Match report
I’ll leave you with Rob Kitson’s match report from a 50-point thriller in Paris. Join us tomorrow to see if England can make the second semi-final a closer contest.
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“Talk about a deflated semi-final after last weekend’s quarter-finals. What a shame that we ended up here – World Rugby really did screw this up.” It’s hard to disagree with Thomas Engblom’s assessment – let’s hope we see things done a bit differently in 2027.
“Unusually, I was actually pretty confident about Wales’ chances last week –but I was clearly wrong. Wales weren’t good enough, and Argentina deserve to be here. Seeing their limitations tonight, however, is frustrating,” writes Matt Dony.
“I could easily be watching Wales play the All Blacks instead. Which would be good in some ways, and hideous in others. Ah, the duality of sport.” Ireland fans, on the other hand, might feel better about getting so close to beating New Zealand last week. Then again, they might not.
Full time! Argentina 6-44 New Zealand
The kick falls short – and that’s that. It’s a sorry end to a one-sided contest, with Argentina running out of stream in the face of a near-flawless All Black performance. They advance to the final, and whoever they face, will be formidable opponents.
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82 mins: There is a slightly farcical passage of play as Lienert-Brown tries to kick through from a knock-on – and now an Argentina penalty, which they can kick to touch …
81 mins: New Zealand, somewhat surprisingly, decide to keep playing, but turn it back over …
80 mins: Argentina win the scrum and roll forward, but they have the whole length of the field to cover and eventually, a kick-through is gathered …
79 mins: New Zealand could still beat their own record for a semi-final win – they thrashed Wales 49-6 back in 1987 – but Mo’unga falls short with players available to his right. Time almost up …
77 mins: New Zealand aren’t going to send Scott Barrett back on, adding another layer of embarrassment to this second-half demolition job. Jordan is up to eight tries for the tournament now, two clear of Damian Penaud in the scoring charts.
76 mins: Mo’unga misses again, put off by a Kolbe-esque charge from Mateo Carreras. You’ve got to admire the effort.
TRY! Argentina 6-44 New Zealand (Jordan 74')
It’s a hat-trick for Will Jordan, who goes coast-to-coast, racing through two tired tackles then lifting the ball over the final defender and chasing down his own kick to score. It’s almost cruel.
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72 mins: Christie makes ground before Damian McKenzie, always fun to watch, kicks through in vain. Argentina clear away, but the respite doesn’t last long …
70 mins: New Zealand getting some practice with 14 men, and Scott Barrett getting a rest. Like everything else tonight, the yellow card might actually work to the All Blacks’ advantage.
“DJ Otzi?” splutters Niall Mullen as the PA cranks into life again. “Is this a friendly?!”
68 mins: The final change for Argentina – Joel Sclavi on for Thomas Gallo – means both benches are emptied. MBMers rejoice! Finlay Christie, who is battling Cam Roigard for a place on the bench next Saturday, kicks clear to end another Pumas attack.
66 mins: Those Argentina changes: Nicolas Sanchez and Agustin Creevy (both likely making their World Cup farewells) replace Carreras and Montoya. Bruni is back on for Isa, and Matias Moroni replaces Juan Cruz Mallia at full-back.
New Zealand yellow card (Scott Barrett 65')
The No 5 gets a yellow card, 10 minutes in the bin – and possibly, some ribbing from his siblings later – for that entirely needless transgression.
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65 mins: Dalton Papali’i comes on for Sam Cane, who has put in another terrific shift tonight. We are hearing from the TMO for the first time – he’s spotted a “cynical” slap-down of the ball from Scott Barrett.
64 mins: Argentina throw on several replacements, any hopes of a comeback now totally extinguished. Mo’unga skews the conversion side, but it doesn’t really matter.
TRY! Argentina 6-39 New Zealand (Jordan 62')
The New Zealand changes just mean more pain for Argentina. Frizell’s tip-on allows Williams to advance and when they end up too narrow, Tele’a takes out a defender and Christie sweeps wide to McKenzie. Will Jordan is alongside him and dives in for his second try of the night.
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60 mins: Whitelock gets a huge ovation as he heads off, as does Rieko Ioane. The replacements coming on are Brodie Retallick and Anton Lienert-Brown, which is a bit ridiculous, really.
59 mins: They retain the ball but are heading backwards – and when the ball does go in the other direction, it’s a knock-on. New Zealand have scored 22 points without reply, and they shut their opponents out again there.
57 mins: Those changes: Smith, Beauden Barrett, Tyrel Lomax and Ethan De Groot go off, replaced by Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie, Fletcher Newell and Tamaiti Williams. Argentina, who will gain nothing from taking the three points, are going for the corner.
