Argentina v All Blacks: Rugby World Cup semi-final and kick-off time confirmed
Argentina players Marcos Kremer and Facundo Isa and All Blacks flanker Ardie Savea during the Rugby World Cup
Argentina and New Zealand will face off in the first Rugby World Cup 2023 semi-final after defeating Wales and Ireland in the quarter-finals.
Argentina were the first team to reach the last-four after defeating Wales 29-17 at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
Soon after, the All Blacks ended Ireland’s winning streak of 17 Test matches and sent Andy Farrell’s side crashing out of the tournament with a 28-24 victory.
Pumas beat Wales
Los Pumas trailed Warren Gatland’s side 10-6 at half-time, with Dan Biggar scoring a try, a conversion and a penalty in the first half. Emiliano Boffelli replied with two penalties of his own.
Boffelli kicked Argentina ahead with two penalties in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, but Michael Cheika’s charges found themselves behind on the scoreline once again when Tomos Williams tore through the defence to score his side’s second try.
However, Los Pumas would emerge victorious thanks to tries from replacement prop Joel Sclavi and fly-half Nicolas Sanchez, with the veteran Puma intercepting a Sam Costelow pass to score. He added another penalty to seal his side’s passage to the final four.
Ireland’s World Cup ended
Meanwhile, the All Blacks were made to work incredibly hard to knock Ireland out of the competition, defending well over 30 phases of Irish attack in the final stages to seal the win.
New Zealand raced into a 13-0 lead thanks to two Jordie Barrett penalties and a Leicester Fainga’anuku try.
Ireland hit back through Johnny Sexton’s boot, and a Bundee Aki try to claw back to 13-10.
Ardie Savea extended his side’s lead after the half-hour mark, but Jamison Gibson-Park made it a one-point game before the break.
A Will Jordan try and another penalty from Barrett would seal the victory for New Zealand despite a penalty try from Ireland.
Argentina to face New Zealand
The two Rugby Championship sides will now collide in the tournament’s semi-finals.
It will be the fourth time the two nations meet in a World Cup match, having done so in 1987, 2011 and 2015.
The All Blacks have won all three previous meetings, defeating Los Pumas 46–15 in 1987, 33–10 in 2011 and 26–16 in 2015.
Argentina v New Zealand – Rugby World Cup semi-final
Argentina v New Zealand
Date: Friday, October 20
Venue: Stade France, Saint-Denis
Kick-off: 21:00 local (20:00 BST, 19:00 GMT)