Rugby World Cup-Argentina-Wales 29-17, Pumas in the semi-final

It won’t be a brilliant Argentina like the one that beat the All Blacks last year, but the game remains the same: the Pumas resist against an aggressive Wales in the first half, then react and completely change the game. The 29-17 win in Marseille was the third semi-final in Argentine history, after those of 2015 and 2007. Great disappointment for Wales who seemed to be in control of the match: in the 35th minute they were ahead 10-0 and had not given Argentina any chances, then the blackout and just lots and lots of defense. And the Pumas did not miss the opportunity.

How many tackles!

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Usual script, already seen with the others: Wales tackles hard and resists the opponents’ first lunge (33 tackles in the first 10 minutes alone), then strikes at the first opportunity. Biggar inspires and concludes: the Welsh opener opens on the right for North’s pass, stopped with difficulty: the Welsh center manages to serve Gareth Davies from the ground who splits the Argentine defense in two, Biggar follows the action and receives a ball only to be crushed between the posts. At 15′ the game stops: the referee needs to be changed. Jaco Peyper limps off the field and is replaced by first assistant Karl Dickson. Wales seem to be in control of the match, Argentina – apart from some personal initiatives from Mallia and Facundo Isa – find no openings and on the other end Biggar hits the posts for 10-0, only to then miss the possible kick + 13.

Dark Wales, Pumas domain

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After 35 minutes of Welsh domination, the Pumas change gear: Gomez Kodela puts Gareth Tomas in difficulty in the fray, Argentina enters the 22 for the first time and wins the first 3 points of the match with Boffelli’s foot. Before the break, a naivety by Josh Adams, who tackles Cubelli without the ball and with play stopped, costs Wales another 3 points, who find themselves in the locker room with a more than halved lead: 10-6. In the second half Argentina finds the overtaking: Boffelli scores 2 kicks in the first 7 minutes, the second from over 50 metres, and gives the Pumas the lead at 12-10.

Argentine triumph

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In the most difficult moment, Wales turned the lights back on thanks to the newly substitute Tomos Williams, who collected the ball from the group and found a sensational hole left by Gallo, out of position. The scrum half, at that point, just has to fly between the posts to make it 17-12. This time Argentina reacts immediately, and also in this case it is the substitutions that make the difference: Rovigo’s midfielder, Bazan Velez, enters, increasing the pace and inspiring the assault on the forwards’ white weapons, with Sclavi scoring the goal of the draw. Boffelli converts for the counter-pass, then on the other side Rio Dyer unleashes himself, who takes half the Argentine defense for a walk and serves Rees-Zammit wide, who aims for the flag but is miraculously tackled by Moroni one step away from the goal. Wales persists, but no longer has the strength to sink the shot: Costelow completely misses the pass to Tomos Williams, Sanchez understands everything, recovers the ball and finds a highway for the goal that closes the game. The expert Argentine midfielder puts the icing on the cake as time expires, with the final 29-17 kick with which Argentina reaches the semi-final.