Rugby-'We're still in the game', Cheika delights at Pumas progress

We got some tries, which is good, and we're where we want to be, we're still in the game." Cheika, who led Australia to the 2015 World Cup final, said there was a fierce desire in the Pumas squad to get back into the knockout stages.

Argentina coach Michael Cheika thought the Pumas got close to playing their best rugby as they ran in eight tries to beat Chile in the World Cup's first South American derby on Saturday. The twice semi-finalists missed out on the knockout stages in Japan four years ago but can clinch a spot in the last eight by beating the Brave Blossoms in their final Pool D match back in Nantes on Oct. 8.

Argentina were disappointed with their opening loss to 14-man England and made heavy work of getting past Samoa in their second pool match. Cheika thought there had been real progress on Saturday and was most impressed with how his players, several of them making their first starts of the tournament, reacted when they were put under pressure by the Chileans.

"It's never going to just keep going up and up. You've got to take those steps back and then come forward, even in games. It's about how you come back from those moments," the Australian said after the 59-5 victory at the Stade de la Beaujoire. "There were some moments when we got put under pressure and we were able to force some errors and get ourselves back in the game. We got some tries, which is good, and we're where we want to be, we're still in the game."

Cheika, who led Australia to the 2015 World Cup final, said there was a fierce desire in the Pumas squad to get back into the knockout stages. "Japan are a great team and, if truth be told, they were quarter-finalists at the last World Cup and we were not," he added.

"So we're very hungry to be in that position. And we'll take a couple of days break now and then get ourselves ready for a great game."

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