Hello and welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s Rugby World Cup semi-final meeting between Argentina and New Zealand in Paris. Ciarán Kennedy here to bring you all the action as it happens. Even though we’ve had the best part of a week to digest Ireland’s World Cup exit, it’s still a sickener that Andy Farrell’s side are not involved tonight, but we’ll crack on regardless.
Kick-off is at 8pm Irish time at the Stade de France, where the All Blacks are heavy favourites to advance. Can the Pumas cause an upset? Let us know your score predictions in the comments below.
Murray Kinsella is in Paris for The 42 tonight, and you can find his preview here.
Last weekend was a sharp reminder that when the pressure is on in big World Cup games, the sides that stay composed and make their opportunities count are often the ones who succeed.
So if Argentina are to pull off a shock win over the All Blacks tonight [KO 8pm Irish time, RTÉ], it’s sure that they will need to be at their most clinical in attack as well as managing to cause the Kiwis frustration when they get into the Pumas’ 22.
Here’s a reminder of how the two teams line up tonight:
Argentina:
- 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. Julián Montoya (c)
- 3. Francisco Gómez Kodela
- 4. Guido Petti Pagadizabal
- 5. Tomas Lavanini
- 6. Juan Martin Gonzalez
- 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. Nicolas Sanchez
- 23. Matías Moroni
New Zealand:
- 15. Beauden Barrett
- 14. Will Jordan
- 13. Rieko Ioane
- 12. Jordie Barrett
- 11. Mark Telea
- 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 (captain)
- 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
Referee: Angus Gardner [Australia].
KICK-OFF
We’re underway in Paris, where the rain has dried off just in time. Argentina kick-off after winning the toss.
4mins: Argentina 0 New Zealand 0
A good start by Argentina, who enjoy a spell of possession in the New Zealand 22 before losing the ball. Beauden Barrett then scuffs his clearance kick and Argentina have a lineout just inside the 22. Argentina win a penalty and opt for a shot at the posts.
PENALTY: Argentina 3 (Boffelli) New Zealand 0
5mins: Argentina 3 New Zealand 0
It’s a straightforward kick for Emiliano Boffelli and Argentina have the first points of the night. A good start for the Pumas.
8mins: Argentina 3 New Zealand 0
Heavy collision between Boffelli and Mark Telea after a chip through from Barrett. There’s no foul and after receiving some treatment, he’s ok to continue.
TRY: Argentina 3 New Zealand 5 (Jordan)
4mins: Argentina 3 New Zealand 7
That’s been coming. New Zealand go close after two lineouts in the Argentina 22 and after Aaron Smith and Same Cane both have a snipe, the ball is recycled and spun out to the opposite wing, where Will Jordan has all the time and space in the world. Richie Mo’unga converts and New Zealand move into the lead.
TRY: Argentina 3 New Zealand 12 (Jordie Barrett)
17mins: Argentina 3 New Zealand 12
New Zealand are flying now. Argentina apply some pressure but gain little ground before Telea gets in with the steal and New Zealand counter, with Mo’unga’s speed bringing them right up the pitch. They then move the ball brilliantly through the hands and after 10 phases, Jordie Barrett goes over in the corner. Mo’unga misses the conversion.
27mins: Argentina 3 New Zealand 12
This game needs something from Argentina. The Pumas struggling to get any sort of foothold in the game and the Stade has fallen flat. Argentina have had the majority of the territory but New Zealand’s defence has been excellent again.
PENALTY: Argentina 6 (Boffelli) New Zealand 12
35mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 12
A Sam Cane knock-on gives Argentina a chance to attack. From the scrum Argentina launch an attack but New Zealand deal with everything so comfortably again, and eventually win a lineout and are able to clear, although Mo’unga’s kick isn’t his best. Argentina move back into the 22 and get to within inches of the tryline before a penalty is called against Jordie Barrett for not rolling away, and Argentina opt to go for the three points, with Boffelli splitting the posts. New Zealand will be happy enough with that.
