Ireland avoided a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal against the defending champion All Blacks by beating France 24-9 to secure first place in Pool D Sunday — but victory came at a cost for the Six Nations champion. Star flyhalf Jonny Sexton, captain Paul O'Connell and flanker Peter O'Mahony all went off injured — the latter two on motorized stretchers — to likely leave the Irish without three of their most important players for a last-eight game against Argentina next Sunday. Raising their intensity to levels previously unseen from them this tournament, the Irish led 9-6 at halftime and then scored tries through fullback Rob Kearney and scrumhalf Conor Murray. The noise and the predominance of green under the Millennium Stadium's closed roof made it feel like the game could have been in Dublin. Ireland won all its pool games, justifying its pre-World Cup tag of Europe's leading contender. The French were blown away after the break and their first loss in the pool stage set up a quarterfinal against New Zealand, back in Cardiff Saturday. Italy secures third place in Pool D Italy produced its most polished performance of the Rugby World Cup by beating Romania 32-22 Sunday to secure third place in Pool D. Italy's second win of the tournament condemned Romania to fourth place in the group, meaning the Oaks will have to qualify for the next World Cup in 2019. Argentina finishes off Pool stage with win Argentina concluded Pool C with a nine-try, 64-19 win over Namibia Sunday in a contest that served more or less as an opposed training run for the Pumas ahead of the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. The Pumas were already assured of second spot in the pool, behind defending champion New Zealand, and a quarterfinal against Ireland. Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade said the nine tries was a positive, "even though we didn't play a fantastic game," and he was confident they would be in the right frame of mind to take on anyone in the quarters. — Agencies
