the hatches holding Argentina’ defence together, buckled by a blinding turn of speed from lock, Amato Fakatava who then had the audacity to chip ahead, gather a favourable bounce and finish a fantastic individual effort.

His third, and most significant, try of this tournament, converted by Rikiya Matsuda brought us back level, 7-7, after a terrifically entertaining first quarter.

Midway through the first half, Japan were reduced a man as flanker, Pieter Labuschagne received a yellow card for a high tackle with Francisco Gomez Kodela, and a huge opportunity beckoned for the Pumas to make their player advantage count on the score board.

Boffelli wafted a long-range penalty wide, but Argentina soon struck.

Initiated by a tremendous take under the high ball by full-back, Juan Cruz Mullia, he led a scintillating break up field, fed Kodela who in turn released the rapid wide man, Mateo Carreras on his left, the Newcastle Falcons player scorching into the corner with a clean take and fine burst of speed.

The conversion went wide as the margin stayed at a narrow, five points.

Relocating his range, Boffelli blasted a penalty over to take Argentina one score clear.

That slab of breathing room was swiftly eradicated as the Brave Blossoms, now restored to a full fifteen, carved Argentina open.

Through the twinkling feet of reinstated winger, Saosaia Fifita weaving his way to the try line, drawing the defenders in too tight and popping a perfect pass up to Saito, the scrum half scoring Japan’s second in what was fast emerging as a try-fest thriller.

Matsuda added the extras to conclude a breathless first forty minutes, which saw Michael Chieka’s squad ahead and on course for the knockouts, but by just one, precious point.

Crucially, Cheika’s troops used the interval to reset and got the all-important first score of the second half.

Persistent forwards pressure eventually saw the bull spun out to Carreras who shimmied Fifita wonderfully and dotted down, Boffelli curling the conversion over the posts to steer the Pumas eight points in front again, back down the path to the quarterfinals.

Unerringly, Matsuda cut the gap back to five points with a penalty as both sides’ tournament hopes continued to seesaw uncertainly in the balance, Nantes being treated to an all-out rugby-fest!

Argentinian nerves became even more frayed in the fifty-sixth minute, Lomano Lemeki landing a lovely long-range drop goal to make it a nail-biting two-point margin entering the final twenty minutes.

By the hour, a decisive moment came, Boffelli sent breezing in for his side’s foruth try, and bonus point, after more Mallia magic freed the winger to score his second Rugby World Cup try.

Taking his tally to fourteen with his third successful conversion, Boffelli also replenished the Pumas’ position of strength, nine points to the good.

Piling the pressure on, the Brave Blossoms refused to go quietly, substitute Jone Naikabula surging his legs and finishing well in the corner, Matsuda adding a conversion of the utmost composure to make it a two-point game once again.

Instantly though, and encapsulating the emotional entertainment of the game, the unstoppable Carreras electrically chopped around tiring tackles to dot down his hat trick try, the experienced Nicolas Sanchez scoped over the additional two as Cheika and co could relish retaking a position of control going into the final ten minutes.

Sanchez slotted a peerless penalty five minutes from the end as Los Pumas’ supporter started to celebrate, a last eight tie with Wales set up.

For Japan, it won’t be successive knockout stage appearances but another display full of bright attacking and spirit means they will be back to fight another day, for sure.

Argentina the victors of today’s winner-takes-all tie and their prize is a quarterfinal clash with Wales, next Saturday afternoon, in Marseille.