Key events
“This is maybe the most important game in our history” – Argentina’s captain, Agustin Creevy.
I’m paraphrasing slightly, but that’s the gist of what the skipper said this week.
I don’t yet know if one if the sides will be in a changed strip. My guess is that they will be. But how good is it to see two groups of fans in horizontal stripes?
Those are proper rugby jerseys. 10/10 for both of them.
The last time these sides met, Argentina walloped Japan 54-20. That was back in 2016 and a lot has changed since then. Japan now know they can upset a tier-one team and they also know that Argentina have spluttered so far in France.
Japan opting for continuity
Jamie Joseph has made just one change to the starting XV from their 28-22 win over Samoa. with Siosaia Fifita replacing Jone Naikabula on the left wing. Eight of the XV have started every game at RWC 2023: Amato Fakatava, Keita Inagaki, Jiwon Gu, Jack Cornelsen, Michael Leitch, Rikiya Matsuda, Kotato Matsushima, and Ryoto Nakamura.
This is the last roll of the dice for some ageing stars who have been there throughout this golden period of Japanese rugby. They’ll be desperate to keep the lights on a little longer.
Japan: Lomano Lemeki; Kotaro Matsushima, Dylan Riley, Ryoto Nakamura, Siosaia Fifita; Rikiya Matsuda, Naoto Saito; Keita Inagaki, Shota Horie, Jiwon Gu; Jack Cornelsen, Amato Fakatava; Michael Leitch, Pieter Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno (captain)
Replacements: Atsushi Sakate, Craig Millar, Asaeli Ai Valu, Warner Dearns, Amanaki Saumaki, Yutaka Nagare, Ryohei Yamanaka, Jone Naikabula
Argentina make 11 changes
The rejigged outfit is an expected one. Their last match was against Chile and some heavier hitters were rested. There’s plenty of experience in this match-day 23 with the top three, and five of Los Pumas’ top six most capped players of all-time are named in this squad: Agustín Creevy (104), Nicolas Sanchez (100), Pablo Matera (97), Julian Montoya (91) and Matias Alemanno (90).
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia; Emiliano Boffelli, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou; Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya (captain), Francisco Gómez Kodela; Guido Petti Pagadizabal, Tomas Lavanini; Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez
Replacements: Agustín Creevy, Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Pedro Rubiolo, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolás Sánchez, Matías Moroni
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
The quarter-finals are a week away but we have our first genuine knockout match of the competition. The winner goes through to play Wales in the next round. The lose goes home. Tournament rugby at it’s most basic.
Argentina will start as favourites. And so they should. They’re one of the so-called tier-one nations and have brushed shoulders with the giants of the southern hemisphere in the Rugby Championship since 2011. They’ve won five of the six matches they’ve played against the Brave Blossoms of Japan and have won three of the last four.
But the Pumas haven’t exactly set the house on fire this tournament. They delivered absolute dross against England and were scratchy against Samoa. The Brave Blossoms will provide a stern test of their character and skills today.
However, Japan themselves have been disappointing despite showing some gumption against England in a valiant defeat. But perhaps that is unkind. This is not the same Japanese outfit that wowed the world four years ago on home soil and the fact that they’re still in with a shout of a spot in the last eight is worthy of praise considering their diminished status in the game.
If I’m sounding like a pessimist, I apologise. I assure you I’m hyped for this one. They’re two flawed teams, there is no denying that, but they have enough talent in their squads to dazzle. And with everything on the line, neither side will hold anything back.
Kick off at 12pm BST/1pm local time in Nantes.
Teams and further updates to follow.