55 mins: Argentina get a rare opening through Mateo Carreras, who collects a crossfield pass and finds Juan Cruz Mallia. He is brought down by Ioane, but New Zealand are penalised. The All Blacks, now with one eye on the final, make four changes.
54 mins: Death by a thousand phases for Argentina – flawless at the breakdown, clean hands as the ball is worked backwards, over and over again before Jordie Barrett’s kick across to the right flank, where Will Jordan can’t collect it.
“It is incredible that this a semifinal game,” writes Jeff Sax. “No tension or atmosphere – what a letdown after the quarterfinals.” I think we all knew this game would have to go some to compare with the Ireland match – but it’s notable just how different this feels.
51 mins: Under pressure from Barrett, Santiago Carreras lets the high ball slip through his hands, and roars at the heavens in frustration. Frizell’s two tries are a little redemption, after he was shown a yellow card in last year’s defeat in Christchurch.
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50 mins: Bertranou is replaced at scrum-half by Lautaro Bazan Velez, while Eduardo Bello comes in for Gomez Kodela in the front row. For New Zealand, Codie Taylor’s busy shift is over – he’s replaced by Samisoni Taukei’aho.
TRY! Argentina 6-32 New Zealand (Frizell 49')
And there it is, after more than 15 phases, the black tide creeping forward without mercy. Despite a hefty tackle from Cinti on Barrett and some desperate defending on the line, Shannon Frizell is able to sneak over for his second try – and Mo’unga converts.
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47 mins: Of course, if you make New Zealand look momentarily weak, they will come back at you even harder – and despite some dogged Argentina defending, a fifth try feels inevitable …
46 mins: Close! Isa almost unpicks the New Zealand pass with a handoff inside to Gonzalez – but the No 8 had just been pulled into touch.
44 mins: It’s been a near-flawless performance from New Zealand so far – Argentina haven’t hit top gear but they haven’t been allowed to. Beauden Barrett attempts an audacious running catch, and it just slips from his grasp.
TRY! Argentina 6-27 New Zealand (Smith 42')
Er, no they can’t. The New Zealand scrum leaves the Pumas pack all at sea, allowing Aaron Smith to shuffle through, dummy one way, step the other and power over the line. Mo’unga adds the tricky conversion, salt in Argentina wounds.
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Peep!
Here we go again. Can Argentina put the All Blacks under pressure early on? Matias Alemanno is on for the error-prone Tomas Lavinini at half time.
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Half-time reading: Who will face (probably) New Zealand in the final next Saturday? Rob Kitson sets up England v South Africa …
Here’s Jordie Barrett crashing over for the second of New Zealand’s three first-half tries.
Jordie Barrett doing what Jordie Barrett does 👏#RWC2023 | #ARGvNZL pic.twitter.com/nxbwmGbQNS
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 20, 2023
Half time! Argentina 6-20 New Zealand
The All Blacks have one foot in the final after an efficient, clinical first-half performance. Argentina have shown plenty of fight but errors have cost them, and New Zealand have more gears to go through if needed.
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TRY! Argentina 6-20 New Zealand (Frizell 40')
This is a hammer blow for Argentina, and their defence was found wanting here – Tele’a goes through a missed tackle, Ioane advances a good 10 metres without much resistance, and it’s worked via Mo’unga to Shannon Frizell to walk it in. Mo’unga’s conversion hits the upright.
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40 mins: New Zealand boss the scrum and win a penalty, to nobody’s great surprise – and they want to add more points before taking a half-time breather.
39 mins: Cheika is heading for the tunnel as New Zealand prepare to put in at the scrum. If Argentina do turn this around, it’ll be the biggest second-half comeback in World Cup history – but they were 10 points down against Wales last week.
Argentina 6-15 New Zealand (Mo'unga pen 37')
Richie Mo’unga goes for goal, stretching the lead back out to nine points with half-time approaching.
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36 mins: After great defensive work from Isa and Kremer, Montoya concedes a penalty at the breakdown. He’s not happy with Gardner, but Argentina simply have to stop this flow of penalties – that’s seven in this half.
35 mins: Oof! At the resumption, González is rightly penalised for a reckless challenge on Jordan in the air. He gets a stern warning from the referee, and New Zealand will have a chance to add to their lead before the break …
Argentina 6-12 New Zealand (Boffelli pen 35')
Boffelli tucks the kick away, and the scoreboard looks a little brighter for Argentina now.
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33 mins: Bertranou feeds the returning Isa, who gets over the gainline and tries to feed the ball back – but Jordie Barrett, lying offside, is in the way. Penalty advantage, but Montoya can’t find a way through at the line – and they settle for the kick.
