The Argentine Pumas could not emulate Leo Messi's boys in Qatar. The All Blacks were too strong, too giant and too fast for an albiceleste team that put up a brave resistance but was on the verge of its first rugby World Cup final (6-44). The first place to play for the crown in Saint-Denis on October 28 will go to the favorites, the New Zealanders, in the final for the fifth time in 10 editions.
On paper, for Argentina, in their third world semi-final, it was a pipe dream to defeat the All Blacks: in 36 duels they had only beaten them twice... although they were in the last three years (in 2020 and the last one, 18 -25 in August 2022). “History does not favor us, but it is up to us to change it,” the Argentine coach, Michael Cheika, had tried to motivate his pumas, who arrived grown after beating Wales in the quarterfinals (17-29) after picking up 5 points in the last 12 minutes.
The Argentines came out brave, crushing the Kiwis in their line of 22, and as a result of that dominance in possession and territory came the first Albiceleste advantage with the penalty hit by Emiliano Boffelli (3-0).
The aftershock of the black wave was furious. A try from Will Jordan, the transformation of Richie Mo'unga and another try from Jordie Barrett, who entered the last Argentine defensive line like a knife through butter, reestablished the logic with the score at 3-12. The All Blacks, without as much possession and fewer charges, moved the ball better and faster, and were more lethal and effective.
Thus, after a timid Argentine approach (Boffelli's 6-12 in a penalty shot), before the break, Mo'unga and Shannon Frizell with the third try once again pierced the Albiceleste rearguard and raised the lead to 6-20.
In the second half, New Zealand, superior in all lines, finished off the victory with two more tries in 10 minutes, by Aaron Smith and Frizell, supported by two transformations by Mo'unga (6-34).
Will Jordan with two more tries – he has eight in the tournament (equaling the best mark in a World Cup) – closed the victory (6-44), which takes the All Blacks to their fifth final in search of their fourth world title.
The second finalist will emerge from the clash between South Africa and England, today on the same stage at the Stade de France (9:00 p.m.). This is a repeat of the 2019 final in Japan, won by the Springboks (32-12). After defeating the hosts last Sunday in the quarterfinals (28-29), the South Africans, number 1 in the ranking and current champions, aspire to their fourth crown and break the tie with New Zealand.
Although first the Boks will have to overcome an England in good form, the only undefeated of the four semi-finalists - and the only representative of the northern hemisphere -... despite the fact that they arrived at the World Cup with only four victories in the last 13 games. The XV de la Rosa beat Fiji in the quarterfinals (30-24). In the previous World Cup, South Africa dominates England 4-1.
