SYDNEY, 23 October 2003 — Romania joined Canada as the second team to be eliminated from the World Cup when they were hammered 50-3 by Argentina at the Sydney Football Stadium yesterday.

The Romanians showed some signs of improvement from their humiliating 90-8 loss to Australia last weekend but were still no match for a second-string Pumas teams that ran in seven unanswered tries.

The Pumas dominated every facet of the game, controlling field position and possession while their opponents were left to feed off scraps and had a solitary penalty from flyhalf Ionut Tofan to show for their night’s work. Argentina raced to a 24-0 lead with three first half tries then added a further 26 points in the second term as the eastern Europeans suffered their third straight loss of the tournament.

As expected, the Pumas dominated the scrums and lineouts, setting a perfect platform for flyhalf Juan Fernandez Miranda to launch the backline.

Outside center Martin Gaitan, who was only called into the squad after Pumas captain Lisandro Arbizu was ruled out with a knee injury, charged on to a flat pass from Miranda and sprinted 40 meters to score the opening try in the 11th minute.

Miranda also set up the second try, in the 29th minute, with a perfectly-timed grubber-kick that bounced up for fullback Juan Fernandez to score.

Manuel Contepomi scored the third try on the stroke of halftime when Valentin Maftei coughed up possession then scrumhalf Nicolas Fernandez Miranda secured a bonus point for his team when he charged down an attempted clearance from Tofun immediately after the re-start.

Argentine number eight Pablo Bouza helped himself to two pushover tries, giving him four for the tournament after his two against Namibia last week, while Hernandez also collected a second try yesterday when he skirted the defense to dive over in the right corner and complete the rout.

Argentina’s win lifted them to second in the Pool A standings but needing to win their final match with Ireland in Adelaide on Sunday to make the quarterfinals.

“I think it’s strange that we finished in the top eight countries at the last World Cup and have to play our four games in 16 days while but one of the other teams in our pool (Ireland) finished outside the top eight but plays their games in 20 days,” Loffredo said.

“I’m not saying it’s unfair but it is strange.”

Romania play Namibia in Launceston on Oct. 30 to decide who finishes bottom of the pool.