32 mins: Argentina hustle into the opposing 22 for a sixth time – they really need to get something here …
30 mins: A cute diagonal kick along the ground from the Argentina No 10, Santiago Carreras, gets them some useful territory – but New Zealand handle the lineout and kick clear. Approaching 15 minutes without any scoring at all.
29 mins: Some of this in-game music is a bit strange – while the players set up for a scrum, “Supermassive Black Hole” blasts over the PA, turning the Stade de France into a mid-00s indie disco. In other news, Isa is able to return after his head injury assessment.
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28 mins: After an exchange of kicks, Mo’unga beats Carreras in the air and lands on his feet – that was almost balletic – but Sam Cane then knocks the slippery ball on. The rain proving a real leveller, just as I predicted.
27 mins: After nine New Zealand phases, Jordan skips forward but Montoya is able to pounce and turn it over …
Here’s a look at Will Jordan’s sixth try of the World Cup. I think I might have scored from there*!
Will Jordan has the first try of this semi-final! 🇳🇿
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) October 20, 2023
6️⃣ tries for the speedster at this World Cup!#RWC2023 | #ARGvNZL pic.twitter.com/45XXcuapB2
*I would drop the ball, 100%
24 mins: Scott Barrett – yes, he’s the brother of both Beauden and Jordie – gets called offside at the ruck. Argentina set up a lineout but then lose it, the ball tipped back to Aaron Smith …
23 mins: “I understand what you’re saying, I just see it differently,” says Gardner to Montoya as the Argentina captain complains about their latest breakdown penalty. The Pumas are in this game in terms of territory and possession, but are being held at arm’s length by New Zealand.
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“Boffelli should just keep going for drop goals,” suggests Peter Gibbs. “They’re at the 22 often enough but eventually cough the ball up every time.” I’ve heard worse ideas, and George Ford might agree.
20 mins: There’s a pattern emerging here as Argentina get into a promising area, but concede the penalty after Pagadizabal basically carries Sam Cane downfield.
18 mins: Early change for Argentina, but it’s not Boffelli going off but Facundo Isa, who is replaced by Rodrigo Bruni. He needs a head injury assessment, while Boffelli has been able to continue.
TRY! Argentina 3-12 New Zealand (J Barrett 17')
The dance continues, the All Blacks twirling and whirling their way through whatever resistance Argentina can muster. It goes from Ioane to Mo’unga, via a spinning Sam Whitelock, before Jordie Barrett crashes through a weak tackle to cross in the corner. Mo’unga misses the conversion, though.
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15 mins: New Zealand can switch so quickly from rock-solid defence to swaggering attack – demonstrated here as Rieko Ioane dances upfield …
14 mins: Argentina are warned that if they err at the maul again, there’ll be a yellow card. For now, they are back on the attack – but Sam Cane is on hand to turn over at the breakdown.
TRY! Argentina 3-7 New Zealand (Jordan 11')
New Zealand keep the pressure on, a first maul successfully defended but a penalty conceded at the second. Argentina hold up at the line but Whitelock works the ball out of the back and a looping pass from Mo’unga is walked in by Will Jordan! Mo’unga adds the extra points.
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8 mins: New Zealand opt for the corner – perhaps feeling the kick was too far out to be certain. After the lineout, Argentina are penalised at the maul again – and Gardner tells the captain, Julian Montoya, that it has to be addressed pronto.
Our man at the stadium …
Friday night lights.... pic.twitter.com/GGcPXmctVY
— Robert Kitson (@robkitson) October 20, 2023
7 mins: No joy this time as New Zealand hold up play and an Argentina player goes offside. From a lineout, Lavanini goes in at the side and it’s a New Zealand penalty. More worrying is an injury to Boffelli, who slides on the turf and takes a painful hit.
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6 mins: Santiago Carreras kicks into the path of Mo’unga, whose response is collected by Mateo Carreras (no relation). He jinks through a tackle, Boffelli gets to the kick downfield and Argentina are rolling again …
Argentina 3-0 New Zealand (Boffelli pen 4')
Emiliano Boffelli is a long-range maestro, but doesn’t need those skills here with a simple kick on the 22. The Pumas score first!
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3 mins: Argentina win the lineout and Kremer punches through the defence. The All Blacks concede a penalty and after trying to build on the advantage, they opt to kick …
2 min: A slick start from Argentina, rolling through the phases and inching into the New Zealand 22. After 14 phases, it’s turned over but Barrett’s kick to touch is miscued.
Here we go ...
Angus Gardner, who has refereed wins for either side over their opponents tonight, gives the signal and Beauden Barrett kicks off.
