ESPN3 minute read
8 turns into 4! After a weekend of some of the best rugby in history, will the semi-finals live up to expectations? And who will decide who will advance to the finals?
Read ahead for a list of teams and a preview.
– Rugby World Cup 2023: squad | schedule | standings table | podcast | injury
Friday, October 20th
Argentina vs. New Zealand – (Stade de France, Saint-Denis; 9pm local / 6am AEDT / 8pm GMT)
new zealand: Beauden Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Mark Teller, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith. Ethan de Groot, Cody Taylor, Tyrell Lomax, Samuel Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane (captain), Ardie Savea.
Replacement: Samisoni Taukeiaho, Tamaity Williams, Fletcher Newell, Brodie Retallick, Dalton Papalii, Finlay Christie, Damien McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Argentina: Juan Cruz María, Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocovares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Beltranou. Tomas Gallo, Julián Montoya (captain), Francisco Gómez Codera, Guido Petit Pagadizábal, Tomas Lavagnini, Juan Martin González, Marcos Kremer, Facundo Isa.
Replacement: Agustín Creevey, Joel Scrabi, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazán Vélez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Moroni.
verdict: The All Blacks defeated crowd favorites Ireland last Saturday in one of the great World Cup quarter-finals and now face the task of getting past Michael Cheika’s Pumas. Argentina will take inspiration from the fact that they picked up their first win over the All Blacks in Christchurch in 2022, while New Zealand have won their last two games and are looking to make up for their semi-final loss at the 2019 World Cup. will be aimed at. They lost to England.
New Zealand will make two changes from the team that defeated Ireland, with Mark Teller returning to the wing after being excluded from the quarter-finals for disciplinary reasons. Sam Whitelock is the other starter and Brodie Retallick is listed as a substitute. Hooker Samisoni Taukeiaho will be placed on the bench ahead of Dane Coles. Argentina will make one switch, with Gonzalo Beltranow starting at scrum-half ahead of Tomas Kuberi. If he takes part, Agustín Creevy will become the oldest player to appear in a Men’s Rugby World Cup semi-final, at 38 years and 219 days old.
This clash between the southern hemisphere giants should be a fascinating one, and while Cheika will do something for Ian Foster’s All Blacks, it will be New Zealand who go into this match as favorites to win. .
Hint: New Zealand is 8 points behind.
— Tom Hamilton
Saturday, October 21st
England vs. South Africa – (Stade de France, Saint Denis; 9pm local / 6am AEDT / 8pm UK)
England:
South Africa:
verdict:
Hint: