Match Details
This game will be played at Stade de Marseille, Marseille – Kick Off time: 11:00 (ET)
Wales vs Argentina – Preview
Wales will be looking to bag their third semi-final in their last four Rugby World Cup appearances as they take on Argentina this Saturday afternoon.
The Six Nations side are heavy favourites as they prepare to take on the Pumas in a World Cup fixture for the first time since 1999.
Wales will travel to Marseille in good spirits having collected 19 points from possible 20 in their pool. The quarter-finalists will be particularly pleased with their keynote victories over Fiji and Australia.
A miserable Six Nations campaign is clearly well and truly behind Warren Gatland’s side who are now just three wins away from claiming world rugby supremacy.
Gatland will be particularly happy about his chances against Argentina in the quarter-final considering he boasts a 100 per cent win record against the Pumas as head coach of Wales.
The Dragons have won all six of their encounters with the South American outfit under the stewardship of Gatland.
It’s fair to say that Argentina have found it tough going at the tournament, losing to 14-man England before posting an unimpressive win against Samoa and then qualifying as Pool D runners-up.
Nevertheless, there is hope for the Pumas ahead of the knockout clash. Primarily due to the fact that Wales are without key number eight Taulupe Faletau, who broke his arm against Georgia. His experience will leave a huge hole in the pack.
Aaron Wainwright moves across from blindside flanker to fill the void at number eight, while skipper Jac Morgan takes the number six shirt.
Morgan is relatively inexperienced but has led Wales superbly in key pool-stage victories and will play a big part in securing a win.
Dan Biggar is back at fly-half after recovering from a pectoral muscle injury suffered against Australia almost three weeks ago, and he holds the key to Wales’ progression to the semi-final.
Liam Williams has also been passed fit to start against Argentina, while centre George North will become the first Welshman to feature in four World Cup quarter-finals.
Argentina boss Michael Cheika has made a couple changes from the side that bagged the quarter-final place by beating Japan in Nantes last weekend.
Scrum-half Tomas Cubelli replaces Gonzalo Bertranou, while Facundo Isa is chosen in the back-row instead of Pablo Matera, who suffered a tournament-ending hamstring injury during the Japan game.
The major worry concern’s Cubelli’s limited playing time in 2023. The 34-year-old has only played 110 minutes of Test rugby this year, starting against Spain and Chile.
Wales are firm favourites considering they have lost only two of their last 11 Tests against Argentina, and we are predicting a fairly easy ride into the semi-finals.
The threat posed by Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit has not gone unnoticed and the player is favourite to score first in this quarter-final.
With Biggar returning it signals that Wales will be trying to play a low-risk game against Argentina. The Red Dragons should concede less penalties than Argentina.
Wales should be good to secure a 6-10 point win over Argentina when stacking up the sides.
Wales vs Argentina – Predictions:
- Wales win 1-12 points inclusive
- Rees-Zammit first try scorer
- Wales to win both halves – yes
