After a hard-hitting contest in Nantes, it is Argentina who will meet Wales in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The Pumas progress through with England from Pool D, after an entertaining contest finished 27-39.
JAPAN: 27
TRIES: 3 (Fakatava 15′, Saito 38′, Nakabula 65′)
CONVERSIONS: 3 (Matsuda 15′, 38′, 66′)
PENALTIES: 1 (Matsuda 51′)
DROP GOALS: 1 (Lemeki 55′)
YELLOW CARDS (BUNKERS): 1 (Labuschagne 22′
RED CARDS: 0
ARGENTINA: 39
TRIES: 5 (Chocobares 2′, M. Carreras 28′, 46′, 68′, Boffelli 58′
CONVERSIONS: 4 (Boffelli 2′, 46′, 58′, Sanchez 68′,
PENALTIES: 2 (Boffelli 34′, Sanchez 74′
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS (BUNKERS): 0
RED CARDS: 0
PLAYER RATINGS: JAPAN 27 – 39 ARGENTINA
JAPAN PLAYER RATINGS:
15. Lomano Lemeki: 7.5 – Started his game by spilling a simple covering ball, but offered an attacking option over the gain-line. Aggressive in the carry, but fell over his feet in the 37th minute. Regained himself in the second half, and added an excellent drop goal to boot.
14. Kotaro Matsushima: 5.5 – Early short and sharp carries, but Argentina identified Matsushima as the danger-man. Constantly swamped by the Pumas, he struggled to get going in the first half, and was substituted after an underwhelming outing by his standards. (Replaced by Naikabula 60′).
13. Dylan Riley: 6.5 – The centre will be having nightmares as to why he didn’t pass out wide, as Japan looked clean through to score a vital try. Despite this, Riley had a confident outing in the midfield, as he played in Fifita’s searching run for an eventual try assist.
12. Ryoto Nakamura: 6.5 – Once again established a nice midfield partnership with Riley, but was not up to scratch defensively, as he was fended by Matteo Carreras for the winger’s third try. (Replaced by Yamananka 70′).
11. Sisosia Fifita: 7.5 – Struggled early under the high ball, and the threat of Boffelli along his wing. Recovered with imposing carries, with a key contribution seeing him tear through Argentina’s defence, and sell the dummy on two players for a first half try assist.
10. Rikiya Matsuda: 8 – Strong kicking dispay in the early stages, confident to go to the boot from his hands too. Led well and kept his head high to rally his troops through the phases. He did not seem phased by the high stakes, and ran his back-line well. One of the Blossom’s best players today.
9. Naoto Saito: 7.5 – Utilised the box kicks in the glaring sunshine, incorporated his unorthodox ‘over the head’ box kicks as well. Scored Japan’s second try, offered the supporting option to Fifita’s run. Provided quick-ball but faltered slightly as Argentina ran away with the win.
1. Keita Inagaki: 6 – Set the tone in the first half with a heavy involvement at the scrum. Offered some go-forward in attack around the lose, and emptied the tank as required. (Replaced by Millar 48′).
2. Shota Horie: 6.5 – Like Inagaki, Horie offered a confident set of hands around the park, and was eager to get involved. The veteran carried well, and delivered accurate darts from the line-out. He let himself down with some penalties at the breakdown, as Boffelli kept the Pumas’ scoreboard ticking over. (Replaced by Sakate 48′).
3. Koo Ji-Won: 6.5 – Won an early scrum penalty against Thomas Gallo, and set the tempo for Japan’s set-piece. A bulldozing carrier and scrummager that did his job on the day. (Replaced by Ai Valu 43′).
4. Jack Cornelsen: 6 – Provided a strong option at the line-out, as Argentina began to telegraph Michael Leitch as the Blossom’s go-to receiver. Took longer than he would have liked to impose himself on the match.
5. Amato Fakatava: 7. – Scored a real contender for try of the tournament, as the lock regathered his own kick for a stunning solo try along the left wing. A powerful ball carrier, withdrawn earlier than expected. (Replaced by Dearns 51′).
6. Michael Leitch: 7.5: Strong in the air throughout, and presented great hands to keep the ball alive on looping passes. Won a key turnover at the breakdown (22 minutes), with Los Pumas looking dangerous. Kept pushing his side forward, and made a key tackle on Matteo Carreras when the winger hit top gear.
7. Pieter Labuschagne: 6 – Sent to the bunker after 22 minutes, for an upright head-to-head collision with Thomas Gallo. Could have been lower in the tackle, but the back-rower returned to the pitch. Worked well in defence to redeem himself in the second half. (Replaced by Saumaki 70′).
8. Kazuki Himeno: 6.5 – Along with Leitch, Himeno worked extra hard around the pitch in the absence of Labuschagne. Powered through for the full 80 minutes, but was understandably running on fumes in the latter stages.
