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These daily files include the latest reports on the World Cup, as well as betting lines, noteworthy information and the best reading material. Stay tuned to ESPN for updates from France throughout the tournament.
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Reid: 37 stages of All Blacks’ mettle
37 stages of All Blacks’ mettle.
All it took for New Zealand to get over the line in Paris on Saturday night was Ireland’s last relentless attack, at full strength against the All Blacks, stopped by Sam Whitelock.
This gives Ireland a chance to get past the quarter-finals for the first time, equal their record of 18 successive wins in Tier 1 Test matches and extend captain Johnny Sexton’s career by at least another week.
But that wasn’t the case. New Zealand made 226 of their 257 tackles and completed a strong defensive effort with a final sequence where they gritted their teeth and continued to get up off the deck, only to pounce when the attack came. The moment has come.
And that’s exactly what Whiterock did.
“I was heavy, like everyone else, because I was playing defense for so many phases, but I felt like I was in the right place,” said the modest Whitelock. “I missed one earlier, so I’m really glad I was able to get one at the end.”
Whitelock once again started on the bench, but played a key role late in the game, along with fellow locks Brody Retallick and Scott Barrett, who were already heavily burdened on defense.
That was the case for many of the All Blacks, who held Ireland to just three tries (one of which was a penalty try), while Geordie Barrett smothered Ronan Kelleher as the substitute hooker peeled off the flank. He definitely produced the decisive play of the game. He made the maul and looked sure to score.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever participated, but [with] There are so many phases that you will have to try several times.If you actually look at the whole game, especially the first few phases. [early in the match]we had the ball for a long time,” Whitelock recalled.
“So both teams just showed they weren’t willing to submit, both teams showed they wanted to play with the ball, and both teams’ defense was very good tonight.”
Captain Sam Cane had his best game in an All Blacks jersey, while Ardie Savea played everything as usual. Together he recorded 37 tackles and the two worked brilliantly together on many occasions, something that was not lost on Whitelock.
“Well, I thought everyone played very good defense,” said Lock, a veteran. “There were some big shots there and I definitely remember when Sam came off the line and took a good shot, but I don’t know who it hit, but Ardie was right there. He got over the ball.
“And it’s great to see loose forwards link up and put pressure on the opposition. It was great to see them do that tonight.”
Around the Cup: Biggar bids farewell to international rugby
Dan Biggar ended his Welsh career playing with one foot. He limped around the Stade Velodrome, still giving his all to the famous shirt and battling the pain, but even he, one of the country’s best fly-halves, couldn’t resist those magical final moments. Not even for a moment. He wasn’t ready to end this journey, but such is the cruelty of knockout rugby. There is no sentimentality.
He was substituted in the 74th minute of the game, which ended in a 29-17 loss. He had played the previous 10 minutes at inside center, filling in for Nick Tompkins, who was diagnosed with a head injury. But this defeat should not be the lasting memory of Biggar’s Welsh career. The journey was much more than that.
He will continue to play for Toulon, but for now, unless he plays in the game against the Barbarians after the Rugby World Cup or there is a late change of heart, that is it for him and Wales.
“He is a great servant to Welsh rugby,” Gatland said of Biggar. “He’s had some unbelievable ups and downs, and when I think back to when he was young when he came in, and how he’s matured and grown as a player, it’s been pretty special. was.
“He has made the decision to finish international rugby. For us, Gareth Anscombe probably won’t be available either. We have a young Sam Costelow, who I think is going to be pretty special going forward. There’s a lot of growth in his game. “But Dan has been an unbelievable servant. He really wants to win and he’s giving it his all. That’s one of the great honors he’s brought to this team over the years. ”
Cheika expects more from Pumas despite unfair start
Michael Cheika did not fully accept the suggestion that Argentina had somehow turned around the Rugby World Cup. He had just witnessed his Pumas team defeat Wales 29-17 in Marseille. Just five weeks later, he was sent to England 14-man to win 27-7 on the same sun-drenched lawn, but he was expressionless about the whole process.
“I don’t think there’s been a fundamental change in direction,” Cheika said. “We knew the first game was going to be a little tough. We learned a lot because we had a lot of players playing in the World Cup for the first time. In terms of responding to the knockout matches, they I think I learned a lot from that game.”It was not knockout football – every game since then has been a knockout. ”
That mentality helped Argentina reach the World Cup semi-finals for the third time in five tournaments. It’s a great return, and Cheika’s recent run to the top four is also due to his experience, having led Australia to the semi-finals in 2015. But Cheika is not finished yet.
