Ireland celebrate victory. (Getty Images)
IRISH BOOK LAST-EIGHT BERTH
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Ireland marched proudly into the World Cup quarter-finals and banished the ghosts of 1999 as they beat Argentina 16-15 in a thrilling match in Adelaide.
The result sets up a decisive Pool A match against Australia, with the winner taking the top spot and the loser likely to face France in the knockout phase.
And Ireland must do so without their sole try-scorer at the Adelaide Oval as Alan Quinlan dislocated his shoulder crashing over the Argentina line.
Ronan O'Gara scored two penalties as a second-half substitute, and David Humphreys kicked a penalty and a conversion to add to Quinlan's score.
The first half was an intense affair, Argentina dominating but failing to finish off their opportunities and blowing three clear chances to cross the Irish line.
Yet the Pumas' pack was in impressive form, rolling Ireland back with an ease which would have worried coach Eddie O'Sullivan.
But he would have been delighted with the positioning of Quinlan, normally a blindside flanker who started as a makeshift opensider, as he popped up in an excellent position to take a pass from Keith Wood and power over the line just on the 20-minute mark to open Ireland's account.
Argentina then mounted pressure on the Ireland line, with Gonzalo Quesada's drop goal and penalty the only reward going into the break a point down.
Just after half-time Quesada kicked another penalty - and when Ignacio Corleto kicked a long drop goal just before the hour mark he put his side ahead deservedly.
O'Sullivan reacted by replacing Humphreys with O'Gara, and the effect was immediate.
He kicked a penalty, and suddenly the Ireland backline was slicing forward and putting Argentina under more pressure.
His second penalty three minutes later put Ireland back in front - and although Corleto's drop goal eight minutes from time set up a thrilling finish, the men in green had enough resilience to survive.
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