2023-10-14 17:45:12
Marseille (AFP) – After a poor start to the tournament, Argentina rallied to reach the third semi-final in its World Cup history thanks to its narrow victory on Saturday in Marseille over the Welsh (29-17). ) who were unable to kill the match.
Published on: 10/14/2023 – 7:45 p.m.
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It will undoubtedly be necessary a lot more next week at the Stade de France once morest an opponent of a completely different caliber, Ireland or New Zealand, two titans opposing each other in the evening (9:00 p.m.) in the Dyonisian enclosure.
But the Pumas have come so far that their World Cup is already successful whatever happens with this third qualification in the last four following 2007 and 2015.
Positioned in the most affordable part of the table, they might legitimately nourish this ambition before the start of the tournament, but their failed start once morest England (27-10) had made them lose their splendor.
It was already at the Stade Vélodrome, more than a month ago, and it already seems so distant, even if it is almost always just as hot on the shores of the Mediterranean.
The men of Michael Cheika, called last year to play the firefighters on duty following the departure of Mario Ledesma, have quietly gained strength since.
Their last wild group match once morest Japan (39-27) had already revealed the extent of their offensive potential.
More eye-catching than the flocking of the Welsh jerseys, they especially showed a lot of heart on Saturday until the liberating interception of their replacement opener Nicolas Sanchez at the very end of the match (77th).
Just before, Welsh winger Louis Rees-Zammit had only missed a few centimeters, on a spectacular dive, to restore the advantage to his team.
The Last of Biggar
An action like the Welsh match, who failed to definitively defeat their opponent following having controlled most of the first half.
Argentina rugby team flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez (right) chased by two Welshmen as he scores the try in the 29-17 victory once morest Wales in the World Cup quarter-final, at Marseille, October 14, 2023 © Sylvain THOMAS / AFP
A domination rewarded by a try from Dan Biggar, at the conclusion of an action which he himself had initiated by launching in the meantime another dashing thirty-year-old, George North (14th).
South African referee Jaco Peyper, who had already refereed the Welsh in the quarter-final four years ago (and gave a red card to Frenchman Sébastien Vahaamahina), was injured just followingwards.
His replacement, the Englishman Karl Dickson, continued to penalize the Pumas, who quickly lost their center at the Toulouse Santiago Chocobares Stadium and seemed to be off to a bad start, trailing 10-0.
Too clumsy in touch, Wales wasted ammunition and the dynamic changed sides when Emiliano Boffelli began to pile up penalties.
The replacement scrum half Tomos Williams may have restored the advantage to the XV du Poireau (57th), the South Americans did not give up and were rewarded for their combativeness with a strong try from La Rochelle pillar Joel Sclavi (67th), just came into play.
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar during his final match for the Welsh selection during his team’s defeat once morest Argentina 29-17 in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup in Marseille, France, October 14, 2023 © NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
Sanchez’s interception ended the Welsh dream and the international career of Biggar, who will still continue to play not far from Marseille, at RC Toulon.
The Leek XV was in such a state of disrepair when he took over last winter that coach Warren Gatland, even if he undoubtedly hoped for better, will be able to be satisfied with this course and the improvement shown during the group stage.
© 2023 AFP
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