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New Zealand gather for the haka, with Sam Cane at the front. It’s ground-shuddering and ferocious, of course – it’s the haka – but Argentina link arms and stare straight back. Not quite the England “V” of 2019 but it’s taken the intensity up a notch.
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Anthems time – both sung heartily by the players, but the intensity from the stands isn’t quite at the levels we saw last weekend. Not yet, anyway.
The teams are in the tunnel, under the lens of that slightly jarring 4K camera. Ian Foster has a tablet under his arm, while Cheika’s loosened tie is giving bank-manager-at-karaoke vibes.
I think “dazzling tries” might be at a premium given the conditions, notes Peter Gibbs. “Also, ITV introduced the panel as ‘two World Cup winners and Brian O’Driscoll’”.
Ouch! Peter also mentions that he’s watching the game in a camper van. Are you tuning in from a vehicle, or some other kind of portable accommodation? Get in touch.
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The rain is falling heavily in Paris, which has been described as “a leveller” for Argentina. I’m not sure – if it comes down to kicking for territory and avoiding handling errors, that still might favour New Zealand.
Now, Argentina have only beaten the All Blacks twice in their history – but both victories were in the last three years, first in November 2020 and then last August in Christchurch. Juan Martín González, who starts in the back row tonight, got the Pumas’ only try in that game.
On ITV, Sean Fitzpatrick says the victory over Ireland was the culmination of a “14 to 16-month” rebuilding job from where the All Blacks were. As for Brian O’Driscoll, he simply says “it’s been a grim week.”
Still thinking about England v South Africa tomorrow? Here’s some preview reading:
Here’s Michael Cheika: “We know we’re heavy underdogs tonight, but as a team we believe in ourselves. The half-backs have been really good in training, I’m trying to play it horses for courses, this feels like the right game for Gonzalo.
What’s the game plan tonight? “Tackle hard, even spacing and a really good alignment … at the ruck, that’s where the war zone is. How you tackle dictates how well you can defend overall.”
If you’re hoping to see some dazzling tries tonight, you may be in luck – Will Jordan (twice) and Mateo Carreras (once) are both on this list. And how about that Argentina change kit? Woof.
Some pre-match reading for you …
Just one change from Cheika to the Argentina team that beat Wales, with Dragons scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou returning to the starting fifteen and Tomas Cubelli dropping out of the squad entirely.
For New Zealand, Ian Foster reinstates Richie Mo’unga at fly-half, with Beauden Barrett returning to full-back. Winger Mark Tele’a also returns, while Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax and Shannon Frizell start in the pack.
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Team news and match officials
Argentina
Starting XV: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia; 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras; 10 Santiago Carreras 9 Gonzalo Bertranou; 1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela; 4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal, 5 Tomas Lavanini; 6 Juan Martín González 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Facundo Isa.
Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Nicolás Sánchez, 23 Matías Moroni.
New Zealand
Starting XV: 15 Beauden Barrett; 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Tele’a; 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith; 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax; 4 Samuel Whitelock, 5 Scott Barrett; 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (c), 8 Ardie Savea.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
Match officials
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Aus), Karl Dickson (Eng)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Preamble
The quarter-finals served up one of the best Rugby World Cup weekends of all time – can the semi-finals compare? Well, the instinctive answer is perhaps not – after four tense, thrilling contests last week, both of these games kick off with clear favourites. Less charitable observers might argue we saw the semi-finals last week, and this round is a mere formality before an All Blacks-Springboks showdown next Saturday.
That, of course, does a disservice to unbeaten England (who face South Africa tomorrow), Argentina (who have been here twice before) and the whole concept of a World Cup semi-final. We’ve seen favourites fall here before, collapsing under pressure against opponents riding a wave of self-belief. New Zealand know that better than most.
The perpetual title contenders have fallen at this fence four times, memorably upset by France in 1999 and (to a lesser extent) England in 2019. New Zealand have racked up a 94-15 aggregate in their last two games against Argentina, but the scoreboard resets to zero for tonight. In Michael Cheika, the Pumas have one of rugby’s most canny operators – and there are parallels in how both teams got here.
Both teams lost their first game at this tournament, and regrouped in their own way. New Zealand fully released the creative handbrake while Argentina switched to knockout mode, grinding through must-win pool matches and carrying that momentum into the Wales game, which they won by 12 points – the biggest margin of the four quarter-finals.
New Zealand fought and won a ferocious battle with Ireland to get here – and that should neutralise any risk of complacency. They are the clear and undeniable favourites tonight but unlike Argentina, they have something to lose. This is a different kind of spectacle – a test of nerve the resurgent All Blacks are expected to pass, but a contest that might deliver the biggest thrill of all.
