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Rugby World Cup 2023 semi-final: Argentina vs New Zealand
Venue: Stade de France, Paris Date: Friday 20 October Start: 20:00 BST
Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio five Live (from 19:00 BST), as well as live text on BBC Sport and the app.
This week, New Zealand returned to their team bus and cornered it by a poorly parked 4×4.
The All Blacks, in training position, disembarked, each grabbing a bumper and wheel arch and began bouncing the offending vehicle. A few minutes later, a few tons of steel disappeared.
If the odds are right, they will go the extra mile to make it to the final.
Argentina is 10-1 down in a two-horse race.
The two groups have met 36 times and New Zealand have won 33 of them, adding up all 3 World Cup meetings.
The story leans in one direction. But the value of this bet is further influenced by New Zealand’s recent form.
Since their loss to France on matchday one (a game they led until the 55th minute), they have quietly gained a lot of momentum.
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Emphatic victories over Namibia, Italy and Uruguay have given them the most notable offensive statistics of the last four teams. So far, in France, they have averaged just about 700m with the ball in hand, 14 blanks and 35 defenders defeated during play. .
But what’s even more compelling about New Zealand’s qualification for that name is the way they shone under the lights of the Stade de France on Saturday night.
In their quarter-final win over Ireland, the defence was fierce and the attack with scalpel precision.
They fought Ireland to a stalemate. On the last epic play of the game, Johnny Sexton’s pace was reduced to a reshuffle as he and his team tried in vain to find a way to fight their way through the fight.
By contrast, an hour earlier, the mercurial Richie Mo’unga had broken through the Irish defensive wall as if he had a ticket to reach the nine-and-three-quarter platform to set up Will Jordan’s try.
It was a typical clinical foray into Irish territory. Beauden Barrett’s clever chip had allowed Leicester winger Fainga’anuku to score temporarily before Ardie Savea stealthily pulled away to push Ireland at the end of a pre-planned lineout play.
New Zealand made only six tackles within 22 meters of the opponent, compared to Ireland’s 14, but they were relentless in the red zone.
The total deployment is built on impeccable foundations. New Zealand were the best with their own ball in the lineout. They didn’t make any mistakes in handling.
He’s quintessentially New Zealand – smart, cunning, clever – and enough to shrink the Cougars and wither faith.
But Argentine coach Michael Cheika is someone who is surprised by the magic of the All Blacks.
In his first meeting as a coach with New Zealand, he pulled off a 27-19 victory for an underrated Australian team, earning him his first rugby league title in four years.
Two-and-a-half months later, he took to the pitch at Twickenham and leaked some of his team’s tactics for the next day’s Rugby World Cup final.
Whether the written reminders, revealed via Snapper’s telephoto lens, to “shake Kieran Read,” “expose Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea” under the top ball and “possess the air” were authentic or unclear.
But his team wasn’t out of place. With 15 minutes to go and leading 21-17, they were in contention, before the All Blacks won 34-17.
Cheika led Argentina to their first away win against the All Blacks with a win at Christchurch 2022. He even coached against New Zealand in the 13-man code, having taken over as coach of Lebanon’s rugby league.
“When we get attacked or when the war starts, that’s when you have to build on those experiences,” Cheika said of his and his team’s past successes against New Zealand.
“That’s where the convenient part comes in because I’ve already felt it, I’ve already done it. “
Even with Emiliano Boffelli’s precise kicks, damaging running backs, a forged and feverish scrum in the stands, a replay will be difficult.
Pablo Matera, who played a key role in Argentina’s only two wins in this match, is injured. In his absence, Savea and All Blacks captain Sam Cane will capture any and all glimmers of failure.
The improvement in quality will be too wonderful to compensate for through Argentina, who have enjoyed a run in the “softer” aspect of the tournament anyway.
Cheika may be intent on testing New Zealand, but as they proved on a small Parisian road and on the city’s biggest stage, those All Blacks have no qualms about getting their hands dirty to win a fourth Rugby World Cup title.