Argentina player ratings vs Wales | Rugby World Cup 2023
Argentina booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals next week with a hard-fought 29-17 over Wales in Marseille on Saturday.
It was a game where the lead changed hands over the 80 minutes, but ultimately the Argentine bench steered Michael Cheika’s side to victory.
It was as solid and well-disciplined as Argentina have looked all World Cup, which will fill them with confidence heading to Paris next week. Here’s how the players rated:
Argentina XV
15 Juan Cruz Mallia – 7
The Argentina player with the most runs, the most metres and the most offloads going into the match and looked dangerous early on with ball in hand. Perhaps faded away as the match went on, but that is just how the game panned out.
14 Emiliano Boffelli – 9
Did not have a particularly eventful game in attack, but his most crucial intervention came with the boot, where he kicked 7/8 kicks. After a strong early start from Wales, it was the winger’s boot that kept Argentina in the game, particularly one monster penalty.
13 Lucio Cinti – 7
A frequently used carrying option, albeit with not a huge return. Put in some big hits against George North, but was a display that was not without some disciplinary issues
12 Santiago Chocobares – 5
Didn’t last half an hour before going off injured, but it was a 30 minutes full of action. Unfortunately for the centre that included a couple of handling errors and a missed tackle on George North which forced him off.
11 Mateo Carreras – 7
A quiet game for Argentina’s highest try scorer this World Cup, like it was for all outside backs in blue and white. Nevertheless, won a huge penalty short of the line in the first-half to quell Wales.
10 Santiago Carreras – 9
Showed what a real threat he is at the line, and kept the Welsh defence guessing at all times with a few line breaks. Ensured the Pumas were playing in the right areas of the field for most of the match.
9 Tomas Cubelli – 7
A game not without errors – chiefly a missed tackle for opening try – but helped keep Argentina playing at a nice tempo, and left the match on 55 minutes with his side on top.
1 Thomas Gallo – 8
Rock solid in the scrum and full of energy. Showed what a ball carrying presence he is, with only Facundo Isa making more carries in the Pumas pack.
2 Julian Montoya (c) – 8
You can’t ask for more than a 100 percent record at the lineout and that’s what the captain delivered. Led from the front as he always does, particularly in defence.
3 Francisco Gómez Kodela – 8
Argentina’s scrum had not been its strongest going into the match, but it did not falter in Marseille while Kodela was on the field- he even won a set-piece penalty to add to his game. Got through his share of carries for a 39-year-old as well.
4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal – 8
There to tackle, and tackle he did with ten tackles. Massive figure at the lineout as well as the Pumas dominated that area of the game.
5 Tomas Lavanini – 7
A big shift for the 55 minutes he was on the field in all areas, and put the Welsh lineout under a lot of pressure.
6 Juan Martin Gonzalez – 7
A vital cog in the Pumas’ lineout and hit rucks to generate quick ball. A quiet game elsewhere, although he did win a crucial penalty when Wales were building pressure in the second-half.
7 Marcos Kremer – 9
Argentina’s most prolific tackler this World Cup going into the match and the player who had made the most dominant tackles. Brought that kind of intensity to the Pumas’ defence, although his aggressive nature did lead to a few missed tackles. Shouldn’t deter from Argentine enforcer’s game.
8 Facundo Isa – 8
In just his second start of the World Cup after being in the XV to face Chile, the No8 was monumental in attack in his 55 minutes on the field, making plenty of carries, eating up the metres and beating defenders for fun. Strong carries all over the field in a huge display.
Replacements:
16 Agustín Creevy – 7
Kept Argentina’s lineout functioning well, which included some throws under immense pressure.
17 Joel Sclavi – 8
Scored Argentina’s first and vital try within seconds of entering the field. Not a bad way to make an impact. Did concede a scrum penalty a few minutes later but it did not amount to anything.
18 Eduardo Bello – 7
Weak defence to allow Wales to score just minutes after coming onto the field, but pulled off a sumptuous turnover when Wales were on the attack late on.
19 Matias Alemanno – 8
Kept the same intensity his predecessor Lavanini brought to the match.
20 Rodrigo Bruni – 6
Was quiet in the final quarter, but did not put a foot wrong as the Pumas held out.
21 Lautaro Bazan Velez – 7
Was lively after coming on and spurred Argentina on to fight back after Wales retook the lead shortly after he came on.
22 Nicolas Sanchez – 8
Scored the match winner and put the game to bed with his interception. A great impact from a fan favourite.
23 Matías Moroni – 7
After replacing Chocobares after 30 minutes, he struggled to get into the game and his luck didn’t change in the second-half. Having said that, he came to his side’s rescue at a vital moment with a try-saving tackle on Louis Rees-Zammit in the final ten minutes.
Comments on RugbyPass
Yes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to comments