Plenty of water has flowed down the River Seine since New Zealand’s opening pool defeat to France. Losing to the host nation, under a head coach heading for the exit, was not an auspicious start and several rivals were looking ominous. Fast forward six weeks, and they are now back under the Friday night lights of Saint-Denis with self-belief significantly restored.
In some ways this week has been less about whether the All Blacks can reach a fifth World Cup final and more about being firmly back in control of their own destiny. Their shattering 2019 semi-final defeat to England remains fresh enough in the memory to take nothing for granted but, equally, it was a salutary experience that continues to be felt by many of their senior players.
Their rejuvenated scrum-half Aaron Smith, for example, says it has remained an important motivation in the aftermath of last weekend’s titanic quarter-final against Ireland. “Just remembering the pain of it is a big driver especially for a few of us boys who were there. That feeling helped us reset after what was an emotional game against Ireland.”
The nightmare of Yokohama, when Eddie Jones’s England beat them 19-7, particularly hammered home the importance of not rolling into big games assuming they will turn out much the same as the previous week. Recharging mentally after a massive effort can be tough. Smith says the precedent of the loss in 2019 has helped refocus everyone after the draining Irish victory.
“That’s been the big lesson for us … acknowledging how much that cost on the body, physically and emotionally. It’s about rebuilding and finding the edge for what is another huge game and an opportunity to push forward in this competition, which is our ultimate dream. I’m an emotional person and I use things to fuel me. I remember being in the same position four years ago and we didn’t get it right that night. The messaging this week has been about taking those learnings.”
It is not a secret as to where and how Argentina will try to unsettle the All Blacks. At their best they can be as physical and passionate as any top side and the first half hour of the contest will almost certainly set the tone. Both of Argentina’s victories over the All Blacks, in 2020 and 2022, came when they restricted their opponents to fewer than 20 points. Give New Zealand a hint of turnover ball, on the other hand, and no one flicks the switch more effectively.
The All Blacks have scored five tries in five of their past seven matches against Argentina since the start of 2020 but their head coach, Ian Foster, has learned from past experience that World Cups can be a very different story. “We don’t live in the past,” he insisted, as his side completed their final preparations. “Rugby World Cups are about the present. If you go into a World Cup semi-final thinking the past is going to happen again, you have got problems.”
Foster, who will be replaced by Scott Robertson after this tournament regardless of whether or not New Zealand lift the Webb Ellis Cup, will certainly be hoping his captain Sam Cane can be as influential as he was against the Irish, with Ardie Savea still in eye‑catching form.
From his vantage point at full‑back, Beauden Barrett is also expecting a full-on contest, at the breakdown and aerially. “We know how physical they are, especially among the forwards,” said Barrett. “They run hard, scrum hard, drive hard … everything is about physicality and winning those battles. We know defensively we have to be up for that.”
New Zealand are also smart enough to know that Argentina also have other weapons. The footwork of Mateo Carreras proved too much for Japan in the pool stages and the boot of Emiliano Boffelli was again influential against Wales. The wing is among the world’s best goalkickers and has punished All Black slackness in the past.
On the flip side no fly-half at this tournament has looked as sharp and composed as Richie Mo’unga, with his quicksilver first-phase break off a four-man lineout for Will Jordan’s crucial try against Ireland offering a perfect example.
He and Barrett, who has scored in his last two matches against the Pumas, have also developed a mutual understanding with one another – “We understand each other more … the 10-15 combination is very important to this game” – that neatly complements the attacking talent of Jordan and Mark Tele’a out wide and the more direct style of Jordie Barrett in the centre.
Add it all together and Argentina, who recall Gonzalo Bertranou at scrum-half in the only change to the side that defeated Wales 29-17 in the quarter-final, face the mightiest of tasks if they are to emulate their footballing cousins, who lifted the Fifa World Cup in Qatar last December, and conquer the world. New Zealand may not have an impregnable record in big knockout games but, after the heights of the Ireland game, it is hard to envisage another Friday night flop on this occasion.
