Argentina reaches World Cup semis

Argentina has reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time, having beaten Scotland 19-13 at the Stade de Paris.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden said: "If the game had lasted ten more minutes, maybe we would have had a chance of winning it."

Argentina, who last lost to Scotland in 1990 and have beaten them six times since, were in control for most of the match.

However, towards the end they had run out of steam and struggled to survive a late rally from their opponents.

Hadden added: "They put a stranglehold on the game for three quarters of it. Argentina were extremely streetwise and sharp."

"They put a lot of pressure on the breakdown and we found that very difficult to deal with in the first half."

He continued: "With the energy they put in there, they were always going to tire down but we could not capitalise on that.

"The defences are coming up so fast, there's so much pressure on the attack that most matches at this World Cup have been tight, tense affairs.

"I'm very confident that our young side will have learned from this. In the next few years I'm sure we will be a side to be reckoned with."

Argentina now challenge South Africa for a place in the final.

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