PENALTY: Argentina 6 New Zealand 15 (Mo’unga)
38mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 15
A gift of a penalty straight from the restart allows Mo’unga extend New Zealand’s lead again. That’s so frustrating for Argentina and Michael Cheika doesn’t look happy.
TRY: Argentina 6 New Zealand 20 (Frizell)
40mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 20
So, so easy for New Zealand. Telea does really well to dance through a cluster of Argentina defenders before being brought to ground. Smith has a go, then New Zealand move the ball wide where Shannon Frizell can just walk it in. Mo’unga’s conversion hits the post but New Zealand are cruising now.
New Zealand haven’t reached the levels we saw against Ireland, but they haven’t needed to. Argentina won’t be happy with some of the refereeing but it’s been very one-sided, with New Zealand’s defence well on top. Argentina need a huge performance to turn this around in the second half and it’s hard to see that happening. We’ll be back shortly with all the second half action.
The second-half is underway in Paris. Tomas Lavanini is off for Argentina after picking up a bang in the first half.
TRY: Argentina 6 New Zealand 25 (Smith)
42mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 27
Did nobody in the Argentina dressing room tell them to keep things tight? They give away a penalty from the restart, and from there the New Zealand scrum gets a huge shove before the ball comes to Smith, who throws not one, but two dummies on his way to scoring New Zealand’s fourth try of the night. Mo’unga converts and this could be a long 40 minutes for the Pumas.
TRY: Argentina 6 New Zealand 32 (Frizell)
50mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 34
This is not a good look for a World Cup semi-final. New Zealand look like they’ll score with every entry to the 22, and this time Frizell gets his second after they go through a series of phases on the back of another good Mo’unga break. Mo’unga converts the score and New Zealand are now looking at breaking records. The biggest winning margin in a semi-final was New Zealand’s 49-6 defeat of Wales in 1987. Will we see that beaten tonight? Probably, based on how this is going…
59mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 34
Argentina finally spark into life. A brilliant crossfield finds Boffelli but Ioane does reall well to get back and make the tackle. The Pumas win a penalty, go for the lineout and then it falls back into a familiar pattern as New Zealand just soak up everything before Argentina knock the ball on.
61mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 34
Sam Whitelock is off, Brodie Retallick is on. There’s 20 minutes left and New Zealand have been able to empty their bench to rest players for the final.
TRY: Argentina 6 New Zealand 39 (Jordan)
63mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 39
Will Jordan gets his second of the night and brings his Test tally to 30 tries in 30 games. That’s one of the easier ones, going over in the corner unopposed. Mo’unga drags the conversion wide from a tough angle.
YELLOW CARD: Scott Barrett
65mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 39
Scott Barrett sent to the bin after a cynical grab of the ball while on the ground. Bit of a sloppy one from Barrett, but it won’t make the slightest difference really.
TRY: Argentina 6 New Zealand 44 (Jordan)
75mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 44
Well that was a bit special. From a New Zealand lineout in their own half, they move the ball infield and a smart pass inside sets Jordan off. He darts forward and after an excellent chip and chase, scores his third of the night. That’s now eight tries for Jordan at this World Cup, level with Jonah Lomu (1995), Bryan Habana (2007) and Julian Savea (2015). Mo’unga misses the conversion again.
77mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 44
Scott Barrett is back after his yellow card, but New Zealand decide to play out the final minutes with 14 men. This has been a mess of a semi-final.
80mins: Argentina 6 New Zealand 44
New Zealand should have had another but Mo’unga goes solo when Jordan was in acres of space and the out-half gets put to ground.
FULL-TIME: Argentina 6 New Zealand 44
It’s all over in Paris, and really, it was all over midway through the first half. A cake walk for New Zealand and a really poor spectacle at the Stade de France. Not that New Zealand will care – they’re now through to the World Cup final where they will take on the winners of tomorrow’s clash between South Africa and England. Hopefully we get a better contest there.
