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'We'll see': Argentina using last year’s win over New Zealand as semi-final inspiration
By PA
Argentina have invoked their historic victory over New Zealand last year in their quest to pull off a seismic upset by winning Friday’s World Cup semi-final.
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The Pumas prevailed 25-18 in Christchurch to topple the All Blacks for the second time in history and skipper Julian Montoya says that has instilled the belief that they can engineer a dramatic upset at the Stade de France.
“As soon as you get on the field you believe you can win. It’s true we have some firsts under our belts,” Montoya said.
“We were the first Argentina team to beat New Zealand and that confirms we can beat anyone.
“I have full confidence in our team and our players. This is the moment to play the best game of our lives and give everything.”
The All Blacks are known for their ability to conjure spectacular tries but Argentina head coach Michael Cheika insists they are also accomplished at the less glamorous parts of the game.
“New Zealand have always been an example in rugby, a benchmark. They make you think of high-level skills in a really open game but there are always threats in the line-out, mauls and rucks,” Cheika said.
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“In a World Cup semi-final they are dangerous everywhere. We have been training as best we can, we will be ready. We’ll see what happens.”
Argentina have made one change to the side that defeated Wales 29-17 in the quarter-finals, bringing in Gonzalo Bertranou for Tomas Cubelli at scrum-half.
Matias Alemanno, Agustin Creevy, Facundo Isa, Tomas Lavanini, Nicolas Sanchez, Guido Petti and Montoya are the survivors from the Pumas’ last World Cup semi-final against Australia in 2015.
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The weather was dreadful but the playing surface was great so there is no real excuse for such another poor standard of play from both sides. Dragons just the better team. But, what a shocking decision by the TMO not to award the Fifita try. This pretty much sums up Welsh rugby with poor teams and poor officials. The WRU have a lot of work to do and it needs to be done quickly to avoid rugby being lost to our future generations.
Go to commentsNo chance of Borthwick selecting any young talent. He announced his selection policy from the outset with naming a poor OF as Captain, retaining an equally poor Youngs and Vunipola brothers when there were many better EQP in the Premiership. SB revival of Leicester was based on SA muscle and a terrific Welsh flanker he has generally ignored young English talent.
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