“It was a difficult game. I am very happy for the team.”
Emiliano Boffelli kicked 19 factors to assist Argentina to a dramatic 29-17 victory over Wales in Marseille on Saturday to arrange a World Cup semi-final in opposition to the winners of Ireland versus New Zealand.
Los Pumas got here into the quarter-final on the Stade Velodrome as underdogs, having completed Pool D as runners-up to England whereas Wales booked their place within the quarters with an ideal 4 wins from 4 in Pool C.
But Argentina performed the territorial recreation, and whereas not shining in assault, proved to be strong in defence, disruptive on the line-out and disciplined sufficient to comprise a fancied Welsh facet searching for to make the semi-final for the third time in 4 tournaments.
Difficult recreation
“It was a difficult game. I am very happy for the team,” stated Boffelli, including that coach Michael Cheika had informed them at half-time “that we need to keep going and keep going, and that at some time the game would open for us”.
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Wales captain Jac Morgan referred to as the outcome “devastating”.
“We knew they were going to be a physical team, they always are. We just had to front up against that. But discipline and a couple of errors let us down.”
Boffelli dragged an early penalty try huge after some sustained Argentinian stress as Wales responded with an expansive recreation.
Star winger Louis Rees-Zammit was concerned in three ensuing Welsh assaults, twice unable to make something of his chip and chases and as soon as stepping inside into house just for his offload to go ahead.
Flanker Tommy Reffell confirmed all the talents of an outdoor again to step contained in the Argentine defence, however Gareth Davies spilled the move in a high-intensity opening with either side electing to play the ball.
For all their possession, nevertheless, Los Pumas appeared lacklustre when in assault and Welsh stress paid off after George North break up the defence on an inside ball from Dan Biggar.
North, making historical past as the primary Welsh participant to compete in 4 World Cup quarter-finals, discovered Davies off the ground and the scrum-half this time made no mistake to move on to Biggar, the fly-half crossing for a strive underneath the posts he transformed himself.
Line-out woes
Referee Jaco Peyper pinged a hamstring and was changed by Karl Dickson as Biggar stretched Wales’ lead with a Twenty first-minute penalty.
Biggar went huge with a long-range penalty as Wales did not convert stress into factors, shedding three of their very own line-outs in fast succession, two from selecting to kick to the nook relatively than for the posts.
Argentina made no mistake on their very own attacking line-out, Thomas straying offside because the ball was recycled into midfield at hand Boffelli an easy penalty kick.
Los Pumas had the ascendancy going into half-time, Liam Williams readily available for a try-saving sort out on Santiago Carreras as Nick Tompkins fell off a sort out.
Josh Adams was penalised for a unnecessary hit on Tomas Cubelli to permit Boffelli deliver Argentina to inside 4 factors on the break when it checked out one stage like Wales might have run away with it.
Sclavi strive
Boffelli kicked a 3rd penalty at first of the second interval as Reffell was caught offside after which took Argentina into the lead with a fourth shortly after when Dewi Lake, on at hooker for the misfiring Ryan Elias, was penalised.
Replacement scrum-half Tomos Williams reversed the momentum, dummying from the bottom of a ruck and scooting in underneath the posts, Biggar changing to make it 17-12.
A misjudged kick from Rees-Zammit put the stress again on Wales, Argentina choosing a collection of kicks to the nook.
Prop Joel Sclavi, together with his first contact of the ball, was finally pushed over for a strive, Boffelli changing to edge Argentina two factors forward.
Los Pumas had been then penalised on the scrum, Wales kicked deep however as they threatened Williams knocked on and the ball was cleared.
North and Rio Dyer got here racing again up the pitch, Matias Moroni producing a dramatic try-saving sort out on Rees-Zammit within the nook.
Argentine fly-half Nicolas Sanchez then put the icing on the cake with an interception of a Sam Costelow move for a strive, Boffelli changing.
Another veteran, hooker Agustin Creevy, snatched a turnover on the demise, Boffelli making no mistake from the kicking tee with a ultimate penalty.
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