Thanks for joining our live coverage tonight, we’ll have Murray Kinsella’s match report and all the best reaction from Paris on site shortly. Slán.
When Joe Schmidt picked Boss ahead of Reddan or vice versa there seemed to be a strategy or reasoning behind it, and the players could understand it, get behind the idea knew that they would get 20 minutes and keep their form.
When MOC picks Gopperth or Madigan there doesn’t seem to be a strategy or reasoning behind the decision, it seems to just unsettle both players as a result neither player is playing well to the detriment of the team.
I think MOC wants to play Madigan, just his performances prove he can’t be trusted.
I am a huge fan of Madigan but he is a confidence player and I don’t think fighting for his position this year helped him.
But he had to fight against Sexton too and that did him a world of good.
Jackson roasted Madigan two weeks ago in Ravenhill
Silly statement really he may have had a slightly better performance, but neither had a good game, don’t think Jackson will be happy with some of his kicking out of hand on the day or his role in the Leinster try, so it’s unfair to say he roasted Madigan, both players were not at their best that day.
Kieran, the article is about Madigan, focus please.
I’d say Jackson got roasted by Jennings
Let’s call a spade a spade, they were both very average. Last week.
On form, Madigan should not be going to Argentina in June. The form 10′s in Ireland are Keatley and Jackson – as understudies to Sexton. Pick him at 12 or leave him out. I don’t buy “form is temporary, class is permanent”. This time last year he was a no brainer for Ireland and was justified as Ireland’s No. 2 out half on the US tour. He was even a potential Lions bolted. But now, on form, he should not be selected for Ireland this summer.
Perhaps your right, but the question is why has the player gone from possible Lions bolter to you being justified in saying he does not deserve a place on the Argentinian tour ?
My own view of it is shared by others on here, MOC is making a dogs dinner of player management at 10. Both players are effected negatively by it. I had the pleasure of a conversation with MOC at the beginning of the season, MOC perhaps had 2 months with Leinster at the time, this was even before friendlies kicked off, his comment on Madigan still strikes me as odd. When the subject of Madigan came up, his comment was that the lad sure is confident enough to play 10. Its clear to me that, even at this early stage MOC had put Madigan in the cocky young fella bracket, while Gopperth was the real deal, sure, steady and experienced. This is how its panned out, MOC never really put a lot of confidence in Madigan, the irony is his lack of confidence is wreaking both players game. Also the IRFU’s silly policies applied without context have to take some blame, Madigan did what he could on the summer tour to the USA, taking ownership of the 10 jersey. His reward, an IRFU player rest policy that saw him return to Leinster action 2 games before H-Cup KO. He got 1 real game against Munster, did ok, but could you expect much more ? Then got dropped and then Gopperth played in 2 to 3 winning H-Cup games. I IRFU pulled the rug from under him, his momentum and handed Gopperth the jersey on a plate. Now, player management has its place, Darcy’s BOD’S AND poc’S need rest, but does a 23 or 24 young fella who is flying need it. If Joe S was still at Leinster, Madigan would be flying. This ones down to the IRFU and MOC, its not always the players fault.
The subject of Madigan and the Argentinian tour has been raised as has MOC suitability to coach Leinster. I have two comments,
The 1st, I wont be surprised if Madigan is selected to tour with Jackson, but without Sexton. Joe S did not blood / develop as much players as he wanted to during the 6N as the chance to win it materialised. He will look to develop players on the tour, perhaps at the cost of winning. Joe S is a fan of Madigans, and It is not the 1st time and Irish coach has plucked a struggling 10 from his province and built him back up again. I’m no fan of DK, but he did pluck a grumpy and disillusioned Sexton form Leinster and Play him for Ireland in November internationals. If Joe thinks Madigan has it, Madigan has it.
The 2nd , MOC needs a backs coach at Leinster, he needs to look no further than Garvin Dempsey who’s A team are still playing total rugby.