JAPAN REPLACEMENTS
16. Atsushi Sakate: 6.5
17. Craig Millar: 7
18. Asaeli Ai Valu: 6.5
19. Warner Dearns: 6
20. Amanaki Saumaki: N/A
21. Kenta Fakuda: N/A
22. Ryohei Yamanaka: 5
23. Jone Naikabula: 7
MORE TO COME
ARGENTINA PLAYER RATINGS
15. Juan Cruz Mallia: 7.5 – Great take under the high ball, key in the build-up to Santiago Carreras’ try. Followed this up with a try assist for Boffelli, as the Pumas clawed their way into the quarter-finals.
14. Emilliano Boffelli: 7.5 – Left his shooting boots in the changing rooms for the first half, but led his side well with encouraging carries. Forced Japan to knock the ball on, with a key cover tackle at 13 minutes. Recovered from the boot towards the end of the first half, and took the attacking momentum into the second. Wrapped up his day with a try at 58 minutes.
13. Lucio Cinti: 6 – A slower day at the office than what has previously seen from the ex-London Irish man. Had a better impact upon the second half but was overshadowed by the other starring roles in the back-line. (Replaced by Moroni 70′).
12. Santiago Chocobares: 7.5 – Broke away for an immediate impact, as he scored a stunning solo try within two minutes. Nice offloads to keep the ball alive, and offered a relentless early option in attack. Never accepted the tackle, and crashed through Japanese opponents for fun.
11. Matteo Carreras: 10 – Today’s hat-trick hero, a complete performance from the winger from start to finish. Matteo Carreras has established himself upon the test match stage, and could not have picked a better match to do so. Completing his trio of tries on the 68th minute, Japan’s heads dropped with the win all but secured for Argentina.
10. Santiago Carreras: 6.5 – Had a slow start, as he missed the bounce on Fakatava’s kick chase to the lock’s try. Knocked the ball on after 18 minutes, but regathered his composure to lead from fly-half and orchestrate a win. Withdrawn just before the hour after some injury concern. (Replaced by Sanchez 59′).
9. Gonzalo Bertranou 6.5 – Contributed a key assist for Carreras try after 28 minutes, and provided quick-ball for the duration of his run out. Barked orders to his Pumas forwards, and provided the ammo for the holes to be punched through the Japan line. (Replaced by Bazan Velez 59′).
1. Thomas Gallo: 7 – Recovered after being beaten in an early scrum, and soldiered on after a head-to-head collision with Labuschagne. Kept looking for short pick and drive options as apposed to carrying out wide and lose, that was left to the speedsters. Unbelievable tap tackle on Dylan Riley was highlight-worthy. (Replaced by Sclavi 67′).
2. Julian Montoya: 6.5 – Another solid performance from the Leicester Tigers man. Did what he had to do to a strong standard, and kept Japan’s testing forwards at bay. Secured a key turnover early in the second half, and halted Japan’s attacking flow. (Replaced by Creevy 78′).
3. Francisco Gomez Kodela: 6 – Started off on the wrong side of the referee, as he entered the ruck from the side. Played his part in the physical battle up-front, as both sides jostled for dominance of the evenly matched first half. (Replaced by Bello 43′).
4. Guido Petti: 6.5 – Adapted well to move to the back row, after the unfortunate injury to Pablo Matera. Presented his versatility, as he had to adapt to a new line-out structure as well. He stole a Japan line-out at 32 minutes, and was a threat to any defender’s shoulder.
5. Tomas Lavanini: 6 – Hard-hitter in attack and defence, Lavinini asked early questions of the Japan defensive strength. (Replaced by Rubiolo 43′).
6. Pablo Matera: 5 – Matera’s day was cut short by an unfortunate early injury. Coming into the match with a heavily taped hamstring, the risk did not pay off with the back-rower’s involvement in the quarter-finals now up for debate. (Replaced by Alemanno 23′).
7. Marcos Kremer: 8 – A stunning run out from the back-rower. Physical line breaks, and asserted himself at the rucks. Excellent line-speed and made back-to-back tackle and charge down contributions in the build up for Argentina’s second try. Stopped a drop goal with his face, which optimised his selfless hard work.
8. Juan Martin Gonzalez: 7 – The back-rower with the slighter skill-set for Los Pumas, Gonzalez’s talents were presented in nice depth touches and offloads around the park. He also contributed well physically, with a big break away coming early in the second half.
ARGENTINA REPLACEMENTS
16. Augustin Creevy: N/A
17. Joel Sclavi: 6
18. Eduardo Bello: 7
19. Matias Alemanno: 5.5
20. Pedro Rubiolo: 6
21. Lautauro Bazan Velez 6
22. Nicolas Sanchez: 7
23. Matias Moroni: 5.5