Tomas Lavanini's 10th-minute try is all that separates Argentina and Georgia, as Los Pumas take a 14-9 lead into the break at the Kingsholm Stadium.

Following a rather unorthodox start to the contest, in which Nicolas Sanchez kicked over the tournament's first drop goal with just a few minutes on the clock, it was the Lelos who found themselves having to do all the early defending.

The building Argentine pressure told when Lavanini was picked out on the right to touch down for just his second international try, putting Argentina on their way in front of a packed South American following in Gloucester.

Georgia, ranked five places below their opponents in the current world rankings, managed to drag themselves right back into things thanks to two well-taken penalties.

Merab Kvirikashvili - one of only two Georgians to be selected in all four of their World Cup squads - was able to find the sticks on both occasions, the latter of which came from close to the halfway line after Mamuka Gorgodze's illegal challenge.

The sloppy first half continued in a similar manner, as Sanchez was the next to split the sticks to punish a high Georgian tackle and edge his side back into a five-point advantage.

Milton Haig's men, who headed into this match looking to win back-to-back fixtures at a World Cup for the first time ever, were having to make do with pens in order to remain within touching distance of their opponents.

Kvirikashvili was again successful from range, but Argentina ensured that they headed into the break with that advantage - as slim as it is - still intact thanks to a second Sanchez pen.