Wales 17-29 Argentina - Pumas clinch stunning victory to reach 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-finals
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Updated 14/10/2023 at 22:37 GMT
Huge droves of Argentina fans had a very special evening to remember as their side clinched a famous victory over Wales to reach the semi-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Argentina, who produced a wonderful performance, will now await the winner of the huge quarter-final clash between New Zealand and the much-fancied Ireland in the last four of the tournament.
Rugby World Cup highlights as Argentina stun Wales and New Zealand beat Ireland to reach semis
Tries from Joel Sclavi and Nicolas Sanchez, as well as 16 points from Emiliano Boffelli for Argentina, secured their place in the semi-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup with a 29-17 win over Wales.
Scores from Dan Biggar and Tomos Williams for Wales, as well as 12 points from Biggar, were not enough to keep them in the tournament despite a valiant effort in Marseille.
Kickers Biggar and Boffelli scored all of the points in the first half. Biggar opened the scoring as a charging run from George North in the midfield set up an offload to Gareth Davies, who then found the fly-half on his inside shoulder. Biggar scored under the posts in the 14th minute and gave himself an easy conversion for a perfect start in Marseille.
Immediately after Biggar’s try, referee Jaco Peyper left the field injured. He was replaced by English referee Karl Dickson, who would referee the remainder of the quarter-final clash.
Wales squandered lineout opportunities with three poor attempts, but their efforts in the wide channels and in defence slightly made up for their errors in the set piece.
After enjoying early possession, Argentina failed to convert through tries, but their points were built up through the boot of Boffelli. A cheap shot from Welsh winger Josh Adams just before half-time gave Argentina their second penalty of the match to move them within four points (10-6) before the break.
Los Pumas moved ahead in the second half through a further two penalties from Boffelli before Wales were moved back into the lead by Williams. The replacement scrum-half spotted a gap, and after a show and go raced away to score under the posts in 55th minute. Biggar provided excellent support outside him, but Williams sailed away solo to put Wales ahead.
Joel Sclavi drew Argentina level as he muscled over the line following a lineout before Boffelli’s boot put Los Pumas ahead with a conversion as the final ten minutes approached.
Sanchez, who won his 100th cap just weeks before, then snuck away with a cleverly read interception of the wrap-around play to extend Argentina’s lead in the 77th minute. He scored under the posts to move Los Pumas further out of reach.
Sanchez slotted a final penalty with the clock in the red to seal their place in the semi-finals after a spirited comeback in the south of France.
Talking point - Wales exit the Rugby World Cup after Argentina seal the win with two late tries.
Warren Gatland’s side were the first to qualify for the quarter finals but it was Argentina who had the final word on the day. Argentina consistently built their score throughout the match as they captialsied on Welsh errors through the boot of Emiliano Boffelli before two late tries sealed the deal for Michael Cheika’s side in Marseille. They progress to the semi-finals in Paris where they will face either Ireland or New Zealand.
Player of the match - Emiliano Boffelli
The Argentine was awarded player of the match in Marseille after a brilliantly controlled match in Marseille. After missing the first penalty opportunity, he replied with 16 points to secure the semi-final spot for Los Pumas. The Edinburgh winger slotted a 55 metre kick as Argentina began to turn the screw which additonally confirmed his threat from the tee at any range.
Player ratings
Wales XV: Williams 5, Rees-Zammit 6, North 7, Tompkins 7, Adams 5, Biggar 8, Davies 5; Thomas 5, Elias 5, Francis 5, Rowlands 5, Beard 5, Morgan (capt.) 7, Reffell 6, Wainwright 5
Replacements: Lake 6, Domachowski 5, Lewis 5, Jenkins 5, Tshiunza 6, Williams 8, Costelow 5, Dyer 6
Argentina XV: Mallia 7, Boffelli 9, Cinti, Chocobares, M. Carreras 6, S. Carreras 6, Cubelli 6; Gallo 6, Montoya (capt.)7, Gómez Kodela 6, Petti Pagadizabal 6, Lavanini 7, Gonzalez, Kremer 7, Isa 7
Replacements: Creevy 7, Sclavi 8, Bello 6, Alemanno 6, Bruni 6, Bazan Velez 6, Sanchez 9, Moroni 8
Match highlights:
- 14’ - Dan Biggar scores the first try of the match
- 16’ - Biggar converts his own score
- 21’ - Biggar’s penalty makes it 10-0 to Wales
- 39’ - Emiliano Boffelli puts Argentina on the scoreboard with a penalty
- 45’ (before half time) - Boffelli moves Argentina to within four before half time
- Half time - Wales 10 - 6 Argentina
- 44’ - Boffelli opens the scoring in the second half
- 48’ - Another Boffelli penalty puts Los Pumas ahead
- 55’ - Tomos Williams scores to put Wales ahead
- 55’ - Biggar adds the conversion in front of the posts
- 68’ - Joel Sclavi’s try puts Argentina level
- 69’ - Boffelli adds the conversion to put them ahead
- 77’ - Nicolas Sanchez scores the winning try after stealing an interception
- 78’ - Boffelli converts Sanchez's score
- 81’ - Sanchez ends the match with a penalty to send Argentina to the semi-finals
Key stats
- Argentina reach the semi finals for the first time since 2015 after they failed to make it out of the pool stages in 2019.
- Argentina come back to win after being behind at half-time for the first time ever in the knock-out stages at a RWC.
- Tries from Joel Sclavi and Nicolas Sanchez mean that they have now scored a total of three tries in their only three RWC matches against Wales in RWC history.
- The match was the first time the two sides had faced each other outside of Wales at a RWC with their previous two meetings in 1991 and 1999 both in Cardiff.
- This was the first RWC quarter-final between two teams who are both outside of the top five in the world rankings, the second will be England vs Fiji.
- George North played in his 20th RWC match for Wales, and is the first Welshman to have played in four quarter-finals.
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