Northern | US
43 - 21
FT
52 - 29
FT
56 - 26
FT
Tomorrow
06:00
Rugby World Cup

Nicolas Sanchez ‘grateful’ to make history in must-win World Cup clash


Nicolas Sanchez. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Comments
Comment

Nicolas Sanchez is looking forward to his historic moment when Argentina take on neighbours Chile at the Rugby World Cup in Nantes on Saturday.

ADVERTISEMENT

The first ever clash at the tournament between two sides from South America will see the 34-year-old fly-half become only the second Pumas player to reach 100 caps.

“I’m happy,” Sanchez said on ole.com.ar. “My family is arriving from Argentina. My wife and my son have been accompanying me for some time with my mother, and tomorrow my father and my brother will also arrive. It’s a nice moment to be close to the people who love you.

Video Spacer

Big Jim Show LIVE – NZ v Italy

Tune in live at 19:25 BST and again just 10 minutes after the final whistle to catch Big Jim and special guests dissecting the thrilling clash between New Zealand and Italy in two captivating live shows.

Watch Here

Video Spacer

Big Jim Show LIVE – NZ v Italy

Tune in live at 19:25 BST and again just 10 minutes after the final whistle to catch Big Jim and special guests dissecting the thrilling clash between New Zealand and Italy in two captivating live shows.

Watch Here

“For me it is very important to have been able to spend so much time in the place where I want to be. I have lived through hard moments, others very, very beautiful, but I am grateful to be able to continue being here, living moments like tomorrow.”

The sides have played each other 39 times before in Tests, with Argentina winning all of them, and Chile have been well beaten in all their matches so far.

Pumas coach Michael Cheika has made 11 changes to his starting team from the side that beat Samoa last time out.

Hooker Agustin Creevy, the only current centurion, is also included in what is a very experienced line-up.

ADVERTISEMENT

Argentina have been playing catch-up since losing to England in their opening match and must win their remaining pool contests to reach the quarter-finals.

A narrow 19-10 victory over Samoa ticked the first box and Cheika no doubt has one eye on what could be a crucial clash with Japan on October 8.

ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

1

All Black great Ma'a Nonu leaves Toulon for new role at South African club

2
2

The three selections that reveal how Les Kiss’ Wallabies will play

20
3

Fissler Confidential: James O'Connor deal close; French points-machine in big demand

3
4

Eight possible bolters for the All Blacks' 44-man squad to tour South Africa

40
5

Ex-All Black left with 'two questions' over selections vs Springboks

37
6

Fabian Holland named for Otago return ahead of All Blacks squad naming

13
7

Nine players whose stock rose massively this July in Nations Championship

1
8

'Small steps': The ex-All Blacks coach in charge of reshaping Wallabies defence

6

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

LONG READ

'South Africa can widen the All Blacks' previously unseen faultlines'

While Dave Rennie made a positive start to his tenure as New Zealand head coach, a Test series in South Africa will expose any weakness.

35
LONG READ

Joe Schmidt bows out on a high - but can the Wallabies escape 'the twilight zone'?

The coach steps aside having made admirable progress across Australian rugby, but there is much to be done ahead of a home World Cup.

245
LONG READ

The U20 Junior World Championship - Team of the tournament

The best young players on the planet duked it out in Georgia for the bragging rights of being the best U20 team in the world, but who stood out?

31

Comments on RugbyPass

P
PB 13 minutes ago
Contest or no contest? The eternal struggle between the Springboks and All Blacks

Like which teams. Elucidate. This should be fun!

877 Go to comments
T
Tah Man Too 14 minutes ago
Report: Moana Pasifika's Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa tipped to make All Blacks squad

That's a great pick up for the AB’s. He was outstanding these past two seasons in SRP. With a little extra conditioning he's gonna be a class international.

1 Go to comments
J
JW 16 minutes ago
All Blacks report card: All 32 Nations Championship players rated

Great chat, proper invested shot callers rather than a celeb group (Wilson one of the weaker members was my take).

53 Go to comments
O
OutRun22 18 minutes ago
All Blacks report card: All 32 Nations Championship players rated

hotham is miles better than rartimer hes the 6th best. i would even put lennox ahead of fartimer.

53 Go to comments
J
JW 20 minutes ago
The three selections that reveal how Les Kiss’ Wallabies will play

Rennie’s still going hard with LJ!

20 Go to comments
J
JW 20 minutes ago
The three selections that reveal how Les Kiss’ Wallabies will play

Depends on who the props where in SS.

Dearns ruled that out from happening pretty clearly.



...

20 Go to comments
J
JW 35 minutes ago
The three selections that reveal how Les Kiss’ Wallabies will play

Say Slipper is still going as well as did last year NB can you save a player like that for the RWC, minimal minutes maximum body health, and still have him firing and in form for the Cup?

