For the results, the four semi-finalists of France 2023 They are the four best teams in the world. But the analysis -always- must go further and the forms, the path, must remain under the magnifying glass. How and where the goal of playing seven games in the top tournament was reached.
¿The Pumas Are they more than Ireland for having reached the semifinals for the third time in their history while the team that was number 1 in the world until a handful of days ago stayed in the quarterfinals again? ¿England is superior to France for staying alive in the tournament while Fabien Galthié’s team was until the weekend a huge candidate to lift the William Webb Ellis Cup for the first time due to its beautiful and risky game, its enormous individualities and your location?
The answer to both questions is a resounding “NO.” Without the slightest intention of being disrespectful and without diminishing the merits of the Argentines and the English, an old reference in Buenos Aires rugby said on Sunday afternoon: “There were two types of semi-finals in the World Cup: two matches were from the Top 12 and the others two of the Intermedia championship”. It goes without saying which encounters are enrolled in each group…
This scenario favors teams with fewer resources. And there Los Pumas know that many factors have to be given in favor but still the chances are few. In any case, there is an illusion of defeating the All Blacks. There is a close precedent not because of the opponent but because of the situation: the 2015 World Cup semifinal. Unconsciously, the Argentine team led by Daniel Hourcade thought before the match against Australia that the objective had already been achieved.
The corollary was a 29-15 defeat. This time there are several protagonists who must draw on that antecedent. Inside and outside the campus (on the staff, of course). It is difficult to do detailed work to prepare for such an important duel at this point in the World Cup because the fatigue is already felt. And a lot. But the 33 players and the technical staff are in all the details. With a plus: a Michael Cheika He has plenty of experience, Felipe Contepomi He is extremely picky and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe He is an inveterate student.
Argentina improved their game with the foot a lot since the unhappy debut against England. Today Los Pumas discover the right moments to kick and they do it well. And that, with the acquisition of their forwards and the precision of Boffelli in his kick to the posts, transformed a team that started badly to a team that is competitive again with a defense impregnated with extreme madness stoked by the New Zealander David Kidwell and put into practice by the courage of his players. That’s why there is an opportunity. Very small. But latent.
Argentina will need the precision of Emiliano Boffeli to achieve the feat. Photo: EFE.
There is one fact that unifies the four semi-finalists: all four reached that stage maintaining their essence. Each one with their historical weapons, each one with their usual arguments.
The All Blacks are perfection brought to a rugby field. A memory is worth here. And a comparison. In the extraordinary “Rafa”, the autobiographical book written by himself Rafael Nadal and John Carlin, Toni Nadal, uncle and former coach of the Mallorcan, refers to the famous Wimbledon final that his nephew won against Roger Federer in 2008.
And he says that that day the Swiss was playing perfect tennis and that the only thing Nadal had to do was wait to see if there was any chance of winning a very complicated match. When the All Blacks are playing well there is nothing to do. Except wait. And in France the New Zealanders had moments of good play that was enough for them, for example, to leave Ireland on the road.
In the opening match the local team pushed and made it difficult for them. But there were not many Nadals who pressured and complicated Federer. When the All Blacks play well, their rugby is perfect, attractive. And, like Federer, it seems like they don’t sweat. This perfect game model has no cons. The point is how long they can maintain that perfection.
If they unconsciously underestimate Los Pumas and if Los Pumas have a more precise defense than what they showed against Wales and if they play a game at 100 percent with Boffelli putting everything he tries into the woodwork, there will be a slight chance. Otherwise it will be impossible.
2023-10-19 08:23:53
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