[RWC2023 QF1] Wales vs Argentina (14/10/2023)

[dirty harry]

Before i forget, good luck.

Good luck to you sir.

As much as we all rib, I have an ethos. The team that beat Wales I support beyond the game, and I always want them to win the tournament.

 

[Bluemoon]

Bit of a transition time with the 10s coming through. I think it's a bit harsh to pass judgement on Costello just yet, I think he's there sooner than he should be, but has generally handled the step up well in this WC. Jarrod Evan's issue has always been management pressure. He's genuinely gifted in open play can break a line like not many 10's I've seen but lacked the game management for an international 10.

Going to be epic in defence and the forwards today. I think that the Welsh defence has improved a lot and I expect them to play a controlled game and targeted game with their usual high ball tactics. They'll want to try to smother Argentina and not let them get into a groove like Japan did. It's pretty even.

Montoya has been a quiet hero for Argentina so far, the man is a machine pretty much playing 80 in most of the games. Argentina will want to try target the line out and disrupt the set piece. Fiji threw Wales off their pattern of play and it became very open, if Arg can do that they may well win.

 

[dirty harry]

Aaaaand all optimism has left the building.

I now fear Biggar isnt future, goes off early, Carreras has a worldy at 10 (for the first time ever) we dont deal with the Argentinian power game as well as we should and we lose by 12 points.

Time to be logical, Argentinas pack make less passes than anyone, they rely on their power game and hit one up which makes them easier to read.

Carreras isnt a 10 IMO, hes a top class player with a sprinkle of magic, but a solid 10 who will control I dont see it, he struggled at prem level there.

Argentina have been done at scrum time over and over, that's vulnerable.

Lineouts been going well, but they havnt been put under any pressure yet, even England stood off weirdly.

The tries Argentina have scored outside 12 have been poor defensively, except for the worldy against Japan off 1st phase, they been poor missed tackles in midfield, and mostly against passive defences.

Defensively, Argentina havnt been great, keeping a 14 man England trie less is ok, but England never pushed, and never needed it. They look weak on the outer fringes, Japan exposed that so well, although I dont see Beard with a chip and chase to score under the posts.

What I do see is Wales deploying the cross field to Wainright and Morgan out wide.

Wales will kick a lot, and I'm not confident Carreras and the FB forgot his name cant be exploited in the air. Boffellis decent to his credit. Talk about FB I think hes a weakness, lively going forward but can panic.

I'm more confident of Carreras at 10 and Sanches on the bench, than Sanches at 10 and Carreras at 15, that could be devastating for Wales (I think itll happen late on)

Ok, I've reassured myself, I'm no longer considering not going to watch... bit I'm definately going to be watching through fingers

 

[dirty harry]

Bit of a transition time with the 10s coming through. I think it's a bit harsh to pass judgement on Costello just yet, I think he's there sooner than he should be, but has generally handled the step up well in this WC. Jarrod Evan's issue has always been management pressure. He's genuinely gifted in open play can break a line like not many 10's I've seen but lacked the game management for an international 10.

Going to be epic in defence and the forwards today. I think that the Welsh defence has improved a lot and I expect them to play a controlled game and targeted game with their usual high ball tactics. They'll want to try to smother Argentina and not let them get into a groove like Japan did. It's pretty even.

Montoya has been a quiet hero for Argentina so far, the man is a machine pretty much playing 80 in most of the games. Argentina will want to try target the line out and disrupt the set piece. Fiji threw Wales off their pattern of play and it became very open, if Arg can do that they may well win.

Quiet hero? He has led this Argentinian pack like a demon for how many years lol

I agree with your views tho, noones talking about Montoya, and are talking about missing Matera. Montoya is the most important player in this Arg team IMO.

Regarding Welsh 10's, is it a transition? Who exactly is coming through, Cardiff have noone and have had to fight the union to sign the south African 10 (who looks decent tbf in the 2 friendlies I've seen).

Behind him Thomas steps in, and that's reluctantly. He is outspoken that he dislikes 10

Dragons have Angus O Brien, who still feels like a development project at 29, and that kid Reed who makes Costello look like rowlands!

Ospreys have Owen William's the fly half who isnt, then the 2 youngsters one not Welsh?

Scarlets have Costello, and are having to convert a 9 to play there.

I'd suggest it isnt transition, there is just nothing coming through the system and we are having to rely on converts who can kick a ball.

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

Aidan Morgan - fly half for Hurricanes

With a name like that surely he has a Welsh grandparent you guys can poach him using

 

[Bluemoon]

Quiet hero? He has led this Argentinian pack like a demon for how many years lol

I agree with your views tho, noones talking about Montoya, and are talking about missing Matera. Montoya is the most important player in this Arg team IMO.

Regarding Welsh 10's, is it a transition? Who exactly is coming through, Cardiff have noone and have had to fight the union to sign the south African 10 (who looks decent tbf in the 2 friendlies I've seen).

Behind him Thomas steps in, and that's reluctantly. He is outspoken that he dislikes 10

Dragons have Angus O Brien, who still feels like a development project at 29, and that kid Reed who makes Costello look like rowlands!

Ospreys have Owen William's the fly half who isnt, then the 2 youngsters one not Welsh?

Scarlets have Costello, and are having to convert a 9 to play there.

I'd suggest it isnt transition, there is just nothing coming through the system and we are having to rely on converts who can kick a ball.

That's what I mean by transition, a lot of the starting young tens aren't ready, there's a youth set of 10s behind them waiting to come into the regional game, but Cardiff went to a more experienced SA ten as they aren't first team yet.

Biggar is really important to the team. Agree with you it's not looking promising for next year. Wales have had a few false dawns behind Biggar including Jarrod Evans, Sam Davies, Dan Jones, Anscombe/Patchell have been plagued with injury. Owen Williams I always feel has been unlucky, I liked him at 12 as well.

Ha, yes 'quiet' in the sense that people haven't been talking about Montoya and I agree he's been really important to Argentina.

 

[McTallshort]

Counting on Argentina to make tomorrow a bit less embarrassing from an English point of view

 

[Superalexmarket]

Who is sleeping in the tribune with Prince William? hahaha

 

[Gavin]

£215 return on an ACCA bet which includes a Wales win.

Come on Wales

 

[Reiser99]

Jaco Peyper and Karl Dickson. Oh dear...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Probably the best Argentina have played this tournament already

 

[Bluemoon]

Both sides with relatively good starts. Wales find space around the edges and pressing in the 22. Argentina getting up to the red zone but making the first error in front of the posts. Good press from Wales, they'll want to control possession though from now.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Wow. Argentina only looking a modest 68 times better than against England

 

[IT157]

Wow. Argentina only looking a modest 68 times better than against England

Just goes to show you how good England are.....

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Did the kitman forget to put the adhesive on the numbers?

 

[Reiser99]

Is Liam Williams hair style an intentional choice?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not playing 10. Sanchez, 15. Carreras is going to come back to bite Argentina on the bum

 

[Bluemoon]

The red smother is starting to work, mistakes coming in. Wales very noticeably not committing a lot on the ground at the moment. Wales holding back

 

[Gavin]

Did the kitman forget to put the adhesive on the numbers?

That's Welsh manufacturing for you.

 

[McTallshort]

So.....either of these sides will be facing Ireland or NZ in the next round?