Wales v Argentina LIVE: Rugby World Cup final result and reaction as Nicolas Sanchez late try sinks Wales
Wales 17-29 Argentina: Warren Gatland’s men are out of the Rugby World Cup having been beaten in Marseille
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Your support makes all the difference.Argentina pulled off a fine comeback to sink Wales in the first Rugby World Cup quarter-final of the weekend. Warren Gatland’s side took control early in the game after Emiliano Boffelli missed a penalty kick. Dan Biggar scored the first 10 points with a try and a penalty but from there the momentum swung.
Mistakes slipped into Wales’ play and two penalties later, Argentina went into the break trailing by four. Boffelli found his range and belted a fourth penalty over the sticks 10 minutes into the second half to put the Pumas in front for the first time only for Wales to find a response through Tomos Williams.
They could hold onto that lead though as Joel Sclavi went over for Argentina before Nicolas Sanchez latched onto an interception and all but won the game with a try three minutes from the end. The Pumas head to Paris and Gatland’s men are going home.
Relive the action from Marseille below and get all the latest Rugby World Cup odds right here:
Wales 0-0 Argentina
3 mins: Wales whip the ball quickly down the line with George North fizzing a pass across to Louis Rees-Zammit on the wing. He dinks a kick over the top and chases after it but the Argentinian full-back scoops up the ball ending the threat from Wales’ attack.
Kick off! Wales 0-0 Argentina
The national anthems are sung and this last-eight fixture is underway. Dan Biggar kicks off the match and the Welsh follow-up is strong.
They keep Argentina pinned deep in their own half before forcing Tomas Cubelli to boot the ball away.
Wales vs Argentina
Here come the teams.
Jac Morgan leads Wales out onto the field to take on the Pumas in this Rugby World Cup quarter-final. Warren Gatland’s men are favourites to make it through but this will be a nervous encounter.
Wales will be hoping to get on top of their opponents earlier on but that will not be an easy task. Who will reach the semi-finals of this World Cup?
Wales vs Argentina
Argentina head coach Michael Cheika speaking before the game: “We had a shorter turnaround, a day less prep but we got around all the problems and we’ve built along the week and I’m pleased with where we’re at.
“It’s very hard to diffuse Wales’ game-plan, the only way you can do that is through charge downs but it’s about how we use our ball.
“Wales are very good in defence but we’ll try and take our opportunities and stick to the golden rules of rugby of when we need to attack and we’ll go from there.”
Wales vs Argentina
Wales are taking part in their seventh Rugby World Cup and have previously won three and lost three. For Argentina, they are involved in their fifth last eight fixture and have won two and lost two of their previous four.
So, based on those results it’s anyone’s game this afternoon in Marseille.
Wales vs Argentina
Harry Latham-Coyle reporting from the Stade Velodrome in Marseille:
"Down the tunnel the players disappear, Liam Williams moving freely despite a fair bit of strapping on his sore right leg.
“Warren Gatland suggest his full back had just taken a bad bang to the knee - but in what should be a kick-heavy contest, his speed and spring are sure to be tested."
Dan Biggar determined Wales career will not end after Argentina quarter-final
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar will banish any thoughts of Test rugby retirement when he lines up in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.
The 33-year-old wins his 112th cap at Stade Velodrome – and it will be a final Wales appearance if Argentina triumph.
Biggar announced in August that he will step away from the international arena he has graced for the past 15 years, post-World Cup.
Dan Biggar determined Wales career will not end after Argentina quarter-final
Fly-half talisman made his Wales debut 15 years ago.
Warren Gatland: It would be ‘huge achievement’ if Wales can reach semi-finals
Warren Gatland says it would be “a huge achievement” if Wales reach their third Rugby World Cup semi-final in the last four tournaments by beating Argentina on Saturday.
Gatland’s team face the Pumas in Marseille after dominating a pool that some thought they might not qualify from following a dismal Six Nations campaign last season.
Four successive wins and 19 points collected saw them leave sides like Fiji and Australia in their slipstream to set up the Pumas clash at Stade Velodrome.
Warren Gatland: It would be ‘huge achievement’ if Wales can reach semi-finals
Wales were unbeaten in the pool stage at the World Cup.
Wales vs Argentina line-ups
Wales XV: Liam Williams, Louis Rees Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Jac Morgan (capt.), Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow, Rio Dyer.
Argentina XV: Juan Cruz Mallia, Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Tomas Cubelli; Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya (capt.), Francisco Gómez Kodela, Guido Petti Pagadizabal, Tomas Lavanini, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Facundo Isa.
Replacements: Agustín Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matías Moroni.
Wales vs Argentina
Wales suffered the injury blow last week of losing number eight Taulupe Faletau to a broken arm which happened during their final pool stage match against Georgia. Scrum-half Kieran Hardy has joined the squad as an injury replacement as Warren Gatland feels the squad already have the appropriate forward pack cover for Faletau’s absence.
Liam Williams and Dan Biggar both start at fullback and fly-half respectively despite injury concerns earlier in the week. Jac Morgan captains the side at blindside flanker and makes his fourth start at RWC2023. Tommy Reffell starts at openside flanker while Aaron Wainwright is named at number eight.
Tomas Francis starts at tighthead prop and makes his 15th RWC appearance. He’s joined in the front row by hooker Ryan Elias and loosehead Gareth Thomas.
Adam Beard and Will Rowlands join up in the second row for the third time at RWC2023. George North is named at outside centre for his 20th RWC appearance and he’s joined by Nick Tompkins at inside centre for the fourth time this RWC.
Argentina are missing flanker Pablo Matera due to a hamstring injury against Japan, Lucas Paulos has replaced him in the 33-man squad. Head coach Michael Cheika hands starts to Tomas Cubelli and Facundo Isa, the latter coming into the back row to replace Matera. Flankers Marcos Kremer and Juan Martin Gonzalez start again, and are the only players in the Los Pumas squad to have played every minute of their RWC2023 campaign.
Nine players from the 2015 quarter-final against Ireland are named in the team to face Wales (Matías Alemanno, Agustín Creevy, Tomás Cubelli, Facundo Isa, Tomas Lavanini, Julián Montoya, Matías Moroni, Guido Petti and Nicolás Sanchez).
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