“I’m very happy to be here,” Cheika said. “It’s not over with the semi-finals, that’s what I expect. It sounds pretty obvious, but it looks like the teams playing in Paris have already made it to the semi-finals and the final. We’re happy. But it’s not the final step, we want it to go further. ”
But the trip to Paris will have to wait. The Pumas won’t be there until Monday, but Cheika is extremely frustrated as the All Blacks are waiting.
“I won’t be there until Monday,” Cheika said. “We’re not going to do anything [on Sunday]. We’re going on a trip on Monday, so we’ll have a day to prepare.of [All Blacks] Obviously already in Paris will be waiting for the semi-finals. This has to change. In this short amount of time given, normal preparatory steps cannot be carried out. ”
preview
England vs Fiji
In a major selection call from England boss Steve Borthwick, Marcus Smith was named at full-back and Owen Farrell returned to fly-half. As a result, George Ford was moved to the bench along with Freddie Steward among the 23 players. Another change saw Elliott Daly return to the starting lineup, with Joe Marchant at outside center and Manu Tuilagi at number 12. This is the boldest decision of Steve Borthwick’s tenure as he looks to take the game to Fiji and have a number of counter-attacking weapons at his disposal.
For Fiji, 10 of the 15 players who started in their win over England in August are in that line-up, with genius Semi Radladla on the left flank and Tevita Ikanivere at the Rugby World Cup. He became a starter for the first time.
Sunday’s match in Marseille is set to be a fascinating and captivating event, with England aiming to reach their second successive World Cup semi-final and Fiji aiming to reach the last four for the first time.
England will try to control the tempo as much as possible, while Fiji will look to improve on their shock defeat to Portugal last time out.
TAB (tab.com.au): England $1.30, -9.5 $1.95. Fiji $3.50, +9.5 $1.85
France vs South Africa
Box office drama. That’s what awaits in the final quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup, where the defending champions will take on the in-form hosts for a spot in the last four. France have only lost once in the past two years, that defeat to Ireland earlier this year, and the hosts have been preparing for this moment – three weeks with World Cup glory on the line. It’s knockout rugby.
The team received a big boost on Friday when Les Bleus’ talisman and captain Antoine Dupont was named ninth. Although he has not fully recovered from the fractured cheekbone he sustained against Namibia, he has performed well enough to prove he is fit to play. .
Meanwhile, the Springboks brought Manny Livbok back to number 10, combining him with Kobus Reinach, while Duane Vermeulen was selected at number eight instead of Jasper Wiese. Coach Jack Nienaber also opted to move the bench to 5-3, just weeks after posting a 7-1 record against the Irish. The coach says it’s about managing France’s tactical kicking game.
Incredibly, these two teams have not faced each other in a Rugby World Cup since 1995. The Springboks then defeated France in a sodden semi-final to lift the trophy at home. France may not have a similar story behind it that unites the country, but there is growing support and a belief that this is truly France’s year. Still, it will take time for him to put together an incredible 80-minute performance in a game that is likely to see several major momentum shifts.
TAB (tab.com.au): France $1.74, -1.5 $1.85; South Africa $2.10, +1.5 $1.95
schedule
Quarter finals
Saturday, October 14th
Quarterfinals 1: Wales vs Argentina – (Stade de Marseille, Marseille; 5pm local / 2am AEDT / 4pm UK)
Quarterfinals 2: Ireland vs. New Zealand – (Stade de France Saint-Denis, 9pm local / 6am AEDT / 8pm UK)
Sunday October 15th
Quarterfinals 3: England vs. Fiji – (Marseille, Stade de Marseille; 5pm local time / 2am AEDT / 4pm UK)
Quarterfinals 4: France vs. South Africa – (Stade de France, Saint Denis; 9pm local / 6am AEDT / 8pm UK)
Semi-final
Friday, October 20th
Semi-final 1: Argentina vs. New Zealand – (Stade de France, Saint Denis, 9pm local / 6am AEDT / 8pm UK)
Saturday, October 21st
Semi-final 2: Quarterfinal 3 Winners vs. Quarterfinal 4 Winners – (Stade de France, Saint-Denis, 9pm local / 6am AEDT / 8pm UK)
third place
Friday, October 27th
Runners-up Semi-Final 1 vs Runner-up Semi-Final 2 – (Stade de France, Saint Denis, 9pm local / 6am AEDT / 8pm UK)
Last
Saturday, October 28th
Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final 2 – (Stade de France, Saint Denis, 9pm local / 6am AEDT / 8pm UK)