Matt O’Connor should be moved on at the end of the season as he has not produced anything positive in his time with leinster. Madigan’s natural football ability is better than all current Irish 10′s including Sexton(hence why he is the only one who can play out of position). When you have someone with such raw ability you look after it and guide them to use their abilities better-MOC’s conservative rugby is choking both him and Leinster. Joe will give Madigan back his freedom and confidence this summer and hopefully he will come back with restored confidence to a new coach in Leinster who can actually utilise his and the teams abilities.
Madigans an undoubted talent but as clearly a “confidence” player who unless he pulls his finger out will struggle. At the moment he is realistically 4th choice for ireland…lets hope it just a slump.
I’m a Leinster fan myself and there’s not a chance in the world I’d pick him for Ireland right now. Keatley is undoubtedly second choice behind Sexton and Jackson isn’t far behind. Madigan is so out of form that JJ is looking a decent bet to overtake him in the Irish flyhalf rankings.
Madigan is in an odd position now where he’s probably higher in the inside centre and fullback rankings for Ireland than the outhalf rankings. He’ll most likely travel to Argentina as a utility sub, cover 10, 12, and 15 from the bench. Can’t see him starting, unless he pulls out a couple of ridiculous performances in the next 1 or 2 games.
Matt O Conor doesn’t like how Leinster play as in fast play out the back line , that’s why gopperth plays it’s because he is more of a kicking out half , go back to the Leinster way and use the back line !
To be fair to Matt O’Connor, Penney has rotated Keatley and JJ all year and it seems to have driven them both to better performances. Keatley in particular is a changed man with JJ breathing down his neck. There are plenty other examples of dualing out halfs working. I think the problem has much to do with the current system not suiting him, as a result the performances have suffered, as a result losing confidence, as a result worse performances….
Agreed. Jackson has ihumph coming in to drive his performances, which worked well before but is no guarantee. It remains to be seen if MOC and Gopperth can develop Madigans game. If MOC prefers Gopperth would Madigan be better alternating with Jackson at provincial level to improve his form? Is this not the brief of the performance director?
Simply bringing in a second player to drive the other is not the answer in itself, both players need to be man managed, they need to understand what the coach values in them, and why he may go for the other player for a certain game. Confidence is a must at 10. In Leinster Boss always knew he was picked for the more physical, cagey away games, Reddan knew he was valued for facilitating a fast paced attacking game where sharp decisions and quick delivery was valued. Each player had a role and understood it in the context of match day tactics. Is the same true of Madigan and Gopperth ? what are the strengths that are being leveraged in either player ? I’ve been to every Leinster game this season, and 3 h-cup away games including Toulon, I for the life of me can see no logic or pattern to either Gopperths or Madigans selection. What’s the Logic in playing Madigan for 72 mins against Munster a week before the Toulon game, and only giving Gopperth 8 mins when he had already not played for 2 to 3 weeks. Gopperth went up against Toulon, who lost 2 players to France during the 6N with 8 mins of rugby under his belt in a month. Based on that, and Madigans selection against Munster and Ireland performance, Madigan was the only choice to play Toulon. The only choice dictated by the coaches own decision not to play Gopperth against Munster. No logic. If a coach wont set each player up for success, is it the players or coaches fault. Again, I’m saying this one is down to MOC.
That’s different, Keatley is Munster no.1 10. Penny rotates them but JJ is the understudy. Whereas at Leinster neither of the 10′s know where they stand. I think Gopperth is MOC’s choice. I think he signed him and in his mind Gopperth is his starting 10. He hasn’t made it public and if he had both players could understand their roles and work from there. But there has been no actual decision made which has resulted in constant uncertainty and I think Madigan has gone backwards from it.
Joe Schmidt signed Gopperth not MOC. I reckon he signed him as back up to Madigan.