Interestingly Bazz has pointed out to me Grooter has dropped a few kgs this year according to Wilson @32 min https://www.tab.co.nz/punters/2026/07/podcast-pick-go/ thought you might like his shoutout about it



...

20 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 36 minutes ago
All Blacks report card: All 32 Nations Championship players rated

Yes Hothem has been “God aweful” at kicking.

53 Go to comments
O
OutRun22 38 minutes ago
All Blacks report card: All 32 Nations Championship players rated

hes not hesitant like ratimer. Lennox is very quick not sure what games you have seen hes faster. Hotham is about as fast. I would put Preston and Pledger ahead of ratimer and lennox.

53 Go to comments
G
GM 39 minutes ago
'South Africa can widen the All Blacks' previously unseen faultlines'

Best analysis so far! Ireland were well beaten but still scored three tries from the limited possession they had. The Boks will be even more efficient, while the ABs will have to work so hard for everything. The comments that the ABs will.’run the Boks off their feet’ is not helpful - the ABs may only succeed in running themselves off their feet!

35 Go to comments
O
OutRun22 41 minutes ago
All Blacks report card: All 32 Nations Championship players rated

no he hasn’t hes god awful. good thing hes only getting 8min. Hotham , Preston are better. ratimer is hesitant and puts ab’s under pressure.

53 Go to comments
J
JW 45 minutes ago
All Blacks report card: All 32 Nations Championship players rated

Yeah he used it in the last few games for Landers thats the key an environment (my point about playing for Springboks) that he’s encouraged and given the opportunities not not just worry about his kicking and passing game.

53 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 58 minutes ago
'South Africa can widen the All Blacks' previously unseen faultlines'

Mmmmm…. Didnt Ireland think they just had to make the quarter final to win it? How did that work out for Ireland? I hope SA are reading from the same story book of arrogance.

35 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 1 hour ago
'South Africa can widen the All Blacks' previously unseen faultlines'

Will also 100% contribut to constant ABs counter attack.

35 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 1 hour ago
Eight possible bolters for the All Blacks' 44-man squad to tour South Africa

He would be very dumb not to take a 4th 10. I dont think of Rennie as dumb.

40 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 1 hour ago
All Blacks report card: All 32 Nations Championship players rated

I think Tupaea was superior to Proctor thru the whole series. I'd be looking to replace Proctor by the OCT tours.

53 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 1 hour ago
All Blacks report card: All 32 Nations Championship players rated

Don’t watch. We are so glad we wont have to put up with such dribble in the comments section. Hate is a choice

53 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 1 hour ago
All Blacks report card: All 32 Nations Championship players rated

Ratima has been great. Hotham has major kicking issues. Well known.

53 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
The three selections that reveal how Les Kiss’ Wallabies will play

I’m surprised how well Amatosero’s stats compete to LSLs.

On stats only really Darry and Dearns could rank better than LSL, but neither have been able to match his defensive output in dominant tackles. Both were better carriers with Dearns also better in the ruck and of course lineout steals. That’s not normalizing anyone, like Behree who was comparable with Darry when on the park, just pure output of course. Hannahs numbers are also comparable but I feel thats more because he played like a 6 than a tough lock.



...

20 Go to comments
T
TL 1 hour ago
Joe Schmidt bows out on a high - but can the Wallabies escape 'the twilight zone'?

It’s hard to see how any coach could have done much better and that coaches can only shift the dial so much in Australia, we’ve had some of the best in the world and the trajectory has been the same. The win/loss record is obviously an important metric, but it is only one metric, and not necessarily the best to assess a team that is really still in a building phase (2024 was recovery!). You could look at something like average losing margin, and the trajectory there is much better, with the 2025/2026 results close to half the losing margin in 2024 and during Eddie’s reign (roughly 10, compared to closer to 20). Much has been made of the so called merry-go-round at 10 (really sick of that phrase but here I am using it), but losing Noah, Lygnah and Dono between Fiji and SA games in 2025, and Carter then Dono in 2026 had nothing to do with Joe. He consistently backed his first choices and backed youth at 10 when he could. The injuries led to a massive increase in uncertainty around whether to risk players who weren’t ready or back experience but lose the future benefit. In that situation I think we need to permit our coaches a greater degree of experimentation and error. Much has been made of the LSL situation, but what about how Joe’s selections at lock have led to some real depth of capability there, with players that weren’t as conspicuously impressive (e.g. Williams, Canham). Joe has made his mistakes, but he righted the trend that was heading sharply down, and I suspect that as with what he left in Ireland and as with Stuart Lancaster your old mate, the true test of his time will be what happens in the wake.

245 Go to comments
Close Panel
Close Panel

Edition & Time Zone

{{current.name}}
Set time zone automatically
{{selectedTimezoneTitle}} (auto)
Choose a different time zone
Close Panel

Editions

Close Panel

Change Time Zone

Search Timezones
Close
ADVERTISEMENT
Copied to clipboard

Share Article close