LYON, France (AP):

THIS TIME was Argentina's turn to face a physically imposing, fired-up team of underdogs. Unlike France, the Pumas produced the tries that the crowd had anticipated from the start and held on for a 33-3 bonus-point World Cup win over Georgia to regain top place in Group D yesterday.

Four days after they upset hosts France 17-12 in the tournament's opening match at Paris, Argentina looked like a team with battered muscles and limbs - and were lucky initially not add bruised egos to the list of ailments.

Felipe Contepomi's composure in midfield and a pair of tries inside 10 minutes for right winger Lucas Borges restored Argentina's ascendancy in a match dominated by hard, brutal defence. The Pumas scored four second-half tries, including two in the last eight minutes, to earn a bonus-point victory and lead the group with nine points.