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.
This stinks of “Jobs for the Boys” to b honest. Has Micko done much at underage/schools/club level (genuine question)?
Denis.List’s his experience right there in the article. Leinster have made a similar appointment with Cullen next season
And Cullen will be working with the Senior squad, Micko is looking after the A side.
Micko hopefully can pass on his great technical knowledge especially lineout work. As you say thou the back’s coach appointment is the crucial one
With POC still in situ ,it’s really hard to see what MOD could possibly bring after a stint coaching at schools level. This smacks of a very Munster job for one of the boys
Not a fan of players that r just retired nd then fall in coaching same players….can cloud decisions., for example is mick goin to recommend a player that he was great friends with to be dropped if his form is poor….???
He is retired 2 seasons at this stage. A big turnover of the player’s at munster since then.
He is retired 2 seasons at this stage. A big turnover of the player’s at munster since then.
Yea retired two years but not too many guys he wouldnt have trained or played with.It could be a great appointment but personally I wouldnt agree.
The impressive Rob Penney was shafted by the Munster Rugby board in order to make way for their good old boy, Anthony Foley, to become head coach; who in turn is intent on employing his good old boys instead of seeking the direct input of those with an enlightened, outside perspective. Group-think will now prevail.
Munster will be the big loser because Foley won’t have the same progressive-minded outlook and plan that Penney has. Munster will regress into their shell under Anthony Foley, and the slack will be compensated for by utter blarney from Foley and the media.
As a Leinster fan I hope your wrong.
If insider knowledge points to foley knowing something that mod can bring then there’s nothing wrong with appointing the right man for the job. If he’s giving his old pal a leg up it will fall apart along with his own career.
I don’t believe Anthony foley wants to throw away his carreer to give his mate a job.
Penney wasnt shafted.
Micko is looking after the a’s. Not first team. Might have little to do with the seniors.
Must be a pisser for Penny to see next years coaching ticket been lined up , could this be announced by Munster after Pennys gone ..
They let the cat out of the bag early enough this year bout him moving. Why should nexus years coaching ticket be any different? I’m sure he doesn’t hold a grudge.
Hope I’m wrong but has a ” jobs for the boys” ring to it
Micko being linked to the A squad hints fairly strongly that Ian costello could be the backs coach for the seniors.
this time last year there was howls about the fact that not one province had a native head-coach, now there’s howls when a native is appointed head coach & opts to select another native to be part of his coaching team?
Micko was known as a top-notch lineout analyst in his playing days, he had a very large part to play in the strength of the munster lineout in the past as he analysed the opposition lineouts & ran those patterns in training.