Ireland laboured to a 16-9 victory over Italy to reach the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals yesterday, taking France along with them and setting up a blockbuster Pool D decider in Cardiff next weekend.

As the host nation started to come to terms with the fact that England will not be among the final eight after Saturday’s defeat by the Wallabies, the Irish and French joined New Zealand, Australia and Wales in the knockout stages.

Argentina had Diego Maradona cheering them on as they all but assured their progression from Pool C with a 45-16 thumping of Tonga at the Leicester City Stadium.

Ireland did not have anyone nearly as famous as the soccer great backing them at London’s Olympic Stadium but their green-clad legion of fans made up in quantity for what they lacked in star quality.

The Six Nations champions were unable to match the passion of their support with their performance but one slick try from centre Keith Earls and 11 points from the boot of flyhalf Jonny Sexton got the job done.

Italy, lifted by the return of the inspirational Sergio Parisse, stuck doggedly to their task and were denied a try and the lead early in the second half by a clutch tackle from Irish flanker Peter O’Mahony on lock Josh Furno.

Ireland and France both have 14 points from their first three matches and next Sunday’s clash in Cardiff is almost certain to send the losers into a quarter-final against reigning champions New Zealand.

The winners will probably face an Argentina side who looked far from a soft option after another convincing Pool C performance.

The Pumas ran in five tries to ensure that only an upset of the All Blacks by Tonga combined with an equally unthinkable slip-up against Namibia can prevent them from taking their place in the knockout stages for the third successive World Cup.

Argentina are second in the pool on 10 points, four behind the All Blacks with Tonga third on six.

Today is a break day for the tournament before the action resumes tomorrow with Canada’s game against Romania in Leicester and Fiji’s clash with Uruguay in Milton Keynes.

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