I don’t think so, I think Joe Schmidt becoming Ireland coach was planned out long before it was announced and I think MOC did bring Gopperth in, think it was one of the agreements in MOC coming in. It all happened to quickly and seamlessly he knew him through the premiership and he’s clearly his unofficial 1st choice was at the beginning of the year and now.
hiI agree with larla O’Domhnail. Gopperth is a good out-half, but not European competition level there is absolutely no X-factor to his game. A ten must be able to control the game when in possession and steer his players/rest his forwards.The best part of Gopperth’s game is his kicking and his decision making is suspect at best, a very dull out-half. Madigan, needs game time to develop the ‘control element’ of his game and has the ability to play high risk rugby on the gain line as well as the footwork to make a break in the defensive line or the passing skills to get the ball into space.He defends well, a prerequisite for a 10 these days. He actually plays the exciting rugby like Carlos Spencer did and Leinster could do worse than bring in Spencer, who is available, as backs coach to help him along. O’Connor has not helped Madigan’s confidence and brought in his own choice 10 who deflated the ‘total rugby’ Leinster was playing. A terrible waste of an exciting talent who needs game time, Madigan might consider moving camp ..to Connacht ?…. if O’Connor is not dumped as poor choice coach for Leinster’s style of rugby.
O’Conno has done a terrible job of getting the best out of him .
He’s behind Jackson and keatly now he hasn’t progressed into a 10 that can control a game.
Madrigal wouldn’t make the bench in Munster or ulster
INSIDE CENTRE.
Absolute bollox, Madigan is mediocre! Jackson, Keatley and Hanrahan would run rings around him if they were given more opportunities, the person who wrote this obviously only watches Leinster games
If.
Madigan has not risen to the Gopperth challenge, and has not developed as a player. Paddy Jackson is Ireland No: 2 now, and I think Madigan should leave Leinster if he wants to improve!
Was he not rotated with sexton last year and Kearney was injured so was covering fullback too. His confidence as dipped sure even BOD’s dipped for a while and he came back a different player!
Madigan is completely over rated will be found out very soon/ man wont have a hope of making future Irish squads. Forget about Sexton / Jackson or Madigan. JJ Hanrahan is the man. Sexton will be lucky to hold off JJ in the coming years.
When jj is ahead of Ireland’s 4th choice ( on six nation selection) keatley then maybe sexton might have to worry about him. Until then I think sextons jersey is safe enough.
Jury is still out on JJ, but I maintain Madigan is this generation’s Paddy Wallace. At the age of 30, it’ll dawn on the coaches he should’ve been a 12 all this time…
Keatley for Ireland
If the coaches job is to develop the talent has his coach performed this year?
Angryigan is a great player
“This isn’t a Sexton/O’Gara or Humphreys/O’Gara situation where rivals are pushing each other to a new level; in fact, it appears to be damaging both men.”
Neither are close to the quality of what has gone before. Gopberth has been a more consistent performer and hence he starts games. Madigan is fine when his team are going forward but has no game management and is not the best passer in the country.
You have two fine outhalfs who are misfiring, MOC has handled them wrong neither is playing well, they both look like they are trying to play by the numbers. Jimmy is far more then a kicking outhalf and Madigan is not just a running out half. The template should be how Boss and Reddan were used last season. Instead one or the other sits on the bench for a month.
A note of caution if they keep playing him all around the backline they will end up with another James Hook. A handy fullback instead of the world class outhalf he could have been.
Ireland’s answer to Carlos spencer…rubbish statement
Not sure how Moc can be blamed for Madigans form.Madigan has gotten his chances but Gooperth has been better.Madigans kicking percentages meant that in big game’s Gooperth has been selected.
We lost Johnny one year too early, for Madigan, for a H.cup and a Slam.
Munster probably could have done with a kicking coach/.
If Madigan, Jimmy and Matt hit some form Leinster will be there again.
Why do munster need a kicking coach? Look at the OH’s % for the season….
Er, jj just won the golden boot?
While only playing half the time….