Stade de Marseille – France
The quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup 2023 are set to kick off in style, with an electrifying showdown in Marseille between two rugby giants, Wales and Argentina. The winner of this clash will earn the coveted opportunity to face either Ireland or New Zealand in the semi-finals at Saint-Denis.
Wales: The Unstoppable Force
Wales has been a formidable force in France, emerging as the leaders of Pool C with a stellar record of four wins out of four matches and an impressive total of 19 points. Their journey in the competition’s initial stage concluded with a commanding 43-19 victory over Georgia in Nantes.
In preparation for this quarter-final battle, Head Coach Warren Gatland has made some strategic changes to his starting XV. Notably, the return of the fit-again Dan Biggar at fly-half, alongside Tommy Reffell’s retention at openside flanker, has added depth to their lineup. Captain Jac Morgan has transitioned to the blindside flanker role, and Aaron Wainwright has stepped in to replace the injured Taulupe Faletau at the number eight position.
Argentina: Rising from Adversity
Argentina faced an initial setback with an opening round defeat against England but bounced back with resilience. Their impressive victory over Japan, with a score of 39-27 at Stade de la Beaujoire, secured them the second Pool D quarter-final berth.
Head Coach Michael Cheika has made two key changes to his starting XV, with scrum-half Tomás Cubelli taking the reins from Gonzalo Bertranou, and Facundo Isa joining Los Pumas’ back row in place of the injured Pablo Matera.
Notably, Cheika’s selection maintains a strong reliance on experience. The Argentina lineup features nine players who were part of the squad that defeated Ireland in Cardiff during the Rugby World Cup 2015 quarter-finals, showcasing the wealth of experience and expertise within their ranks.
Head-to-Head: Wales vs. Argentina
Wales and Argentina have a storied history in rugby, with the Welsh team having an upper hand in their encounters. Out of 22 tests between the two sides, Wales has clinched victory in 15 matches and shared one draw. This dominance extends to their previous meetings at Rugby World Cups in 1991 and 1999.
It’s important to note that Wales had not capped players involved in the three matches leading up to the RWC 1991 pool phase game in Cardiff, dating back to 1968.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Jaco Peyper, a seasoned referee from South Africa, will officiate this high-stakes quarter-final match. Peyper was in charge of Wales’ remarkable come-from-behind quarter-final win over France in Japan four years ago, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to this encounter.
The Lineups
Wales
- 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 (Captain)
- Tommy Reffell
- Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Tomos Williams, Sam Costelow, Rio Dyer
Argentina
- Juan Cruz Mallía
- Emiliano Boffelli
- Lucio Cinti
- Santiago Chocobares
- Mateo Carreras
- Santiago Carreras
- Tomas Cubelli
- Thomas Gallo
- Julián Montoya (Captain)
- Francisco Gómez Kodela
- Guido Petti Pagadizabal
- Tomas Lavanini
- Juan Martin González
- Marcos Kremer
- Facundo Isa
Replacements: Agustín Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazán Vélez, Nicolás Sánchez, Matías Moroni
Mind Games: Coaches’ Perspective
As the eagerly awaited showdown in Marseille approaches, both Argentina’s Head Coach Michael Cheika and Wales’ counterpart, Warren Gatland, have started to play the mind games. They’ve agreed on the perception of favorites and underdogs in this high-stakes encounter.
Cheika is embracing the underdogs tag for his team, subtly indicating that his team might not be the favorites. While he didn’t explicitly label Los Pumas as “underdogs,” the 56-year-old coach made it clear that he sees his team as the less favored side.
Gatland, on the other hand, has little sympathy for the top four teams on the other side of the draw, namely Ireland, South Africa, France, and New Zealand, who face each other in two other quarter-finals.
The competition is fierce, and two of the top four teams in the world will be eliminated before the semi-finals, thanks to World Rugby’s draw in 2020. The world rankings have undergone a significant shift since then, making every clash in this quarter-final stage a thrilling spectacle.
In conclusion, the stage is set for a thrilling quarter-final match between Wales and Argentina in the Rugby World Cup 2023. While Wales might be the favorites, Argentina’s resilience and physical prowess cannot be underestimated. Get ready for a clash of rugby titans that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
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