Argentina beat Ireland 30-15 on Sunday to take top spot in Pool D and reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the second time.

Flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez dropped three goals at crucial stages in the match to keep the Irish, who needed to win with four tries and by more than seven points to stay in the tournament, at bay.

Wings Lucas Borges, with his third of the tournament, and Horacio Agulla scored two tries for the Pumas to two from captain Brian O'Driscoll and fullback Geordan Murphy for Ireland.

The Pumas' victory at the Parc des Princes consigned France to second place in the pool and a last-eight meeting with favourites New Zealand in Cardiff next weekend while Argentina meet Scotland at the Stade de France.

Centre Felipe Contepomi kicked 11 points from three penalties and a conversion to become the tournament's top scorer with 53 points, one more than South Africa's Percy Montgomery.

Argentina weathered an early storm from Ireland, who should have turned their territorial advantage into points only to emerge empty-handed.

Whenever the Pumas pushed into the Irish half their mix of forward power and precision and fine running in the backs spelt danger to the Irish line.

After a penalty miss by Contepomi and a last-ditch dive by wing Denis Hickie to foil an attempted try under the posts when the Pumas centre chased his own up-and-under, Borges put the first points on the board.

From a ruck on the right, the ever alert Pumas captain Pichot chose the blind side and passed to the small but tenacious wing who barged his way past two men to touch down.

O'Gara's penalty midway through the half was immediately replied in kind by the first of Hernandez's drop goals.

When Ireland became the first team to score a try in the tournament against Argentina with O'Driscoll darting through a gap in the centre of the defence, the Irish went 10-8 up with O'Gara's conversion.

The Pumas, however, kept their cool and Hernandez restored their lead with another brilliant drop before Argentina took a 18-10 halftime lead with a superb try.

Hernandez started the move in the Pumas' half with an up-and-under, gathering it and then offloading to lock Patricio Albacete when he was tackled.

The ball then went to Contepomi and from the ruck after the centre was tackled Pichot went left and the two wings combined with Borges, having cut across from the right, passing to Agulla, who touched down in the corner.

Contepomi converted from the touchline, having failed with the earlier conversion.

Ireland came out all guns blazing in the second half, determined to go for the four-try win, and after another Contepomi penalty put the Pumas ahead, they hit back with a fine try.

From a lineout on the left, the ball was fed quickly down the line and the Argentine cover was caught a man short, Murphy going over to bring Ireland within six points but O'Gara failed with the conversion.

Contepomi, with the help of Irish mistakes, then proceeded to open the points gap again with two more penalties before Hernandez put the icing on the Pumas' cake with a final drop goal from his weaker left foot.

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